The Mazda Miata: A Legendary Sports Car Born from a Passionate Pursuit

In 1962, Americans watched Sean Connery cruise through the countryside in a Sunbeam Alpine 2, a car so tiny he couldn't drive it with both elbows inside the vehicle. This sparked a love affair with an idea - a fun-to-drive, low-to-the-ground machine that was both free and exhilarating. However, America's love for muscle cars had already taken over the market, leaving little room for elegant and simple roadsters.

One problem was that Great Britain used up all its good metal fighting Nazis during World War II, leading to the scarcity of quality roadster models. The British also suffered from crazy wiring issues since they were assembled in Shropshire barns by a group of individuals who looked uncannily like the narrator. In 1976, Bob Hall, a Motor Trend contributor specializing in Japanese cars, met with the R&D department at Mazda to discuss his vision for future projects. Kenichi Yamamoto and Ikigai, department heads at Mazda, asked him what he would like to see Mazda produce in the future.

Hall immediately started waxing nostalgic about the death of the great British roadster, citing its elegance, simplicity, and allure as reasons why it was so desirable. However, when he presented his idea to Kouhei Matsuda, the head of Mazda at the time, he scoffed at the notion - "a Japanese company building a British roadster? Inconceivable!" It wasn't until Hall found himself in charge of product planning for Mazda USA in 1991 that Yamamoto was in a position to approve new projects. They discussed the idea of developing a light-weight roadster once more, this time with a handshake, and Bob Hall began working on bringing it to life.

To create a British-inspired roadster for American and Japanese drivers, Hall needed to find a designer with American automotive pedigree. He soon discovered Mark Jordan, who was basically the Michael Jordan of car stuff at the time. In 1981, Jordan, a family legacy at General Motors, was in charge of the most successful arm of GM in Europe, Opel. The idea of resurrecting the roadster was all the convincing he needed.

Jordan and Hall helmed the initial stages of concept and design, pushing for a light-weight sports concept that would appeal to both American and Japanese drivers. Their efforts paid off when Mazda approved the Offline 55 Project, a new system of development where Mazda would pit their North American design team against their team in Tokyo. The project aimed to change the way Mazda brought new concepts to the streets and expand their clout in international markets.

Hall brought on Tony Montana as chief designer for Mazda North American operations. Together, they put together plans for a small sports car heavily influenced by the Lotus Elan. They called it the Duo 101, with the name "duo" reflecting its availability in both soft and hard top configurations. In 1984, Jordan and Hall took all their drawings to Tokyo to be judged by the Tokyo team.

The Tokyo team brought two competing plans: a front engine, front wheel drive car and a mid engine, rear wheel drive layout. Yamamoto was impressed by both teams and wanted to take the competition one step further. He had both teams create clay models, with the American team emerging victorious. The winning theme that would guide Mazda through the MX5's development and future redesigns was Jinbai Attai, which originated from Japanese martial arts of horse-mounted archery.

Jinbai attai dictated that the car be as small and compact as possible, as comfortable as possible, and maintain a front engine, rear-wheel drive layout for perfect 50-50 weight distribution. Under these tenets, the Mazda MX5 was unveiled at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show to great interest. Dealers found themselves with multi-page waiting lists of hairdressers clamoring to get their hands on the new car.

As reviews came rolling in, interest mounted almost exponentially. The combination of style, handling, and affordability made the Miata an instant hit among enthusiasts. With its unique design, agile performance, and affordable price tag, the Mazda MX5 had finally arrived to fulfill Hall's vision - a fun-to-drive, low-to-the-ground machine that was both free and exhilarating.

