Honda’s MX-prefix goes back quite a ways, and this MX-81 Concept from 1981’s Tokyo Motor Show was the brand’s first, even if it was just a concept. Otherwise known as the “Bertone Aria”, the MX-81 looks every bit as good now as it did when it was new. That’s because Mazda just performed a full restoration after it was discovered in a warehouse. The car was then sent off to Mazda Italy, which sent it off to SuperStile in Turin to take on the meticulous job of bringing it back to its original glory. The car was created by Bertone using a Mazda 323, and the finished product looked nothing like the original. It had a crazy interior with TV-screen instrumentation, pushbutton controls, a recessed square belt steering system (instead of a traditional steering wheel), and some crazy side-swing front seats. The wedge-like exterior and massive greenhouse gave it a radical and exotic look, and the aerodynamic wheels added a dose of the future. While none of the current MX cars (MX-30 crossover, MX-5 Miata roadster) look anything like their predecessor, the MX-81 will stand as the forefather of both.
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Huckberry’s Essential Holiday Gift Guide
Unzip your coat and have some mulled wine on the house—you’ve arrived at your final gifting destination: The Holiday Gift Guide. It’s like your friendly neighborhood one-stop holiday shop, except instead of balsa wood ornaments, ours is packed with thoughtful gifts for everyone on your list. Future heirlooms, small-but-significant stocking stuffers, and gear for getting out there (or staying in)—are all right here. There’s no music playing in the background though, so you’ll just have to hum Bing Crosby while you click around instead.
