The Italia 3 SWB takes much of its design and styling inspiration from the famous Pininfarina-designed Ferrari 250 SWB. While in no way a replica, Simpson Design's take on these styling notes provides a comparably visually stunning coach design with a much less exorbitant pricetag and a more enjoyable overall experience for the owner. Less time in the shop, more time on the road.
Another car building on Jim's great affinity for the platform, the SWB incorporates the chassis and mechanicals of the third generation or "NC" Mazda Miata. This met the driving & maintenance specifications requested by our first client to order an SWB. NC Miatas are readily available in excellent condition, making them a cost-effective and time-efficient option as a base platform.
The Italia 3 SWB is an extremely involved design, requiring months of work to complete. Most parts, including the grille and all the window trim, are handmade. The more spacious interior afforded by the 3rd generation Miata platform is well suited to customization; our clients commonly elect to go all out with the interior treatment of these cars, more so than any other model we produce. The interior console is heavily modified from the base car, featuring a fully upholstered transmission tunnel.
All glass components in the car with the exception of the front vent windows are custom, designed & produced specifically for this project. Custom wire wheels are optional, but make an excellent addition to the styling vintage evoked by the SWB.
An original 250 SWB trunk lid and roof from Italy were heavily modified & adapted to create the scaling and basic shape of the rear end, though the Italia 3 SWB is wider & slightly shorter in wheelbase than the 250 SWB. Beneath the lid, the trunk is completely reworked from the inside- all-new upholstery and a clever hidden storage compartment under the flat trunk floor.