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Hardtops for sports cars can be darn expensive. For example, you can pay more for a Mazda hardtop than an entire used Miata is worth. The cause is likely supply and demand. And roadster hardtops may be so expensive because of a baffling racetrack regulation.

Recent Mazda Miatas came with folding hardtops. But older generations of the roadster only offered a folding convertible soft top. Aftermarket suppliers and Mazda do offer a hardtop you can mount to turn it into a coupe. Octane Motorsports sells fiberglass Mazda Miata hardtops for $2,300. Want carbon fiber? It’ll set you back at least $2,650.

These aftermarket top prices aren’t too bad, considering Mazda’s OEM prices. The automaker offers tops matched to various body colors and interior colors, for many model years. Clicking around, the most expensive configuration I found was for a yellow 2009 or 2010 Miata. This one costs $4,415! Even the most common years will cost at least $3,000.

Mazda Miata hardtop race car drifts around a track.
Mazda Miata race car | Arthur Poulin via Unsplash

I ran a nationwide Craigslist search through the Autotempest site and found multiple running and driving Mazda Miatas for between $3,000 and $4,000. At this price, you aren’t going to buy any of the most pristine ones around. But you can get a used car with over 100,000 miles, still ready for some summer fun.

Other roadsters have the same bizarre hardtop/used car price discrepancy. Used BMW Z3s still often sell for less than comparable Mazda Miatas. There are fewer hardtop options available. But many of the folks parting out cars and reselling OEM factory-built removable hardtops are listing them for $4,000.

What’s going on here? Many racetracks require every car to have a hardtop. So a Miata owner who wants to take their baby out for a track day must hunt down a hardtop to install. While other aftermarket Miata parts are affordable, the demand for hard tops is strong enough that their prices are high.

On the face of it, this regulation doesn’t seem baffling. Convertibles are dangerous. Hardtops seem safer. But in truth, a fiberglass roof from Octane Motorsports won’t do diddly to protect you during a crash. Race tracks serious about safety require a roll bar and don’t worry about whether your car has a roof.

Next, find out why it may cost you $7k to replace one taillight on a $12k sports car, or see a Miata owner explain how an aftermarket hardtop changes driving his old car in the video below:

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.