[Welcome to our first reader submission, and a new series titled “My Curbside Classic”. This one is by Dave Saunders, known hereabouts as Dave7. This is not his first CC though, as Dave authored the epic Envoy Epic CC at TTAC. He’s obviously got a fatal attraction for out of the ordinary cars. Welcome back Dave, and if any of you have a CC you want to share, let me know or send it in with some pics to curbsideclassic@gmail.com. ]
Confession time: this isn’t the first Curbside Classic I’ve ever bought. And it probably won’t be the last either. In fact, it’s car number twenty nine. Ok; so I’m trying to reform my car buying and selling ways. And this one might just be a keeper…honest.
I first spotted this 808 back in September 2010 parked on a reasonably busy road in all its Seventies glory. Yellow paint with black stripes, slot mag wheels on skinny tires, wood rimmed steering wheel and vinyl roof. Taken as a whole it gives a rather mini muscle car vibe. It was for sale as well but sadly I owned four other vehicles at the time and the price was a little higher than I could scrape together. It disappeared shortly after and I figured it had sold quickly. Surely I wasn’t the only one that lusted after an early 70s piston powered Mazda.
The 808 (also known as the 818 in other markets like Europe where it was assumed Peugeot owned the rights to any numerical name with a zero in the middle) is the piston powered version of the more famous Rx-3. There are some detail differences as well with the Rx-3 having round tail lights, rotary badges, and trim. This 808 is powered by a 70hp 1.6L four cylinder engine but others variants used 1.3L, 1.5L or 1.6L four cylinder engines. It is almost the same engine as what you find in a same era B-series truck. This car was also sold as the Mizer in the US for the ’76 and ’77 MY, with the smaller 1300 cc engine.
So it’s not the sportiest thing ever but the gearbox has a nice feel to it. At the rear it is rather pickup (or muscle car) like with a live axle and leaf springs. The 808s seem to be more plentiful in Canada (they were later sold in the US as the Mizer with a 1.3L engine) than the Rx-3 likely due to frugalness of the typical Canadian buyer. Mazda claimed 30.5mpg when these where new which is likely twice what the Rx-3 could do.
But months later I was scanning the local online ads as I habitually do when I spotted an ad for a Mazda 808 coupe using my pictures no less. I called up the seller who was an easy going, friendly guy and set a time to view it. Once I saw it again I was smitten all over again and made a cash offer right on the spot despite it being in non-running condition.
The seller said the starter was stuck and engine needed some work done but the interior was in fantastic shape and the all important trim was all there. Since I’ve got it home it is now running and the brakes have been done. There is probably some engine work in its future but for now I’m just waiting for the snow to leave so I can get it insured and plated for the summer.
Interestingly when I posted photos of it online an ex-owner contacted me for a neighbouring province about his 808 experience. He owned a blue 1972 coupe back in the day. Oddly enough I’d seen a blue coupe that looked identical to his in the scrap yard a few years ago. It is possible it was the same car but can’t know for sure as it has since been sold.
waiting for spring
A nice story about an interesting car. I haven’t seen one of these in the last 20 years around here! I love it when people preserve offbeat older cars. From the side it looks like a Corolla of that vintage, but the quad-headlight front, jutting central grille and many of the styling details shout early 1970s Detroit!
To me the front end looks like a Gran Torino, and the rear has a first-generation Cougar vibe about it. So the early-’70s Detroit theme is definitely there. Very offbeat–I haven’t seen a ’70s Mazda in seemingly forever.
Congrats on your find, Dave — it’s pretty sharp! Hopefully it’ll serve you well for many years to come.
I always liked these Mazdas from the ’70s. The rotary-powered cars get more attention, but the piston engines definitely wear better, have reasonable torque, and are easier on the wallet.
EDIT: sorry, clicked on the wrong “reply” button.
Love this car, Dave!
that is a nice cockpit and the min muscle car look is great! Kudos to you for your persistence in locating it and giving it a new lease on life!
well done.
Thanks – the interior is in fantastic condition – looks almost new which is amazing for a cheaper car that is almost 40!
My friend’s father was involved in amateur offroad racing in the 1970s. One of the cars they cooked up was an RX-3 to run in the sedan class. It ran rings around the VW’s and Pintos, making ear shattering noises.
Sadly it was a poor choice for an off road racer as the suspension wasn’t up to the task and it would roll the front tires off the rims when cornering. Sure was fun to watch though…
Canada seems to have gotten a higher percentage of weird imports than the US, although they were quickly rust fodder.
Well to be fair its only the Eastern provinces of Canada that have the bad rusting issues. Here in Alberta, especially the south its pretty dry in the summer and too cold for salt on the roads in the winter.
Canada got all sorts of neat cars that the US didn’t up until the 80s or so. Pre AutoPact there was a good variety of Meteors, Acadians, Mercury trucks, etc. Being part of the Commonwealth British cars where much more common and in the 80s we got a variety of Eastern block cars – Ladas, Skodas, and Dacias.
Very rare car. This car is what saved Mazda in the 70’s. After the 1973 gas crisis, RX3s were languishing on dealer lots. Without the pistoned engined equivalent 808, Mazda likely would have folded up in the US.
