We lost a good one, car fans. Tsutomu “Tom” Matano, designer of the original Mazda Miata MX-5, died earlier in September at the age of 76. Known simply as “Tom” to his fans and sports car connoisseurs, Matano was a fixture at Mazda for several decades and a champion of the consumer-friendly sports car.

Here’s a look at Matano’s life, his influence on car design trends and the continued relevance of the Miata in car enthusiast communities.

Creation of the Miata

Designer Behind The Iconic Mazda Miata
Donaldson Collection/Getty Images

Tom Matano came to the Mazda design studio in Irvine, California, in the late ’80s after career stops at BMW and GM. Matano joined a team with a clear goal in mind: create a fun-to-drive, lightweight vehicle that evoked trendy British sports cars of the time— but without the unreliable and high-maintenance downsides of those luxury vehicles.

A period of internal brainstorming and competition among various Mazda design teams followed, as the company looked to nail down exactly what their new vehicle would be. The California team, led by Matano and Miata co-parent Bob Hall, submitted the pitch for what would soon become the Miata MX-5. Its snappy design and conveniently packaged rear-wheel drive sports car thrills were exactly what the company was looking for… and, it turns out, what drivers were looking for in 1989.

“There’s no use trying to hide our enthusiasm for this car,” wrote a Car and Driver editor reviewing the Miata on its release. “No way we can keep the envelope sealed until the end of this cri­tique. You see, the Miata fairly glows with the automotive ideals that this magazine holds dear—exciting looks, fun to drive, sen­sible ergonomics, quality construction, fun to drive, refined mechanicals, affordable price, and—did we forget to mention?—fun to drive. We feel like cheering.”

Matano’s Continued Influence on Car Trends

The Miata MX-5 was a massive hit in the United States. But it wasn’t just a hit for Matano and Mazda. The popularity of the MX-5 made one thing very clear to automakers: there was a real appetite for entry-level sports cars among drivers in the United States. This sparked a trend that continues to this day, with cars like the Toyota GR86, the BMW Z3 and the Porsche Boxster all following in the Miata’s tire tracks. Matano, Hall and the rest of their team did not just create the Miata in 1989— in many ways, they sparked an entire subgenre.

A Continued Love for the MX-5

Following the creation of the Miata, Matano continued to be a driving creative force for Mazda for many years. But even after retiring, he remained an active ambassador and fan of the car he helped create. Fans would regularly report sightings of Matano at car events and Miata enthusiast gatherings. His handle on Instagram was “@MiataPapa“, and he would regularly post photos of his own cars on his feed.

So if you own a Miata, consider going for a drive this weekend in honor of MiataPapa. He would appreciate it.

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Harrison Kral
Harrison is a writer, editor and former construction worker covering the home building industry, the housing market and general DIY trends.
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Harrison Kral