Posted on 09/18/2026 6:09:30 AM PDT by Red Badger
* The Mitsuoka LA1 is a C1 Corvette impersonator based on the ND MX-5.
* It pays tribute to iconic American styling without going overboard.
* The official debut of the Japanese roadster is scheduled for November 26.
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Mitsuoka has shared more photos and information about its upcoming two-seater roadster. The Mitsuoka LA1 marries the styling of the C1 Corvette with the modern RWD underpinnings of the Mazda MX-5 ND.
The official premiere of the LA1 is scheduled for November 26, but the company has already unveiled the exterior design through a dedicated website. The renderings depict a two-door roadster that looks like the iconic American sports car, but from a distance.
The front end is reminiscent of post-1958 C1 Corvettes, with a quad headlight arrangement and a chrome bumper mounted in front of the larger grille and cooling intakes. Mitsuoka has also added a vented hood and a front splitter.
The profile features the swooping character line of the C1 Corvette formed by the decorative side gills and matching decals on the doors. The latter are derived from the Mazda donor vehicle, as with the windshield frame and the retractable soft top. However, the LA1 gets chrome side skirts and custom rear fenders that lead to a stretched rear overhang.
The rear end continues the theme, copying pre-1961 C1 Corvettes with the taillights mounted on the quarter panels and loads of chrome accents. We can also see a vintage bumper, a custom trunk lid, and Mitsuoka lettering.
The company has yet to announce the specifications, but the Mazda MX-5 ND is offered with 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines in Japan, producing 130 hp (97 kW / 132 PS) and 181 hp (135 kW / 184 PS), respectively. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. We also don’t see any reason the Mitsuoka LA1 won’t benefit from the Miata’s latest updates.
This is not the first time Mitsuoka has been inspired by a Corvette. Back in 2018, the coachbuilder unveiled the Mitsuoka Rock Star, which relied on C2 Corvette styling on top of the MX-5 ND platform. It doesn’t take us by surprise that the designer of the Rock Star, Takanori Aoki, has also signed the sketches of the new LA1.
Company founder Susumu Mitsuoka started the company after encountering a vintage-styled kit car, based on modern underpinnings, during a visit to Los Angeles. This experience laid the groundwork for Mitsuoka’s coachbuilding operations that continue to this day.
We will learn more about the Mitsuoka LA1 as we move closer to its debut in November, but it will most likely be a limited-production offering only for the Japanese market.
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We’re not copying their design for more sales. It’s a “tribute”.
LOL…”inspiration” now means “knock-off”?
Don’t care what you call it, I applaud any car manufacturer that attempts to make a car sexy instead of looking like just another bar of soap.
Back in the early 60’s I regularly attended the SCCA races at Danville VA.
Corvettes, the prized American sports car performed miserably. They couldn’t stay on the track. The Shelby Cobra always beat them. Even some Brit Class C’s beat them simply because at speeds required to beat the Shelby’s the corvettes lost it on the curves.
Alas..... My Diesel Sprinter is parked and the battery has run down while diesel fuel is priced at $5.65 at the spanking new reduced price Walmart gas station.
That’s a sharp looking car. It really takes after the 56 Corvette.
LOVE IT! and I’m a Porsche mid-engine & transaxle guy....2 mid-engines and 3 transaxles in the stable.......but one of these may be in the future......
Would never buy Chinese, but Japanese - sure.
But then how do I explain/justify buying other Chinese stuff? Good question. I can’t.
Battery charger/maintainers are your friend.
I’ve had one of these for years and brought back batteries I thought were gone, gone, gone.
$6.29 here in East Tennessee and it keeps climbing.
I’d buy one if I had he money.
Agreed. New production type cars are ugly and all basically look alike almost like the manufacturers coordinate on the look to prevent anyone from making a better design and cornering the market.
Wheels and curves make it look sharp. Not sure they can squeeze a v-8 under the hood.
It’s still a Miata under the skin...............
It combines one of the most beautiful cars and one of the best drivers and Japanese reliability. Mazda should consider doing something similar in the US.
Peter Max, the artist who passed away recently, bought 20 Corvettes for an art project. The project didn’t materialize, so he auctioned them off and gave the money to veterans.
The chrome and offset color "coves" are defining characteristics of 1958 Corvettes. Otherwise, you just have a quad-headlight Miata.
I've driven one. It was fun. Much better than my uncle's classic TR6, and then TR7 he let me drive a couple of times. Took a used Z3 for a test drive once. That was fun, too. Loved the looks of the thing and almost purchased.
I would buy one of these Mazvettes.
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