In 1982 I had a year under my belt at my new military assignment in Japan. My 1974 Toyota Crown MS60 “Kujira” had proved a comfortable and reliable steed for tooling around Tokyo, but I was getting the itch for something a little sportier. Given how inexpensive used cars were (and still are) here in Japan, adding one wouldn’t prove much of a financial burden. Looking around the lots off-base, a sharp red Mazda caught my eye – and a quick peek around the back showed the unique rectangular exhaust outlet – it had a rotary…
Cosmo exactly like mine – to include the aftermarket wheels
It was a 1976 Mazda Cosmo AP fastback with the 13B rotary engine – the AP stood for “Anti-Pollution” which added some additional emissions controls. I had never owned a rotary before so I wanted to check that box. It had about 60K km on it (around 37K miles), automatic unfortunately – I would have preferred a manual, and in bright resale red. The dealer wanted $1200 and that was with two years of Japan Compulsory Insurance and a concurrent inspection. That sounded good to me – I counted out my Yen…
The model code for this series of Cosmo is “CD”, and it was sold from 1975 to 81 (76 – 78 in the US). The styling of this version tends to be pretty polarizing. That B pillar is either a “love it or hate it” item. Other than that aspect, I liked the look of the car – sleek, a little muscular – if the Toyota Celica was an early generation Japanese Mustang equivalent, this Cosmo reminded me of a second/third Gen Japanese Charger.
In Japan, the Cosmo also came in a notchback version, called the “Landau”, which could be had with an 1800 or 2000 cc inline four cylinder in addition to the 13B. With the opera window and half vinyl roof, it was pure Japanese ’70’s brougham. If I just look at the greenhouse, it mirrors my 1978 Lincoln Town Coupe almost exactly.
Impressions and memories;
What struck me most was the feeling of lightness – everything about it was light – the steering, the handling, the doors/trunk/hood. I wasn’t surprised when R&T said the same thing about the RX-2 in Paul’s comparison post the other day. The small 13B engine I think accentuated that – it weighed only 250 pounds. Total vehicle weight was around 2400 (JDM model) but it felt lighter than my 1976 Plymouth Arrow that was 300 pounds less heavy. Mazda engineering…zoom-zoom…
It drove like what one would expect – it had a dearth of low end torque, so you had to give the accelerator a good shove to move off. But once the revs built, it was quick. Mid-range passing power was very strong. I had to adjust to watching the tach at 4000-5000 rpm and realize that was just the middle of the power-band – redline was 7000 rpm. Backing off the throttle resulted in lots of pops and crackles from the exhaust – I didn’t experience any backfires but heard from others that blew off a muffler and cat after working the engine too hard.
Open the hood and you were met with quite the juxtaposition – the tiny rotary block was buried deep down, under lots of wires and accessories, topped off by an air cleaner. But pop that cleaner off and there was a big Hitachi four barrel carb. I’ve had lots of Japanese cars before and since, but only one with a 4-bbl.
And speaking of that 4-bbl, gas mileage was pretty abysmal. I could luckily refuel on-base, but gas outside the gate was about three times more expensive. You may be wondering why a Japanese consumer would consider such a gas guzzler…as I’ve mentioned a few times, Japanese road taxes and fees are based on engine size – most rotaries were classified as under 1.5 liters, so they were taxed less. That somewhat offset the fuel cost – a little…
I kept the Cosmo for about a year, never had a problem with it, and enjoyed its “swarm of bees” engine note, then an opportunity for a near flawless 1978 Nissan Fairlady Z presented itself – I’ll review that in an upcoming post.
One of the cars I’ve always had my eye out for is the final Cosmo model, which was produced from 1990 – 96 and sold through Mazda’s domestic luxury “Eunos” dealerships, and would have been part of the stillborn Amati line in the US. It’s all space-age 1990’s Japan; both inside and out. It had two engine options – the larger being a three-rotor, twin-turbocharged 20B with 300 hp and 300 ft lbs of torque – pretty impressive in its day. Only around 8800 were made through those six years, so they are very rare – and of the ones that are left, the owners tend to hold on to them. But maybe one day…
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I’ll put myself in the “love it” column regarding its looks. Neat car – and a good reminder of how terrible American bumpers were in the 1970s.
The Landau is very similar to the contemporary Monza Town Coupe.
I was thinking AMC Concord.
I look at those last few photos and remember the Mazda Millenia (which I think started out as an Amati) and wonder what might have been. Mazda is a Japanese car company that is still as devoted as Honda was in the 80’s, to build marvelous machines. I hope they keep their mojo; they are a bright splash of color in what is a quite monochromatic segment these days.
I’m not a fan of the RX5, although I would take the fastback over the Landau version.
The RX5 and the 121 were the first Mazdas to have 4 wheel disk brakes.
Those Cromadora type alloys are great though and would suit the RX4, which is one of my favourite Mazdas. Unfortunately the 121/RX5 had a different PCD to the 929/RX4, even though the design of the former was apparently an extension of the latter.
