Concept Weekend Edition – Red Guitar: 1987 Mazda MX-04

Antti Kautonen

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1987_Mazda_MX-04_roadster

Welcome to another Weekend Edition, and a Concept Car themed one to boot. A couple weeks ago I ran a Concept Weekend Edition, and since there are a great number of concepts that didn’t make the cut, I’m focusing on them. Today’s especially Mazda-themed, and I’m starting with the 1987 Mazda MX-04 Roadster.

And as last time, I’m referencing the work of a certain artist or band in the titles. This weekend it’s David Sylvian‘s turn: the man sometimes considered as the most pretentious man in music suits the theme well. And – he used to front a band called Japan, so there’s that. Unlike with the Associates weekend previously, I’m including YouTube clips of the songs referenced.

1987_Mazda_MX-04_04

Back in 1987, Mazda was birthing the Miata. While singlehandedly rescuing the affordable roadster class was undoubtedly a challenge, Mazda still had time to think outside the box when making concept cars.

The idea with the MX-04 Concept was that you could choose the box: the bodywork was detachable and modular, so you could strip it down to the bare essentials and get away with it. The red guise you see in the first photos is just that.

1987_Mazda_MX-04_Semi-Cowl-Chassis_03

1987_Mazda_MX-04_02

In a way, in hindsight you could say they were aiming for the Lotus 7 or Ariel Atom sort of car with that. The skeleton at its most naked needed only a couple of simple red fittings, to make it look complete and useable.

1987_Mazda_MX-04_01

But for those days that it would be simply impossible to drive around with such a stripped machine, you could cover up the structure with a more elaborate shell, that more resembled a small coupe. And a very attractive one at that, too.

1987_Mazda_MX-04_Roadster_Interior_01

The almost – dare I say it – Fiero-like interior remained the same, no matter the external dress-up.

1987_Mazda_MX-04_03

Seeing the MX-04 make production would have been endlessly entertaining. You know, with the MX-04 you would’ve sort of gotten the instrument, and the carrying case for it.

[youtube width=”720″ height=”500″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPKm6BnFeBs[/youtube]

[Images: Mazda via carstyling.ru]

About

Antti Kautonen

Antti Kautonen

The resident Finn of Hooniverse. Owns old Peugeots and whatnot, writes long thinkpieces on unloved cars. These two facts might be related.

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12 responses to “Concept Weekend Edition – Red Guitar: 1987 Mazda MX-04”

  1. PotbellyJoe ★★★★☆ Avatar
    PotbellyJoe ★★★★☆

    Modular doors and roof you say?
    <img src="http://www.dog-walker.us/07Rubicon/Doors%20Off.jpg&quot; width=550>

    Reply
  2. PotbellyJoe ★★★★☆ Avatar
    PotbellyJoe ★★★★☆

    I miss the era of outside of the box thinking that was legitimately outside of the box.
    Nowadays, outside the box thinking means you painted it fluorescent green and have an iPad in it.
    GM had their Hy-wire platform that could 'wear' any attachable body. That seemed pretty cool. Obviously it would be hard to make viable, but as the family grows, you just have the dealer drop a new box on top of your platform.
    <img src="http://evworld.com/images/gm_skateboard.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. seat safety switch Avatar
      seat safety switch

      This Mazda sort of reminds me of the Pontiac Stinger concept without doors:
      <img src="http://i.imgur.com/0tE4uq4.jpg"/&gt;
      I bet the Mazda version didn't come with its own shovel and tire inflator though.

      Reply
  3. bhtooefr Avatar
    bhtooefr

    Of course, people ended up doing that to the Miata, too.
    I've even seen a first-gen Mustang-look reskin kit for the Miata. The windshield frame gives it all away instantly, but the rest actually looks good from the distance used in the pics that were used to promote it.

    Reply
    1. Rover 1 Avatar
      Rover 1

      http://www.autoblog.com/photos/m1stang-miata-must… for a full set of pictures

      Reply
  4. ptschett Avatar
    ptschett

    I remember this… I would have been 6-7 at the time and I wanted one. In silver coupe trim it reminds me of a Transformer toy, due to all the cutlines and the funky shape of the dividing line between silver & black. And the red roadster looks like too much fun to possibly be street-legal.

    Reply
    1. julkinen Avatar
      julkinen

      I remember it too, and remember making this connection in my mind:
      <img src="http://hooniverse.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/1987_Mazda_MX-04_03.jpg&quot; width="700">
      <img src="http://www.imcdb.org/i002674.jpg&quot; width="700">

      Reply
  5. stigshift Avatar
    stigshift

    It looks like a combination of Miata and Honda Element.

    Reply
    1. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar
      Rust-MyEnemy

      What a recipe!

      Reply
  6. Van_Sarockin Avatar
    Van_Sarockin

    Cool, but looks like it had far too much structure, Swiss Army Knife/Transformer car concepts are always cool, but rarely work out. The Nissan Pulsar NX is about the only real one I can think of, and they must have sold a total of a bout ten non-notchback pieces. GM's mid-gate truck is also a worthy effort. But aside from convertibles, Westphalia vans, and Jeeps and Kubelwagens they've rarely had much popularity. Mercedes SL hardtops are a good example – because you need a garage to store the spare pieces, and the top really needs a block and tackle to install. Even if folks have the room to warehouse car parts for every occasion, most won't have the patience to swap out the parts, even on a seasonal basis. But a handsome design: I see a lot of Probe there.

    Reply
    1. Rover 1 Avatar
      Rover 1

      And a tiny bit of Lancia Gamma Coupe in the proportions, and the rear wheel arch http://www.cargurus.com/Cars/1980-Lancia-Gamma-Pi…

      Reply
      1. Van_Sarockin Avatar
        Van_Sarockin

        Disagree. That's a hardly refreshed Beta, and I'm not sure it's an improvement.

        Reply