[Fot] "Triotas" (or "Toyumphs")

[Kurt Oblinger]

The original Miata was most certainly inspired by the original Lotus 
Elan. The project leader for the Miata was a guy named Bob Hall, who I 
knew back in my misspent youth when my friends and I used to race around 
on a deserted piece of road in the Hollywood Hills called Mulholland Dr. 
Years later Bob landed a job with Mazda and started lobbying for them to 
build a modern interpretation of a '60s British sports car. When the 
project got going and a design team was formed, Bob bought an Elan for 
the team to use as inspiration. One of the lead designers on the team 
was Mark Jordan, son of Bob Jordan, head of GM styling. Put an original 
Miata and an Elan side by side and its obvious.

Cheers,
Kurt

BillDentin at aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 06/19/2008 3:47:25 PM Central Daylight Time, 
> DSPGTi at aol.com writes:
>
>
>   
>> When the Miata first came out, everyone was calling it the new MGB. Other  
>> than similar size, and two seat convertable, I saw no resemblence especially 
>> in  
>> the drive train. I don't think I can see any features that may have been  
>> influenced by Triumph either. If anything, maybe a Lotus. Full  independent, 
>>
>> double wishbone unequal length control arms in all four  corners, double 
>> overhead 
>>
>>     
>
> I think LOTUS too.  I think I may have told this story before, but when the 
> MIATAs first came out and became popular, a local club came to 'do touring 
> laps' at a VSCDA ROAD AMERICA event.  In a condescending manner, I looked down my 
> nose and asked one of the drivers how he liked driving his 'Jap Sports car.'  
> He was very pleasant and answered, "It's a lot like driving your TRIUMPH, but 
> I don't have to work on it."
>
> Bill (Damdinger)
>
>
>
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