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  • This is the Odd Rod, an MX-5 with a Ford V8 and very little left from the original car.
  • It was the focus of an episode of Top Gear’s American Tuned series with Rob Dahm.
  • Listed for $37,500 despite over $100,000 in parts and labor invested by the builder.

In a world where texting your pizza order is easier than making eye contact with your neighbor, building something by hand still carries real weight. Communication might be effortless these days, but real connection? That takes work.

For Tommy Reichelderfer, that connection comes in the form of the Odd Rod, a wildly custom-built car that speaks to his passion for engineering, design, and the car community at large. After more than a decade of dedication, he’s now putting it up for sale.

More: Someone Just Dropped Nearly $100K On A Chassis With No Body

Dubbed the Odd Rod because, well just look at it, the car started out as a first-gen Mazda MX-5. Reichelderfer began the project while working at a shop that specializes in Ford V8s. A machinist by trade, he slowly but surely gained all the skills he needed to craft his perfect car.

The result is a creation almost entirely built by Tommy himself. Short of the louvers, everything you see here is something he did on his own. That includes the Ford V8 with see-through valve covers, the Tig-welded cage, and the delightfully bespoke front clip. The headlights, front grille, and dive planes all feature lovely little expressions of craftsmanship.

There are several important supporting modifications, too. They include a Tremec five-speed manual gearbox, Wilwood six-piston front brakes, Wilwood four-piston rear brakes, BC coilovers, and suspension parts from V8 Roadsters.

When Top Gear featured the car in 2022, it said the car made over 450 horsepower (335kW) at the crank. Now consider that it weighs just 2,140 pounds with ten gallons of gas in the tank. It has a 0.213 power-to-weight ratio. For reference, a Bugatti Veyron has a power-to-weight ratio of about 0.24. Put simply, this thing is built for speed.

Tommy listed the Odd Rod on Facebook for $37,500, which might sound high, but don’t forget what a labor of love this car is. He says he’s poured over $100,000 into it. He’s even willing to sell it without the drivetrain if someone wants to customize it in their own way. It’s not cheap, but it’s mighty impressive.

Photos Tommy Reichelderfer