Introduced in 1989, the original Mazda Miata is a lightweight Japanese sports car that relied on just over 100 horsepower to provide a spirited driving experience. And despite what some haters will tell you, the Miata can be a fun, if underpowered, car. But being the American muscle fans that we are, we can’t help but imagine how much more fun a Miata would be with a big honkin’ LSx engine under the hood.

Last fall, Bauer Limited Production introduced a custom car they called the Catfish. Based on the 1990 to 2005 Mazda Miata and sporting a LS-based V8 engine, the Catfish manages to weigh even less than the original Miata, while looking a lot manlier.

Designed to be a low-cost V8 sports car for the masses, all Bauer needs from you is a Miata donor car and $13,900. To prove that almost any budget Miata can work, Bauer built their SEMA show car on a roller that cost just $800. This base price gets you a new aerodynamic body, a flat underbody panel, and an all-new firewall to fit the big V8, though the engine itself will cost extra. The body, sans the engine, weighs just 1,500 pounds. That’s light, yo.

Called a “gentleman’s racer”, the Catfish conversion also includes a single-hoop safety bar, DOT-compliant headlights and taillights, and side view mirrors. So yes, it is totally a street legal ride, but absolutely built for track racing. With a wide range of LS engines to choose from, we’d go with the 638 horsepower LS9, no doubt.

But if you’re on a budget, you can get a LS1 engine and transmission for a couple thousand bucks, and have 350 horsepower in a flyweight car. What’s not to love?