This Stop-Motion Tear-Down Of A Mazda MX-5 Engine Is Utterly Mesmerising

Want to get more intimately acquainted with the inner workings of an early Miata inline-four? You need to watch this amazing timelapse
Remote video URL

Engine build-up/tear down timelapses on YouTube aren’t exactly anything new, but we’re not sure we’ve ever seen one executed quite as well as this.

It’s been done using stop motion animation, and took four days of shooting and eight days of editing to make. Alex from How A Car Works has since been in touch to tell us exactly how the ‘floating’ sparks plugs were made possible. “The spark plugs were done by tying four pieces of cotton around them and using the bonnet stay as a fishing rod and lifting them out at an angle. We then photoshopped it out,” he said. Simple, but effective.

The video goes one step further than just showing all the engine’s various parts flying off, too: we’re also shown things like the crank turning and the pistons moving, giving an intimate look inside this Mk2.5 1.6-litre Miata engine.

Extra points must be awarded for the Pixar-style animated lamp, too…

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Comments

Anonymous

Alex Kersten heavy breathing

08/15/2017 - 14:21 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Not hating, just reporting

08/15/2017 - 14:21 |
2 | 2
Bring a Caterham To MARS

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Great, Android users have their buttful of bugs too, how awesome!

08/15/2017 - 15:23 |
4 | 0
Matt Robinson
Matt Robinson

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Thanks - for some reason the featured image hadn’t uploaded when we published. When that happens, the app auto-fills with another image. Should be fixed now!

08/15/2017 - 16:52 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Alex would probably find this useful. Or probably not.

08/15/2017 - 14:23 |
26 | 0
GoreoProductions

Alex Kersten

08/15/2017 - 14:35 |
0 | 0
Kyle Ashdown

Best way to tear down an MX-5 engine? 30 pounds of boost.

08/15/2017 - 14:47 |
198 | 0

Speaking about it :D, im willing to donate this to Phill. Only if you guys brave enough

08/15/2017 - 17:00 |
44 | 2

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08/15/2017 - 17:00 |
0 | 2

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08/15/2017 - 17:00 |
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08/15/2017 - 17:00 |
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How a Car Works

Thanks :)

08/15/2017 - 15:08 |
6 | 0
ah00t13

Stripped one of these down myself, quite an entertaining project. That motor was quite destroyed though.

08/15/2017 - 15:24 |
2 | 0
MrLeo

Can’t imagine how many hours went into this

08/15/2017 - 15:26 |
4 | 0
How a Car Works

In reply to by MrLeo

four days shooting photos. eight days editing and sfx :)

08/15/2017 - 15:33 |
18 | 0
Soni Redx (MD Squad Leader) (Subie Squad Leader)

What have you done CT.. I cant stop watching it…

08/15/2017 - 16:19 |
0 | 0
Alex Kersten

Amazing. One of the coolest things I’ve seen on YouTube. And I get to see myself every week ;)

08/15/2017 - 16:25 |
36 | 0