The 1960s were a turning point for Mazda. It is in this period that the Japanese manufacturer presents the Cosmo Sport 110S, its first model equipped with the rotary engine Wobblea true revolution for the time which became a trademark of the Hiroshima company.
After the first Cosmo Sport 110S delivered in 1967, the brand decided to expand its range anticipating the arrival of another model with concept RX-85which would give birth to the R100.
From concept to series model in 12 months
Presented in 1967, the RX-85 prefigured in every way what the series model launched less than a year later would be. Length 3.83 m1.48 m wide and 1.34 m high, this small coupé is equipped with a two-rotor Wankel capable of developing 100 CV a 7.000 giri.
Mazda
Mazda RX-85 (1967), front three-quarter view
Shortly thereafter, in July 1968, Mazda launched the Familia Rotary, available in both two-door coupé and four-door sedan versions.
The car is powered by a 982cc rotary engine, while the coupe version is sold outside Japan as the R100, referring to its 100hp engine’s output. The R100 features a unique design at the front, with a pointed bonnet, more prominent grille and bumper. At the rear, the two round light clusters became a distinctive feature of rotary-engined Mazdas for a time.
The advantages of the rotary
In Japan, the installation of the rotary engine allows buyers to save on road tax, since, despite purchasing a more powerful car than those with traditional in-line engines, they do not have to pay the higher tax reserved for engines with more than 1 litre.
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Mazda RX-85 (1967), rear three-quarter view
In 1973, Mazda replaced the 10A engine with the 12A to improve reliability and fuel consumption, but this modification lost the tax advantage in Japan, leading to the decision to stop production in 1975.
At the same time, the successor to the RX-85 – the R100 – was one of the first Mazdas imported into the United States, where it was sold in 1971 and 1972. However, due to US regulations, it was distributed in Nord America with round headlights, rather than the rectangular headlights found in other markets.
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Mazda RX-85 (1967), front view
Mazda
Mazda RX-85 (1967), interior
Like the Cosmo Sport 110 S, the R100 marks only the beginning of the historic combination between Mazda and Wankel engines, which continues in subsequent years with many models, including the popular RX-7 sports car.
Source: it.motor1.com
