Miata, Alfa connection

[Pottree@domain.elided]

In a message dated 10/12/2002 11:09:03 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:


> 
> It was widely reported at the time that Mazda bought several Lotus Elans, 
> shiped them to Japan, and disassembled and reverse engineered, and these 
> were 
> the basis for the original Miata.  Whatever they did they kicked Alfa butt 
> in 
> the market place.  It was much closer to a real drivers car than the aging 
> Alfa.

Actually, the designer (coachwork) of the Miata once came and talked to our 
AROSC group at a meeting.  I forget his last name, his first was Ken.  He is 
from Japan, but had an international career, having designed Oldsmobiles or 
something for GM, the small BMW for you-know-who, the Mazda RX7 is it, the 
coupe), and the Miata, which is supposed to be an update on the 60s Austin 
Healy theme.  When they worked on it, a Guilia was parked in the design 
studio (saw a photo) which I think was here in CA, not in Japan.  They also 
took into account that in the USA, cars in driveways pull in head first, so 
the rear is important for a view from the street, while in Japan, people back 
into the driveway, so the front is more important, design and identity-wise!

Charlie
LA, CA, USA
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