Tommy’s 1993 Mazda Miata : Boss Roadster
Many moons ago I stumbled upon this creation by Tommy Reichelderfer at an event. At the time the vehicle looked unfinished, like it was in the middle of a major transformation. The front end was missing, it had huge lights mounted on the core support, and had a big loud V8 in it. I had seen the car a few more times and had anticipated one day seeing the car with a completed front end on it.
Photos of the Miata in 2013
I finally got around to speaking to Tommy a few times online while the car was being put together still. And I started to realize that this is what the car has become. At that time the frame rails were still in the factory position, and the metal around the struts were still attached to the car.(pictured above) It was hard to get the idea out of my head that this is what the car built to look like up until later.
Not because I saw the vision, but I started to understand what Tommy was doing.
Building with a purpose, and a goal but not really a plan. Luckily Tommy is gifted to be able to handcraft his creation, and do the metal work himself. Countless hours shaping, welding, measuring are into every body panel.
Being a loyal Mazda lover myself, I always classify Miata owners as special individuals who spend a lot of time making a near perfect car, into their perfect car. Slammed, on a road course, a daily commuter, or chopped cut and reformed into whatever you want it to be. The core of the Miata still remains as a fun roadster.
The process begin with sanding the panels all down to bare metal. One would think keeping this thing from discoloring is a task, but Tommy simply cleans the car with a brilo pad.
All unused panels were covered with riveted brass plates made by Tommy himself. Along with the aluminum corner windows, aluminum taillights using universal trailer lights for brake/tails, aluminum dimpled grille plate, and the aluminum duckbill wing.
The Boss Roadster sits on Weld Magnum Import Drag 15×10-13.
The tube front end was also handmade by Tommy himself to hold the powerful Ford 302.
The Ford 302 was completely overhauled, and upgraded with the essentials to power the project.
Tommy’s creativity is all over. Here we got a sneak peek at his see through valve covers he created.
The gift of being able to do metal work is something anyone will respect. Imagine being able to go in your garage or shop and just completely redesign your car, and mold it into what you want.
Talking to people with out of the ordinary builds, most will say they just want to be different. But Tommy’s answer is always “it was the idea he planned, and it just kept going”. And I applaud Tommy for taking on a project for self, and staying the course.
The interior follows the same flow as the exterior, with a old fighter plane style with the hand made brass dash panels holding the gauges. The interior has been completely stripped and is covered with bedlining material.
Looking at this car inside and out, makes you rethink using the word “build” so loosely…
Thanks for looking