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enWhat's a good track car?Cheap fun weekend car?Best car to haul my hairdresser supplies?No matter the question.MIATAISALWAYSTHEANSWERHow did it get here?And what makes it so great?You're about to find out dude.This is everything you need to know to get Up to Speed on the Mazda Miata.- In 1962, Americans watched Sean Connery cruisethrough the countryside in a Sunbeam Alpine 2,a car so tiny he couldn't drive it withboth elbows inside the vehicle.It sparked a love affair with an idea:a fun to drive, low to the ground machinethat was both free and exhilarating.Yes, America loves her muscle and pony cars,but the market opened up for the elegance,simplicity, and allure of the seductive British roadster.One problem, most of these cars f(bleep)ing sucked.Great Britain used up all their good metal fighting Nazis.- Say auf wiedersehen to your Nazi boss.- Add to that the fact that they had crazy wiring issuessince they were put together in some Shropshire barnby a bunch of dudes who looked like me.In 1976, Bob Hall, a Motor Trend contributor whospecialized in Japanese cars,met with the R&D department at Mazda.Department heads Kenichi Yamamoto and Ikigai,asked him what he would like to seeMazda make in the future.He immediately started waxing nostalgic aboutthe death of the great British roadster.Head of Mazda at the time, Kouhei Matsuda, scoffedat the idea: a Japanese company building a British roadster?- Inconceivable!- In 1991, Hall found himself in charge of productplanning for Mazda USA, and Yamamoto wasin a position to approve new projects.They discussed the crazy light-weight roadster ideaonce more, and this time, with a handshake,Bob Hall began the work of developing a Mazda roadster.But who could Hall go to to create a British inspiredroadster for American and Japanese drivers?He'd need to find a designer.Then he needed to find someone withAmerican automotive pedigree?Or, he could find them all in Mark Jordan.Basically, the Michael Jordan of car stuff at the time.In 1981, Jordan, a family legacy at General Motors,was in charge of the most successfularm of GM in Europe, Opel.And the idea of resurrecting the roadsterwas all the convincing he needed.The two helmed the initial stages of concept and design,pushing for a light-weight sports concept,and in less than a year,Mazda approved the Offline 55 Project.Offline 55 wasn't a code name for the car,instead it was a new system of development where Mazdawould pit their North American design teamagainst their team in Tokyo.Just like my dad pitted me and my siblingsagainst each other for his affection.It was an effort to change the way thatMazda brought new concepts to the streets,and hopefully expand their clout in international markets.Hall brought on Tom...Tony Montana as chief designerfor Mazda North American operations.The two men put together plans for a small sports car,heavily influenced by the Lotus Elan andavailable in both a soft and a hard top.They called it the Duo 101.Get it: duo, both, both kinds of tops!In 1984 they took all the drawings of their car andheaded to Tokyo to be judged.The Tokyo team brought in two plans:a front engine, front wheel drive car, (pbbt)and a mid engine, rear wheel drive layout.Yamamoto was impressed by both teams andwanted to take the competition one step further.Cooletay, a fight to the death!Just kidding, he just had both teams make clay models,and the American team won.There was one theme that would guide Mazda through the MX5'sdevelopment and future redesigns: Jinbai Attai.- Jinbai Attai.- Rider and horse, one body.- It originated from the Japanese martial artof horse-mounted archery andhelped Mazda realign how the world saw cars.Jinbai attai dictated that the car be as small andcompact as possible, as comfortable as possible,and keep the front engine, rear-wheel drive layoutfor the perfect, 50-50 weight distribution.Under these tenents, the Mazda MX5 wasunveiled at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show.As reviews came rolling in,interest mounted almost exponentially.Dealers found themselves with multi page waiting listsof hair dressers saying "Finally, a car made for us!"Mazda Miata, the Diet Coke of cars.Sure, it's mostly for girls.But some cool dudes like em too- The Mazda MX5, now known in the States simply as Miata,was also very affordably priced.The minimally equipped base model wasavailable at under $14,000.And really, who needs AC if the top's down all the time?A radio?F(bleep) it, I got an engine, the sound of the wind,and the birds celebrating my arrival.That's all the symphony you'll ever need, Dad!Another thrill of the Miata?Ease of maintenance.A home mechanic could do most of the maintenance themselves.It was so easy that modification began to proliferate.Now anybody could enjoy the thrill of a traditional,comfortable, responsive roadster.And those who did, instantly fell in love.- Love 'em, and love 'em, and don't care who knows it!- Mazda loved their Miata as well.A new performance division began in November 1991in Tokyo under the name M2 Incorporated.Also known as Mazda 2.M2 created niche autos derived from Mazda's volume products.Sort of like AMG or M Division for BMW.They made three kick ass version of the MX5that were only available in Japan,so (bleep) the rest of the world.One thing the M2 release did do was establish thatthe Miata was a bad ass race car.After 10 years of accolades for the first gen Miata,the NA, the redesigned MX5 was previewed at theTokyo Motor Show in October of 1997.The second gen Miata featured a more powerful engine andborrowed styling from the FDRX7.The most distinguishing difference were the head lamps.The first gen bad ass pop ups no longer passedpedestrian safety tests and were replaced with fixed ones.(bleep)ing pedestrians!Further, the new design was more aerodynamicand significantly reduced drag.And it got VVTI: variable valve timing.It's like Vtech.By the year 2000, enough Miata lovers were takingtheir cars to the track that NASA, the race guys,not the space guys, set a special class for the Miata.And Spec Miata was born.People love racing these cars! (lauging)And remember the M2 Division from before?Well, they're called Mazdaspeed now.And in 2004, they rolled out another performance Miata:the turbo-charged Mazdaspeed MX5.It made 178 horsepower and had a front mounted inner cooler.And guess what?If you couldn't get one from the dealer,you could build your own.Mazda continued making a bunch of Miatas, but whereasthe first two generations of the MX5 set a bar for theresurrected car class, by the mid-2000,they were competing with other companies.Jaguar had been making the XKR since '96.Toyota turned out the MR2 Spyder, with a y, in '99.(bleep) in 2004, we saw the release of the Audi TT roadster,the BMW Z4, the Porsche Boxster S, and the Nissan 350Z.And nobody was talking about the MX5.Various iterations and face lifts graced thethird generation Miata between 2005 and 2014.But Mazda seemed cursed by its own success.People knew it was a great roadster,but that meant they could never be surprised.Mazda had to reinvent the car thatthey used to reinvent the roadster.The fourth generation MX5 debuted in 2016.It's four inches shorter and 220 poundslighter than its predecessor.That's like having me not in the car with you anymore.The car was launched with both a six speed manualand a six speed automatic.It had 150 horse power and has returned toits road-hugging reputation asthe most exhilarating little monster on the road.And look at it!You got an aggressive little cute monster.With the little squinty eyes.- Woof!Additionally, a partnership with Fiat Chrysler meant that,in 2016 the MX5 had not only re-redefined the roadster,but it also gets credit forreinvigorating the entire Fiat brand.It's fun, it's cheap, it's reliable.You can't go to a track without seeing a Miata.And you can't see a Miata driverwithout an ear to ear smile on their face.I mean, unless they like got a divorce,or their dog died or something.That's everything you need to know to get upto speed on the Mazda Miata.Tell us how we're doing.Tell us what cars you would like to get up to speed on.Do pop up headlights really endanger pedestrians that much?Don't forget to subscribe and share.What is the biggest thing that youhave ever fit inside of a Miata?Do you think I would look like Donkey Kongin Mario Kart if I drove a Miata?