The new Mitsuoka LA1 brings first-generation Chevrolet Corvette-inspired styling to a sports car that appears to be based on the Mazda MX-5 Miata. The Japanese coachbuilder has released the first photos of the LA1 and says full details will follow in November.
Meet the Mitsuoka LA1
Mitsuoka, a car customizer and coachbuilder that has been around since the 1960s, is known for taking reliable Japanese cars and giving them distinctive new bodies. While some of its creations have unusual designs, its retro-inspired models have often produced more traditional-looking results.
The LA1 takes that approach further with styling inspired by the C1 Chevrolet Corvette. Its rounded bodywork, carefully placed chrome and classic proportions give the sports car a look that could fit comfortably on a concours lawn.
Despite the Corvette-inspired appearance, the LA1 appears to use the current ND-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata as its foundation. Mitsuoka has managed to adapt the C1’s styling and proportions to the Miata platform without making the result appear awkward.
Is the Mitsuoka LA1 Miata-Based?
Mitsuoka has not officially confirmed that the Miata platform sits beneath the LA1, but the photos provide several strong clues. The A-pillar, window shapes, front-quarter window and soft-top all appear unmistakably similar to those of the Miata.
The interior provides another indication, with the Miata’s infotainment screen clearly visible in the released photos.
Using the Miata as a donor also follows a path Mitsuoka has explored before. The company previously launched the Rock Star in 2018, a C2 Corvette Sting Ray-inspired model based on the Miata.
The idea for that project originated after company founder and namesake Susumu Mitsuoka saw a Corvette-inspired kit car during a visit to Los Angeles.
Don’t Expect a V8 in the LA1
Mitsuoka typically does not modify the mechanical components of its custom cars, meaning the LA1 will likely use the same 1.5-liter inline-four found in the Miata in Japan, where the car is known as the Mazda Roadster.
That engine produces 132 horsepower and sends power to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual transmission or an available six-speed automatic.
The U.S. market, along with retractable-hardtop RF models sold in Japan, gets a 2.0-liter inline-four producing 181 horsepower in the latest Miata.
Could the LA1 Get a V8?
For buyers who believe a Corvette-inspired car needs a V8, General Motors’ compact LS3 V8 is known to fit inside the Miata’s engine bay.
Colorado-based Flyin’ Miata previously performed the conversion for approximately $55,000, although the company has since stopped offering it. Anyone determined to pursue the conversion and able to provide the necessary funds could likely find another company to perform the work.
Mitsuoka has released the first images of the LA1 and says additional details will be provided in November.
