Just like painting and sculpture, the automobile is also a form of art, and some creations from the industry have left their mark on history. This is especially true for the legendary Mazda Miata, known today as the MX-5. It is one of the most recognized small sports cars in the entire world.
Today, however, I am not here to talk about the car itself, but rather about one of its main creators, Tom Matano. The renowned designer responsible for the Miata’s iconic silhouette passed away on September 20th.
A Career Filled with Success
Tom Matano was born on October 7, 1947, in Nagasaki, Japan. He first began his studies in Japan before moving to the United States in 1970 to continue his education in design. He landed his first job in the automotive industry at General Motors in 1974 before being transferred to Australia. In 1983, Matano joined the Mazda family as head of design for its North American operations. He later climbed the ranks to become brand director for Mazda in North America. Tom Matano worked on numerous cars, including the legendary RX-7.
The father of the Miata left Mazda in 2002 to become Executive Director of the Academy of Art University’s School of Industrial Design in San Francisco and later Vice President of Design at Next Autoworks starting in 2008.
Matano retired earlier this year to devote himself to automotive journalism. Sadly, his career in the field was short-lived, as he passed away last week at the age of 76.
The Mazda Miata/MX-5 is a model known around the world and a car that continues to make many dream. We can therefore thank Tom Matano for having been part of the project.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
