Rob Dahm has built some outrageous rotary-powered machines over the years, but his latest creation is most certainly the strangest yet. What you’re looking at here is a Mazda Miata with 13 rotors and four turbochargers towering above the windshield.
The whole thing started when Haltech invited Dahm to display his single-rotor Miata at the 2026 SEMA Show. Apparently, bringing the car as it was would have been far too sensible.
As documented on Dahm’s YouTube channel, the solution involved combining two existing projects in a way that probably wouldn’t occur to anyone else. The resulting contraption looks like someone parked an industrial generator on a tiny Japanese roadster.
There’s a catch, though, and it’s an important one. This isn’t a “conventional” 13-rotor engine, and the Miata’s ability to move under its own power comes from a much smaller rotary hiding underneath.
Twelve Rotors on Top, One Underneath
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Dahm took the enormous 12-rotor engine from his dragster project and mounted it above the Miata’s running single-rotor powerplant. The two engines aren’t mechanically connected, meaning the upper unit is essentially an elaborate display.
While this behemoth isn’t driving the wheels, the installation still wasn’t particularly easy. The 12-rotor weighs roughly 900 pounds, requiring a custom steel-tube support structure with triangulated bracing to keep it securely positioned.
Four Turbos and Almost No Visibility
With the upper engine mounted, Dahm’s crew reinstalled its intake manifolds, fuel system, wiring, exhaust plumbing, and three massive turbochargers. Combined with the smaller engine’s turbo, that brings the total to four.
The tallest turbo sits high above the car’s nose, giving the Miata its absurdly tall silhouette. Dahm joked about using a front-facing camera because the machinery obstructed so much of his view.
Somehow, the Miata Still Drives
Despite the enormous weight hanging over its front axle, the little Mazda could still roll. Dahm was astonished when it moved under its own power during a short test around the workshop. “Why is this not as gimmicky as it looks?” he laughed. “I hate that it’s actually making sense.”
That said, the test wasn’t entirely trouble-free, with smoke appearing near the lower turbocharger. Nevertheless, the Miata completed its brief drive, leaving Dahm visibly delighted.
Getting It to SEMA Was Another Challenge
Loading the car into its trailer proved unexpectedly difficult because the rear tires struggled for traction on the slippery ramp. The towering exhaust arrangement also needed repositioning to provide enough clearance.
For Dahm, the frantic final assembly was worth it. “Driving this into SEMA is going to be a top 10 life moment for me,” he said.
It’s not a functioning 13-rotor drivetrain, and Dahm never pretended otherwise. It’s what happens when a group of talented rotary enthusiasts gets together, has a ridiculous idea, and somehow finds a way to make it work.