It looks like something that should be parked outside a luxury casino, not sitting on a Mazda chassis waiting for bids. And yet here it is. A custom-built roadster styled to resemble an Aston Martin has surfaced online, and it’s already doing exactly what you’d expect. People can’t quite figure out what they’re looking at, and that confusion is driving interest.
Here’s the part that matters. Underneath all that British-inspired styling is a Mazda Miata. Not a V12 grand tourer, not some ultra-rare European collectible. Just a third-generation MX-5, reworked into something that looks far more expensive than it actually is. That contrast is what makes this car hard to ignore.
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The car showed up on Bring a Trailer, and the timing adds pressure. The auction wraps up on April 28, which means anyone interested doesn’t have the luxury of sitting back and thinking it over for weeks. Decisions are happening quickly, and with something this unusual, hesitation usually means someone else grabs it first.
At a glance, it leans heavily into Aston Martin design cues. The proportions, the grille shape, the overall presence. It’s not a direct copy, and it’s not trying to fool anyone who knows what they’re looking at. That’s where things change. This car isn’t pretending to be something it’s not. It’s more like a tribute, a mashup that blends recognizable styling with something far more approachable underneath.
And that’s where it gets interesting.
This build comes from Simpson Design, a small coachbuilder based in Washington State. It’s not a mass-production operation. These cars are done by hand, and that shows in the details. The company has built a reputation for reshaping Miatas into European-inspired designs, and while that might sound odd at first, the execution here is solid.
Carson Hocevar didn’t just win at Talladega. He made sure nobody in the stands or watching at home would forget it anytime soon. The 23-year-old Chevy driver finally broke through in the Cup Series again, and instead of playing it safe after the checkered flag, he turned the spotlight up even more. What followed wasn’t just a celebration. It was something people are still trying to wrap their heads around.
The race itself was already intense enough. Talladega tends to do that, especially late. On April 26, Hocevar put his No. 77 Chevy Camaro ZL1 out front with 19 laps remaining and managed to stay there when it mattered most. That alone is no small feat at a superspeedway where the lead can disappear in seconds.
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Here’s where things started getting serious. A late caution reset the field and erased any comfort he might have had. Suddenly it wasn’t about managing a lead anymore. It was about surviving one final push. Chris Buescher, driving a Ford, lined up with a real shot at stealing it away.
The restart came and everything tightened up. Cars stacked behind Hocevar, waiting for any opening. Buescher made his move, closing in as they charged toward the finish. It turned into a drag race in the final stretch, the kind Talladega is known for. Hocevar held his line, kept the momentum, and crossed the line just over a tenth of a second ahead. That’s about as close as it gets without things going sideways.
That should’ve been the headline. First Cup win in three years. Young driver proving he belongs. Done deal. But Hocevar wasn’t finished.
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Because it’s hand-built, it’s also rare. Reportedly, only two versions of this particular design exist. One is a coupe, and this one is the roadster. That alone puts it in a strange category. It’s not factory rare, but it’s still something you’re unlikely to see parked next to you at a stoplight.
The base car itself is a third-generation MX-5, often considered the more comfort-focused version of the Miata lineup. Some purists don’t love that, arguing it lost a bit of the raw edge of earlier models. But spend time behind the wheel, and that opinion softens. These cars are still light, still balanced, still fun in the way a Miata is supposed to be.
This one keeps that spirit intact, even with the new look.
Power comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder pushing 166 horsepower. No, that’s not going to pin you to your seat. But it’s enough for what this car is meant to do. Back-road drives, top down, not taking things too seriously. That’s the point. It’s about the experience, not the numbers.
The transmission is a six-speed automatic, which might raise eyebrows among enthusiasts. Manual fans will always prefer to row their own gears. But there’s a trade-off here. The automatic makes the car easier to live with day to day. That’s not a bad thing, especially if the goal is to actually drive it instead of letting it sit.
And unlike a real Aston Martin, this car doesn’t come with complicated maintenance or intimidating service costs. That’s a big deal. Underneath the custom bodywork, it’s still a Mazda. That means parts are accessible, servicing is straightforward, and any Mazda dealer can handle it without hesitation.
That practicality is what gives this build an edge.
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Visually, it leans into classic roadster styling. Wire wheels with knock-off hubs give it that old-school feel. It comes with both a hardtop and a soft top, which adds flexibility depending on how you want to use it. The odometer shows 26,000 miles, which is relatively low for a car built on a Miata platform.
Still, this isn’t a car you buy for practicality alone. Let’s be honest about that.
This is about standing out. Pull up somewhere in this, and people will look. Some will think it’s a rare European model they can’t quite place. Others will realize it’s something else entirely. Either way, it starts conversations. And for a lot of buyers, that’s part of the appeal.
There’s also a certain attitude behind a car like this. It doesn’t take itself too seriously. It borrows styling from one of the most recognizable luxury brands in the world but pairs it with one of the most reliable and easygoing sports car platforms ever built. That mix shouldn’t work on paper. But here, it kind of does.
Of course, not everyone will love it.
Purists tend to push back on cars like this. The idea of reshaping a Miata into something resembling an Aston Martin isn’t going to win over traditionalists. And that’s fine. This car isn’t for them. It’s for someone who appreciates the creativity, who enjoys the oddball nature of it.
And maybe someone who doesn’t mind a little bit of attention.
There’s also a deeper appeal here that goes beyond looks. Cars like this tap into the idea of accessibility. Not everyone can own a rare classic from the 1960s or a modern high-end European sports car. But something like this gives you a taste of that world without the usual barriers.
That’s why it matters.
As the auction deadline gets closer, the pressure builds. Cars like this don’t come up often, and when they do, they tend to find buyers who are willing to take a chance on something different. With limited production and a unique story behind it, this one checks a lot of boxes for the right person.
Here’s the hard truth. You’re either the kind of buyer who gets this car, or you’re not.
For some, it’s a weird Miata with an identity crisis. For others, it’s a clever, head-turning roadster that delivers style without the usual headaches. The bidding will decide which perspective wins.
But once that auction ends, this thing disappears into someone’s garage. And chances are, it won’t sit there quietly.
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