Terry@Fortune

Well I was right

I visited Tom Matano, Vice President for Research

and Development at Mazda (in Irvine). As many of you

know, Tom was a leader in the design effort for the

Miata. (Mark Jordan still works with Tom, but most of

the others on the early design team are gone.)
We discussed the RX-7, which Tom says is still in

production in Japan. The low sales here in 1994 and

1995 did not justify the costs of making the structural

changes needed to meet the U.S. side impact standards

for 1997. Tom mentioned that structural changes needed

would have meant changes to the gas tank

shape/location, for example. It just wasn't feasible from

a cost standpoint.
While I was in Tom's office, he took a phone mail

message from Jay Lamm. (I am a Jay Lamm fan!) Jay

essentially congratulated Tom for his role in the redesign

of the c5 97 Corvette! That brought some knowing smiles ....

I think it's a shame that Tom didn't design the BACK end

of the 97 Corvette as well

Terry@Fortune

another article
http://www.cardesignnews.com/news/wh...ac-matano.html

Cobra4B

^ Cool... but i happen to like the butt of my car =)

JJSpinALot

wow it suprised me to see the elise replaced. i figured you would go all out with that thing. are the elise(kodiak) wheels 4X100 or 4X114.3? very nice replacment though. id like to check it out some day. if you think im worthy pm me the super-secret meeting location.

FlimFlam

Too bad it's not black.

Cobra4B

The lower 1/2 is =)

jentegraGS-R

you really love black don't you

ClassicJDMCars

Wow... talk about bringing back memories... That had to have been more than 3 years ago. I liked that color better than the blue i think..

I miss the S a little too.. i admit. Those were fun times..

trbowrx

happy late bday terry!! i was out of town. man finally you let the cat out of the bag it was hard for me to keep it secret hahaha i cant wait for a ride.