Few cars are as beloved by enthusiasts as the Mazda MX-5 Miata, and it’s totally deserving of that love. As the cliche goes, a Miata is always the answer. One Miata owner expressed their love for Mazda’s epochal sports car in a unique way that could also be a big help to other enthusiasts.
The Roadster Atlas is an interactive 3D model of an NB Miata. It was made by Ryan Montgomery, the person behind Miata-themed lifestyle brand Roadster Republic, using his own 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata as a starting point. However, it’s meant to be representative of the entire NB generation, which spanned model years 1999 to 2005.
It’s incredibly detailed, encompassing 699 individual parts from body panels to bolts. The engine can also be broken down into its individual components. So it’s a great way to familiarize (or re-familiarize) yourself with the inner workings of cars in general.
Making all of that detail easier to appreciate are body-off and exploded views, as well as a click-and-drag function that lets you view everything from different angles. The model is viewable on mobile browsers, but as Montgomery notes in a Reddit post, it’s best viewed on a desktop for this reason. This level of detail also just deserves a bigger screen on merit, as far as I’m concerned. Either way, the Roadster Atlas is free to view without having to sign up for an account or download anything.
In addition to showing how the parts fit together, you can also see how they work. You can watch the engine rotate and even see how different suspension settings alter geometry. While this isn’t intended to replace a shop manual, it does at least provide an idea of how everything fits together, which can help owners planning aftermarket upgrades. All measurements are based on Mazda’s published specs, as well as information from media and community sources, including owners who have had their cars disassembled.
Other Miata generations will be rendered next, according to Montgomery. I can’t wait to see the ND Miata RF’s retractable hardtop in a 3D exploded view.
The post Someone Spent Months Making a 3D Miata Model You Can Take Apart for Free appeared first on The Drive.