That’s probably why my grandfather bought the RX3…he did like a bargain, and the little Mazda lot in my hometown was probably selling them on the cheap. I do recall him test-driving a little yellow Honda Civic, too–that was my first test drive ride-along ever.
My dad ended up liking the rotary enough he bought a Mazda rotary pickup.
That interior shot really takes me back. My last memory in my grandfather’s red ’73 RX3 is of being chased (in the car, dad at the helm) across a West Texas pasture by one of our Beefmaster bulls. Dad was sure the Mazda would lose the fight if he caught up.
Nice car – +1 on the interior, it looks great. Now all it needs is about another 120hp and you’ll be in business! 🙂
All it needs is to be left UNMODIFIED!
I used to work with a fellow who bought one of these new in 1973, and was still driving it to work daily in 1996 when I left the company.
His was Orange, in good original shape. Another Southern Alberta car with no rust.
Dave, do you post on the GRM forums as well? I could have sworn I saw this car there.
Indeed I do.
Look what I found in the trunk – a hitch for a 808 or Rx-3. Wild. Its got two bolts that connect to the bottom of the spare tire well and two that connect to the license plate holder. I can’t imagine it would rated for much weight. I don’t think I’ll ever put it on but interesting piece.
That car is begging for a modern drive line swap. 200 HP V6 with a 5 speed. Keep the original stuff in the basement for posterity. It’s unique enough to make people ask what it is yet not collectible enough to require it remain stock.
It’s begging to be left alone and kept stock! These Mazda’s are very collectible now, as are a growing number of Japanese vehicles from the ’70s are becoming. There’s nothing worse than popping the hood on a virtually original and complete vintage automobile only to see some egregious looking modern day power plant miring the engine bay!
It is now registered, insured and driving on the road.
My first car was a dark blue 808 coupe, and I LOVED it. I wiould buy one again in a heartbeat. Please let me know if you ever want to sell it. I would give it a loving home.
My sister’s old boyfriend had a dark blue 808 back in the early ’80’s. He taught me how to drive a manual in it, and other than a few scary grinds, I managed to pick it up without much trouble. My sister bought a used Civic later the same year – much better shifter.
Why is there a Big Ol’ Stoogie on top of the radio dials? Is it yours?
Nice to see your photos of our 1973 Mazda 808.
We have the same model, but with an automatic, that has been in the family since new.
It currently has 50,300 original miles on it.
It has had one repaint about 20 years ago.
Photo attachd.
My older brother had a ’73 808 sports coupe(1.6 litre),dark blue with twin white racing stripes on the hood,over the roof,and down the rear trunk lid that was sporting a chrome luggage rack.It had a white “pleather”(plastic leather)interior with dark blue carpet and fake burled oak dash/center console/steering wheel/shifter knob(4speed).He bought it in Richmond-IN during summer of ’76 for $1600. I was able to borrow it when I was 15 years old(’79) to take my girlfriend to the drive-in theatres in Troy-OH and Fairborn-OH.Sitting in the back seat with the front seats tilted forward – OH, YEAH !!! Then my brother rolled it a few times in ’83,and since it totalled the body,but not the drivetrain,he drove it to a friend’s 300 acre forest back in Indiana.They had a drunken demolition derby with other POS cars,pushed it over a cliff into a ravine,and then took pictures of themselves having a picnic(red/white checkered tablecloth included)on the bottom of the dead 808.I miss those fun times in that car and would buy another now if I could find one here in Texas.
I had a ’71 616 coupe. Everybody who heard I’d bought a Mazda thought I had a rotary since that was all the company advertised. But the little four-banger and gearbox worked well and the style was so much cleaner than the 808. A fun economy car. But that oh-so-70’s orange paint…best forgotten.
My neighbor’s daughter had a brand new ’73 RX-3. I always thought it was a sharp looking little car. Those Mazda’s were quite popular in the US back then. I remember seeing more of the station wagon versions of the RX-3 than any other model. Those RX-3’s are quite scarce nowadays. Many of them were butchered by hotrodders and scrapped long ago. It’s great to see original examples, with their original motors, and restored versions that are truly restored and not at all modified.
Noticed your story. I too found a 808 in B.C a few yrs back. I am planning to install a 2.0L Duratec motor w mc carbs mated to a Miata 6spd tranny this Summer. Keep her piston powered but w RX3 looks =0) pics on Car Domain . com
Love the looks of these old Mazdas! Anyone have a lead on a 808/RX2/RX3/RX4 for sale in Southern Alberta?
Bought one of those brand new in ’73…fast little car and a classic style. Unfortunately the ’74 RX3 rotary was much faster.
I want to buy one!
Nice car but I’d definately modify it with a mustang 5.0 400hp modern suspension upgrades a set of recaros a nice 5000 watt sound system and a cool candy blue paint job. You’d get thumbs up everyware
WOW! what a fantastic story I had a 1973 Silver Blue 4 speed. I drove the car for a few years. That was my favorite vehicle that I ever owned. I lived in the NW suburbs of Chicago and went to College in Stillwater, Oklahoma. I dated a girl in Lincoln, Illinois. So at least once a month I drove to Illinois. I added a rear luggage rack for traveling to school. I was lucky that there was a Mazda dealer in Stillwater. I miss that car to this day.
Andy G