Update 2/22/2019: According to Japanese car site Bestcarweb.jp, Mitsuoka has managed to sell all 50 examples of its Corvette-bodied MX-5 Miata, the Rock Star. The news comes just four months after the car's reveal. Now all you have to do is wait 25 years to import one. Our original article covering the Rock Star's announcement, published October 11th, 2019, can be seen below.
If you love how the new Mazda MX-5 drives, but want something that looks a bit more vintage, this perfectly quirky Corvette Stingray-bodied Miata could be the mashup you've been waiting for.
It's called the Rock Star, and it's built by a Japanese company called Mitsuoka. It's the same firm behind that weirdly over-styled Orochi sports car and the Morgan-esqe Himiko two-seater, which was also MX-5-based. This time around, Mitsuoka is aiming to replicate the looks of the second-generation Corvette convertible, and it's done a pretty good job.
Though the proportions aren't exactly correct, Mitsuoka has pulled off an impressive knockoff considering the MX-5 the Rock Star is based off. The door shapes are very Miata, but the front—aside from the tiny fixed headlights—is totally on-point. The rear is equally as impressive, with four circular taillights and arched fenders. The side-sills, muscle car-style wheels, and unique white-lettered BF Goodrich tires help too. There are 30 paint colors to choose from, some of which are named after US states or cities.
Compared to the outside, Mitsuoka didn't change much in the cabin, opting for new leather trim and unique badging on the steering wheel. Considering how many of the parts (like the steering wheel and infotainment system) are integrated into the car, that's not much of a surprise. The drivetrain is unchanged from the normal Japan-market Miata, meaning a 1.5-liter four-cylinder making 132 horsepower, sending power to the rear wheels via either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.
According to Mitsuoka's website, the company will only be producing 50 Rock Stars, each with a starting price of 4,688,200 Japanese Yen, or around $41,700 at current exchange rates. This car almost certainly won't come to US, but it's nice to know that somewhere out there, there are a handful of expertly crafted Miatas with Corvette bodies driving around.
via Jalopnik
Brian Silvestro is Hearst Autos' former lead deputy editor for rankings content. He spent over seven years as a staff writer for Road & Track Magazine where he contributed car reviews, industry interviews, and more. He has a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing.
