A Japanese sports car that was rebodied by a Spanish coachbuilder so it looks like a classic British roadster.
Spanish coachbuilder Hurtan opened his shop in Granada in 1992. It was a family-owned company that caters to people who want old-fashioned designs with modern hardware. They will continue to use the same tried-and-true formula for their new Grand Albaycin. It was originally and was spotted last week in a targa model.
The prototype with the hardtop was based on Mazda MX-5 RF It’s obvious that the roadster you see here is a rebodied version of the best-selling two-seater convertible in the world. The Grand Albaycin Roadster exudes a 1960s British sports car look with bulbous wheel arches, a smiling face and bug-eyed headlights.
Although we love those wheels, we would be unable to live without the quad exhausts at their back. These are unnecessary considering that the Mazda MX-5’s horsepower numbers start with a “1”, regardless of whether it’s the 1.5 or 2.0-liter engines. Although the exterior has been modified to the point that you can’t tell it’s Mazda Miata, the Japanese DNA is evident once you get inside.
The cabin is largely unchanged from the ND-generation MX-5. However, there are some wood trims on the door cards and cream leather upholstery. There is also “Hurtan” lettering on the headrests. We are also seeing the H logo of the company on the steering wheel, as well as more fancy leather on the dashboard and handbrake lever and gear knob.
Hurtan has begun the countdown for the official debut of the car on its website. The debut is set to take place Saturday, January 23. The company has not yet said whether the car will be shown in both the roadster or targa versions. We will have to wait to see the latter. The Grand Albaycin will not be common and every car will be made to the owners’ specifications.