It is pretty much a copy of any LBC like the MGs, but if you look at a Lotus Elan and Miata (the first version) side-by-side, you’d see what Mazda copied, at least for the exterior.
Take a look at this page http://members.cox.net/elans4/ElanMiata.htm
I remember the old Lotuses. They were basically kit cars. Very hot, fun to drive, but made Fiats look like Toyotas in terms of reliability.
For the record I got a Miata as a courtesy car a few years ago when my pickup was being serviced and it was a hoot to drive. I hadn’t had a sports car for years. It was a beautiful day so I put the top down, turned the radio up and slammed gears all afternoon along some country roads in the area. It may be a girly car, but if driven properly it can be a h*ll of a
lot of fun.