You’d Never Guess What’s Underneath This Tiny Corvette Lookalike

Mitsuoka has a habit of making perfectly normal cars look like they arrived from another decade, and the LA1 might be one of its most interesting transformations yet.

The Japanese coachbuilder takes the modern Mazda MX-5 and dresses it up with styling cues from the original Chevrolet Corvette, creating a two-seat roadster that looks nothing like the car underneath.

The LA1 gets its strongest Corvette references at the front. Four round headlights sit above a large grille, with a chrome bumper running across the nose. Mitsuoka also adds a vented hood and front splitter, while the side profile picks up the sweeping shape associated with the C1 through decorative gills and matching graphics on the doors.

Things get even more custom toward the back. The MX-5’s windshield frame and folding soft top remain, but Mitsuoka adds chrome side skirts, reshaped rear fenders, and a longer-looking rear section. The taillights sit high on the rear quarters, just like they did on early Corvettes, while a vintage-style bumper, custom trunk lid, and Mitsuoka lettering finish off the look.

There’s no word on the LA1’s engine yet, although the Japanese-market MX-5 gives Mitsuoka a couple of options. The donor car is available with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder producing 130 hp or a 2.0-liter unit with 181 hp, paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. The LA1 also follows an idea Mitsuoka has already explored. Its 2018 Rock Star used the same MX-5 ND platform with C2 Corvette-inspired bodywork, and both cars were designed by Takanori Aoki.

The LA1 makes its official debut on November 26. Mitsuoka has yet to reveal pricing, production numbers, or full mechanical details, but a limited Japanese-market run seems likely. For now, the photos give us a pretty good idea of what happens when a Miata spends too much time looking at old Corvettes.