Filed under: Convertibles, Japan
Mitsuoka tries to ape Morgan, succeeds
Click above for a gallery of the Mitsuoka Himiko
It's ridiculous, but we love Mitsuoka. The company is best known for transforming existing cars into wannabe classic British-style rides, as well as its Orochi sports car, which is what happens after a Camry gets drunk and has a torrid one-night stand with a sea monster. The latest Mitsuoka effort, however, is an instant classic. It's called the Himiko, and it wants desperately to be a Morgan. Appropriately, the source material for this fake British sports car is a Mazda MX-5, itself an homage to the classic British roadsters of old. Thus, how bad can it really be? And look, you can even get it with the retractable hardtop! It's as endearing as it is nutty. Like we said at the top. We love Mitsuoka.
UPDATE: 20 more photos added to the gallery.
Gallery: Mitsuoka Himiko
[Source: Autofiends]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
TJ 2:33PM (12/04/2008)
Really, could be a LOT worse.
Not saying I like it... just that it could be much, much, much worse.
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Jeff 2:38PM (12/04/2008)
Wow, I actually like that! Pretty cool idea and with MX-5 underpinnings it probably moves pretty well (assuming they haven't added too much weight).
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MGBYG 12:35AM (12/05/2008)
With that nose job and no pics showing just how they moved those front wheels so far forward, lets hope it's not as bad as those 70 & 80's kits on GM mid-size RWD models...Excalibur and the like.
Shawn 2:39PM (12/04/2008)
I will say I like. I'm a fan of the Morgans and Caterhams anyways, but this looks awesome from the front. The back...er...well...not so much. But it's a good effort!
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zamafir 2:39PM (12/04/2008)
morgan? that rear is pure weissman, and so is the front grill. front fenders are most defiantly morgan inspired.
I like it, if they sold it here for something stupid, say under 25k with 200 hp i'd test drive one. I think this is the first Chinese car I’ve seen with any sort of character.
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Neil 2:43PM (12/04/2008)
it's Japanese
There was a great Top Gear segment on Mitsuoka in which James May took the Orochi and Malue through Tokyo.
David 2:43PM (12/04/2008)
Chinese? Try again, Mitsuoka Motors is Japanese.
Neil 2:43PM (12/04/2008)
*Galue
not Malue
TJ 2:45PM (12/04/2008)
huh?
It is a Japanese company that modifies existing vehicles, not a Chinese startup.
This car is a Miata with a body kit.
Considering the base mazda goes for your asking price... with mods it will be more.
Did you even read the article?
letstakeawalk 2:45PM (12/04/2008)
"I think this is the first Chinese car I’ve seen with any sort of character."
That might be because it's Japanese.
I do like this design; I agree they did an excellent job of reminding one of a Morgan. Good call on the Wiesmann cues.
zamafir 2:46PM (12/04/2008)
Yup, i know, it's sarcasm. coming from a japanese car company, this sort of copying and cheap interior, it's horrid. Were it chinese, I'd be impressed, hence the faux chinese admiration. :).
TJ 2:49PM (12/04/2008)
That looks like a factory Mazda interior to me....
ChaoZ 2:44PM (12/04/2008)
Needs different wheels. Maybe wire.
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Red 4:27PM (12/04/2008)
Hmm...some lightweight Volks designed to look like old wire wheels and a set of sticky summer tires with white walls. Mad JDM-with-a-little-BDM flavor tite yo...
C Smith 2:44PM (12/04/2008)
Whatever the original is I reckon this is better.
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alden 2:47PM (12/04/2008)
Nice, they sourced the Morgan...I mean MINI Cooper headlights. Just like Morgan does.
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bravenrace 3:06PM (12/04/2008)
Okay, I'm saying I like it. There I said it.
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Torrent 3:09PM (12/04/2008)
lol
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bduddy 3:11PM (12/04/2008)
If Google Translate is actually doing its job for once, the base model is almost 5,000,000 yen (nearly $55,000 at today's prices). You pay more for fancy fake-wood trim.
http://www.mitsuoka-himiko.com/advanceorder.html
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JZeke 3:14PM (12/04/2008)
All this glam yet they couldn't spring for a wood gearshift knob to match the handbrake?
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