My granny used to say if you’ve nothing nice to say, say nothing.
But the old dear was wrong about most things, and anyway, I’ve already heaped some unkindly words on the Fairlady Z in Tatra87’s last post, so given that I’m ahead on that one, I should complete the cycle by saying I never much liked these Mazdas either. Sorry, Mr Brophy. It didn’t help that most were sold here with the gritty, revless, long-stroke and smoke-prone Mazda OHC four of the time.
However, to mend my ways, I can enthusiastically join in your enthusiasm for that exotic last Cosmo. That’s a very desirable machine indeed, and may your eye stay out for one. Which sounds like yet another insult, but you know what I mean.
I like them a lot more now than I did at the time. That side window treatment has grown on me, but I still think the grille looks odd, rather American almost, compared to the rest of the styling. A visual barb. Mazda was going through something of a klutzy-detailing period at the time.
A friend’s affluent Dodge-driving dad bought him one as a first car. Nice to ride in, as I recall. I raved about the interior (which was eminently raveable) but held my tongue on the exterior styling. Your granny would have approved. Don’t think he noticed.
Neat overview. Always liked the looks of this generation, and that second generation Charger comparison is an acute observation I’ve failed to notice until now.
As for the final Cosmo, that is one of my favorite of the era. The version planned for Amati was styled differently; Mazda previewed it under their short-lived sub brand M2 as a concept. It had a slightly different interior as well, but the only photo I can still easily find is this:
I think it’s cool looking, especially the b pillar/rear side window treatment on the red coupe. And the headlights are quite similar to a ‘73 Plymouth Satellite
Love it, *especially* that pillar! What a great ride and rotary power is addictive, so smooth and that whirring noise under throttle, closest thing to electric in sound and feel on the internal combustion front, if not outright torque and everything else…
I’m with Klein ^ – I love the looks of these. It is great to read of good firsthand experience (minus fuel economy) with these, as most of what I have read about these Cosmos tends to be negative, centered around the styling (which, again I love). The interior looked every bit as great as the exterior, to me.
I also remember seeing pictures of the last Cosmo in a magazine when I was in high school, and I lamented it was not brought over Stateside.
Great read.
Definitely a bit polarizing, but I can see the appeal. I can’t remember the last time I saw an RX-5 in the US.
The B Pillar, while a similar challenge, compares favorably to the “basket handle” T-Bird’s!
The difference vs. the T-Bird: The little window in the Cosmo actually rolls down.
The “opera” window on the “Landau” also rolls down.
When I was in HS a new family moved into the neighborhood. They did have a son in the same grade as me and we became friends. His dad was an engineer of some sort and he apparently fell in love with the Rotary as they had a Cosmo and a REPU. Not the greatest fleet for a family with two teenagers who took after their tall father. Never did ride in either of them.
Once I went off to college the local Mazda dealer had one in their showroom that was visible when driving by. This was well after they had been discontinued so no idea why it was in the showroom being a minimum of 4 or 5 years old by that time. Never did go inside to find out if it was a new unsold or just a used car.
Personally I thought they were pretty cool looking overall though the chrome trim around the windows could have been done better.
Mazda Cosmo Cramer…sorry, I could resist!
There was an original early Cosmo parked regularly in our Nashville condo complex; I am not remembering exactly how the B-pillar’s window configuration looked, but this one’s made me remember that it was similarly weird. If anyone has a picture of that I’d enjoy seeing it.
I’ve driven only one Mazda rotary; I think it was an RX3 or 4. One of my housemates had one for a while, and took several of us out one night and let us take turns driving. My first several minutes included accelerating onto a freeway, and I got a BANG! backfire on every gear change. Sure did pull, though!
Going off on a tangent here, but Eunos and Amati were mentioned in passing – there’s my link. I’ve read all the CC articles mentioning Amati, but I still have a question.
Since Mazda already had Eunos as an established brand name in Japan, why didn’t they just export their prestige models under that name, rather than going to the trouble of trying to establish Amati? We did get some Eunoses (or whatever the plural would be) in Australia (30X, 500, 800 come to mind, and lovely cars they were too), but back then the brand came across more as a funny name used for certain Mazda models than as a separate brand, let alone a prestige one.
Ideas, anyone?
It was a Japanese sales channel name;
Mazda: family cars
Autozam: mini cars
Efini: semi luxury
Eunos: sporty premium
It fell apart soon enough for Mazda…
Ah, so Amati was to be positioned above Eunos or Efini. Okay. Thanks. I’d heard all those names before, but didn’t know their place in the scheme of things. Especially Eunos and Efini.
So that’s why this is an Autozam rather than a Mazda.
The Kujira is higher in my list, but this one isn’t bad at all. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in the metal, but I like it – only with that odd C-pillar, though. The formal coupé just looks too faux American. Looking forward to the Fairlady!