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Ryan Montgomery has built the Roadster Atlas, a free interactive 3D model based on the NB-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata. It includes 699 individual parts, views that show how components fit together and animations of the engine and suspension; Montgomery says other Miata generations are planned.
Ryan Montgomery, the creator of the Miata-focused lifestyle brand Roadster Republic, has made the Roadster Atlas, a free interactive 3D model of the NB-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata. The online model contains 699 individual parts and lets visitors inspect the car in exploded and body-off views, offering owners and enthusiasts a way to see how its components fit together without downloading software or creating an account.
The Atlas is based on Montgomery’s own 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, but is intended to represent the wider NB generation, which ran from model years 1999 to 2005. The model covers components from exterior panels to bolts, and the engine can be separated into its individual parts. Users can rotate the view by clicking and dragging, or switch to views that expose the car’s structure.
The interactive features go beyond displaying parts. Users can watch the engine rotate and see how different suspension settings change its geometry. The site is accessible in a mobile browser, though Montgomery said in a Reddit post that a desktop is the better way to view it. The Drive reported that the Atlas is available without a login or a software download.
According to The Drive, the measurements draw on Mazda’s published specifications as well as material from media and the Miata community, including information from owners whose cars have been disassembled. The report describes the project as a way to understand how parts fit together, not as a replacement for a workshop manual. Montgomery said other Miata generations are planned, but the source does not identify a release schedule.
A visual guide to Miata components
The Atlas turns a car’s complex assembly into something visitors can inspect directly, rather than asking them to infer how parts relate from photographs or diagrams. Its exploded views and moving components may help owners build familiarity with the NB Miata’s layout and give enthusiasts a clearer starting point when researching a modification.
That makes the project useful as an educational reference, but its limits matter. The model is not described as a service procedure, and the available report does not establish that it has been validated for repair work. Anyone doing maintenance or planning a change should consult the appropriate factory service information and qualified professionals where needed; the 3D model is an aid to understanding, not a substitute for instructions or inspection.
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Built from a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata
The Roadster Atlas focuses on the second-generation, or NB, MX-5. Montgomery used his 2004 Mazdaspeed as the starting point, while aiming to make the digital car representative of NB models across the 1999–2005 model-year span. That distinction is relevant because the project is not simply a scan of one complete car: the report says it incorporates published specifications and community-sourced information as well.
The Drive’s report presents the Atlas as a project made by a Miata owner and brand creator, rather than an official Mazda tool. Montgomery’s stated plan to model additional Miata generations would broaden its scope if those models are completed and published. No specific future model, release date or feature list is provided in the source.
““It’s not intended to replace a shop manual.””
— The Drive, describing the Roadster Atlas
Limits of the model and its data
The source does not specify how Montgomery checked the accuracy of each of the 699 modeled parts, whether every NB variant is represented in the same way, or how the model handles differences between individual cars. It says the measurements use Mazda specifications and media and community sources, but gives no detailed account of the modeling or verification process.
It is also unclear when the project was first made public, how long the work took, and whether planned models for other generations have a target release date. The headline characterizes the work as taking months, but the supplied report does not give a precise duration. The source also does not describe the Atlas as official, manufacturer-approved or suitable for diagnosing a specific vehicle.
Further Miata generations planned
Montgomery’s next stated step is to create models of other Miata generations. The source offers no dates or confirmation about which generation will come next, so the timing and scope remain open. For now, readers can explore the NB-focused Atlas through a browser, with Montgomery recommending a desktop for the fullest view.
Any future release could add comparable visual references for owners of other MX-5 models, but that depends on the planned work being completed and made available. Until more information is published, the NB model is the confirmed offering described in the report.
Key Questions
What is the Roadster Atlas?
It is a browser-based 3D model of the NB-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata. Users can rotate the car, inspect exploded and body-off views, and explore individual components.
Does it cost anything to use?
The Drive reports that the Atlas is free to view and does not require an account or software download.
How many parts are included?
The report says the model includes 699 individual parts, from body panels to bolts, with the engine also broken down into components.
Can the Atlas replace a repair manual?
No. The report says it is not intended to replace a shop manual. Use the appropriate service information for repair procedures; the model is a visual reference for understanding how components fit together.
Are models of other Miata generations coming?
Montgomery has said that other generations are planned, according to The Drive. The report does not name a release date or confirm which generation will be modeled next.
Source: thedrive.com
