The Miata is not a modern Lotus Elan, but a modern MG MGB

In automotive journalism, you’ll often hear that the NA Miata’s primary source of inspiration was the Lotus Elan, with its popup headlights and all. While that may be true from the standpoint of Mazda’s engineers, the first gen, early 1990s Miata’s true predecessor was the MG MGB, particularly the roadster.

The engines were both similar to those of the Miata. The Elan had a 1.6 liter inline 4, while the MGB had a 1.8 liter, both having 8 valves in total. The first few years of the NA had a 1.6, with the later NA and NB having a 1.8, so there’s no real winner here.

However, the real thing that differentiates the MG and the MX5 from the Lotus is the construction. The Eunos Roadster and the MG both have the stiffer unibody construction, with the MG being the first of its class to include it, while the Elan is body-on-frame. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the MGB and Mazda are both steel-bodied, whereas the Elan’s shell is fiberglass.

Another major component is the size and weight. The MGB’s wheelbase is 91 inches, the length 153, and the curb weight around 2100 lbs. The Miata’s wheelbase is 90 inches, its length 155, and its curb weight around the same as the MG’s. The Elan, however, is quite a bit smaller and lighter, with it being less GT-oriented and made out of lighter materials. Its wheelbase measures in at 84 inches, its length 145, and its curb weight approximately 1500 lbs.

You’ll find that the cargo space on the MX5 and MGB are about the same, and the Elan’s is much smaller, though I think you have an idea based on the dimensions I just listed.

A somewhat subjective thing which I may very well be wrong about is the suspension. I’ll soon drive an MGB and I’ve never driven an MX5 or Elan, so I’m not the greatest authority on this, but I believe the MX5 and MGB have much cushier suspensions, and the Elan’s is a stiffer, more track-oriented setup.

So in conclusion, the MGB is really just a Miata with older tech and a fastback option. The Elan is the older equivalant of, perhaps, a Ginetta G40. Regardless of the popup headlights, it’s quite strange that the Lotus Elan is almost always mentioned in relation to the Mazda Miata, whereas the MG MGB is typically sequestered to the “other british sportscars” section, or not mentioned at all. Why is this? Is it because of our aversion to the MGB’s britishness and gasp unreliability? We may never know.

P.S. The Miata was produced in the same decade as the MGB at one point, in the 1980s. This is not very relevant, but an interesting tidbit nonetheless, as they seem to be from very different eras.