In a heart breaking turn of events, Tom Matano, father of the original MX-5, has sadly passed away.

Born on the 7th of October, 1947, and after a fruitful life as an advertising agent, automotive journalist and automotive designer, Tom Matano leaves behind a legacy which has touched the lives of most, if not all, petrol heads.

The NA Mazda MX-5, the world’s best selling two-seater sports car, sold over 430,000 units between 1989 and 1997, laying the road for later models to enter our hearts. 

Now, I may have never personally owned a NA MX-5, but I have dreamt of owning my own NB MX-5 after my father sold his own a few years back. I have had so many amazing memories in that car and I can attribute my love for all things automotive to it, and none of this would be possible without the extraordinary work of Tom Matano.

Tom’s design philosophy centered around “empathetic design”, designing cars which were deeply resonant and connected to the user’s experience, as well as empathizing the importance of a timeless design. And it’s safe to say that the NA MX-5, a car which still turns heads to this day, is definitely timeless, and with the bemused face of the car with its pop-up headlights, it’s impossible not to build an emotional attachment to it, like all MX-5s.

This devastating news has shaken the entire automotive industry but our thoughts go out to Tom’s family, friends and the wider Mazda community.

Thank you for your work, your designs, and thank you for one of the most influential cars ever, and hopefully we will see your designs be carried on into the future.

“Mazda mx-5 NA” by Falcon_33 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

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