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The Miata Is a Better Sports Car Than the S2000

As the Mazda Miata turns 25, have a look back at how it came to be, from a mid-1980s chalkboard sketch to the wildly successful sports car the world came to know and love.

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"Bob Hall/Mazda" Celebrate the 25th birthday of a legendary sports car. View Gallery 13 Photos "Bob Hall/Mazda" 1 of 13 Mazda Miata Bob Hall's original chalkboard sketch may be crude, but it established the basic ideas that would become the Mazda Miata. "Bob Hall/Mazda" 2 of 13 Mazda Miata A more fleshed-out sketch by Mark Jordan captures the essence of what Mazda sought to deliver with the Miata. "Bob Hall/Mazda" 3 of 13 Mazda Miata Three distinct design ideas for the Miata. From left to right, front-engine/front-drive, mid-engine/rear-drive, and front-engine/rear-drive. The one on the right won, and became an instant classic. "Bob Hall/Mazda" 4 of 13 Mazda Miata Once the powertrain layout was decided, it was time to get serious. This is the first full-scale design proposal for the Mazda Miata. "Bob Hall/Mazda" 5 of 13 Mazda Miata This is the second design proposal that was floated for the Mazda Miata. It was a dead end. "Bob Hall/Mazda" 6 of 13 Mazda Miata This is the first drivable Mazda Miata proof-of-concept prototype. "Bob Hall/Mazda" 7 of 13 Mazda Miata This is the final U.S. design proposal for the Miata, which was now a full production-intent project. "Bob Hall/Mazda" 8 of 13 Mazda Miata This is the final U.S. proposal after incorporating a number of changes requested by Japan. "Bob Hall/Mazda" 9 of 13 Mazda Miata Toshihiko Hirai in the Miata's cockpit. Bob Hall/Mazda 10 of 13 Mazda Miata The original, and now iconic, NA Mazda Miata. "Bob Hall/Mazda" 11 of 13 Mazda Miata The second-gen, or NB, Miata's styling doesn't hold up as well as the original's. "Bob Hall/Mazda" 12 of 13 Mazda Miata The current third-generation "NC" Miata is every bit as wonderful to drive as its predecessors, and wears styling that smartly and subtly pays homage to the original. "Bob Hall/Mazda" 13 of 13 Mazda Miata The Miata is one of the most popular sports cars ever made, spawning three production generations, a slew of concepts, and countless race cars throughout its 25-year history. Next Photos: Toyota TRD Trucks Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

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