Open-gate manual gearboxes are wonderful things: they look classy and feel satisfying to operate. Though, they’re normally reserved for supercars, and supercars tend to be quite expensive. What if you wanted an open-gater for something a little more... humble?
Good news! You can now buy such a thing for the first-generation Mazda MX-5 (the NA, for you Mazdafarians) thanks to a small start-up called Minottek. Price? A smidge under £450, or around P34,000.
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Apparently, no major surgery will be required during the DIY job either, since this was designed from the off - following over 200 hours of development - to directly replace the original five-speed assembly.
Your bundle will come with a 20mm stainless steel stick and brass lower bushing, plus a nylon centre console trimming for its base. Adjusting points are also built-in, so you shouldn’t be cursing too much if you follow the installation guide properly.
“My obsession for building things began with Lego but really took off when I bought my first car, a 1995 MX-5,” says Minottek boss Ryan Conforti. “I became obsessed with making my own parts, so much so that I dropped out of engineering school to become a professional metal fabricator and ultimately a welder.
“When thinking about a first product my mind immediately went to the gated shifter. I experienced one previously in a Ferrari 360 Spider, and the tactility of the shift brought out a very satisfactory feeling that I didn’t expect apart from the ‘click-clacks’. To be able to offer an experience that isn’t typically accessible, especially for the MX-5, is very important to me.”
Conforti also confirmed to TopGear.com that he’s working on a six-speed version for the second-generation Mazda MX-5. Reckon this is the sort of aftermarket product we should be seeing more of?
NOTE: This story first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
