I've always felt such as picking out the 99 miata body kit is usually a rite of passage for NB owners. The 1999 model year will be that sweet place of the second generation where the particular car finally obtained those sleek set headlights, but let's be honest—the factory lines are a little round, maybe even a little bit "soft" for some people's tastes. In the event that you've spent any kind of time looking at your car and considering it looks the bit just like a jellybean, you aren't alone. It's a great-looking car, however it certainly benefits from some sharper edges and also a bit more hostility.
The great thing about the particular 1999 Miata—or the particular NB1 since many enthusiasts call it—is that it sits within this perfect era associated with car culture. It's modern enough to become reliable, but aged enough that the particular aftermarket support is absolutely massive. Whether or not you want the subtle lip that will makes people do a double-take or even a full-blown widebody setup that makes your own car look like a GT3 racer, the options are fairly much endless.
Determining Your Style Before You Buy
Before you start clicking "add to cart" within the first fiber-glass bumper you notice, you really have got to choose what feel you're going for. I've seen way too many individuals mix and match parts that will just don't fit in together. You don't want a super intense, low-hanging front fender paired with stock, skinny side skirts. Much more the car look unbalanced, such as it's wearing a large winter coat along with swim trunks.
The OEM+ Look
In order to keep the soul of the car intact, you're probably looking with regard to an OEM+ design 99 miata body kit . This usually involves finding the "large tupperware" kit that Mazda actually offered as an option back in the day. It's obtaining harder to find original pieces, but several companies create high-quality replicas. These kits usually include a front air dam, side skirts, plus rear mudguards. It doesn't scream with regard to attention, but this makes the car appear lower and more "finished. "
The Drift Design
Then you've got the go crowd. If you're into that aesthetic, you're looking for huge, boxy bumpers and side skirts that will sit since in order to the ground as you possibly can. Brands like BN Sports or KBD specialize in this particular. The goal here isn't necessarily the rules of aerodynamics; it's about presence. A drift-style kit on a '99 Miata changes the shape completely, making the particular car look wider and way more intimidating when it's side by side.
Materials Issue More Than You Think
This will be the part exactly where people usually attempt to save cash, also it almost often bites them afterwards. When you're purchasing for a 99 miata body kit , you're going in order to see three major materials: Fiberglass (FRP), Polyurethane, and STOMACH MUSCLES plastic.
Fiberglass is the almost all common. It's light-weight and straightforward to repair if it splits, but it's frail. If you strike a speed bundle or even a stray item of tire on the highway, the fiberglass lip will be going to break. Plus, the fit on cheap fiber-glass kits is usually terrible. You'll spend more money on a body store trying to create it fit as opposed to the way you saved by buying the cheap part.
Polyurethane is the holy grail for street cars. It's flexible. If you clean a driveway, the lip just flexes and pops back to shape. It's a bit heavier than fiber-glass, and the paint can flake in case it's not prepped with all the right bend agents, but for a daily drivers, it's a no-brainer.
ABDOMINAL MUSCLES Plastic is what your factory bumpers are usually made of. It's the best associated with both worlds in terms of fit and durability, yet it's also generally the most expensive. If you can find a good ABS kit, you're going to possess a much simpler time throughout the installation procedure.
Front side Lips: The Gateway Medication of Body Mods
In case you aren't ready to invest in a full 99 miata body kit , start with a top lip. It's the particular single most impactful thing you can do to the front end of an NB1. The factory bumper within the '99 curls inward from the bottom, which usually makes the car appearance like it offers a weak chin.
A "GV Style" lip—modeled right after the Garage Vary design—is the traditional choice. It's basic, it follows the lines from the bumper perfectly, and it also provides the car a much meaner "face. " Most people start here, realize just how much better the car looks, then immediately start searching for side dresses to match. It's a slippery slope, yet an enjoyable one.
Installation Realities plus the "Bolt-On" Misconception
Let's get real for a second: there is usually no such thing as a "100% bolt-on" body kit. I don't care the actual website states. Every car has lived a different life; maybe your own had a minor fender bender ten years ago, or maybe the chassis provides flexed just a tiny bit.
When your 99 miata body kit occurs, don't expect to just screw this on and go for a drive. You're going to need a punch, some heat weapons to reshape bended plastic, and probably a lot associated with patience. If you're doing a full bumper replacement, you'll often find that will the blinker lamps or maybe the fog light mounts don't series up perfectly. This particular is normal. It's part of the particular "project car taxes. "
When you're planning on painting the kit your self, remember that silver (Highlight Silver Metallic) and White (Chaste White) were very popular in '99, but they are surprisingly difficult to match up perfectly because of yrs of sun removal. If you need it to look professional, it's usually well worth taking the parts to a shop to get them color-matched to your specific fender.
Why Widebody Kits Are the Different Beast
Lately, the trend associated with "fender flares" plus widebody kits provides taken over the Miata world. If you're looking from a 99 miata body kit that involves slicing your fenders, you need to be really sure about this.
Widebody kits like the particular ones from Autokonexion or maybe the various Rocket Bunny-style flares appear incredible, but they're an everlasting modification. You're literally sawing away from the metal steering wheel arches to generate area for wider wheels. It looks intense as hell, especially on an NB, but it's a lot of work to obtain the "fit plus finish" right. In the event that you go this particular route, you're also committing to purchasing much wider tires and tires (and probably spacers), or else the car can look like a bodybuilder who missed leg day.
Aerodynamics vs. Just Looking Cool
Most of us are purchasing a 99 miata body kit because we want the vehicle to look better at a local meet up with or in our front yard. But if you really track your vehicle, the aero issues. The '99 Miata is really pretty aerodynamic for the time, but at high rates of speed, the front end may get a bit "floaty. "
The functional front splitter and a rear diffuser can in fact help with high-speed stability. However, almost all "drift" kits can even make the aerodynamics worse. They create even more drag and can sometimes trap surroundings under the car. In case you're just hanging around the streets, it doesn't matter. Yet if you're striking 100mph around the back again straight of a track, you might desire to prioritize functionality over form.
Final Thoughts on Building Your NB
At the end of the day, your Miata is a blank canvas. The 1999 model is like a versatile system because it may look classy and refined or totally wild. When you're picking out your 99 miata body kit , just keep in mind to think about the "total bundle. " Think regarding the ride height, the wheel offset, and the color.
Don't feel like you possess to do every thing at once. Start with a lip, see how you feel, then move upon to the dresses and the rear. There's something really satisfying about viewing the vehicle transform over time. You need to be ready for the extra attention—and the fact that you'll have to be a lot more careful about which pavements you try to develop into!