Mazda RX-3 1972 - The Japanese Rotary Motorsport Legend | WorthReviewing

The Mazda RX-3 (aka Mazda Savanna in Japan) is legendary. It was launched in September 1971, and was manufactured in both coupe, saloon, and estate body styles. They all got a 10A engine (491cc per chamber) and the US market received the more powerful 12A engine (that’s 1,146cc per chamber) with 110hp at 7,000rpm. 0-62 mph in 10.8 seconds and a top speed of 115 mph. Piston powered engines were named as the Mazda 818, Mazda 808, and Mazda Grand Familia.

Back in the ole’ days, the RX-3 raced across the globe. In Japan it took home many victories including the 1971 Fuji 500 race and defeated the Nissan Skyline in the Touring Car class of the 1972 Japanese Grand Prix. In fact, by 1976, which was only 5 years after it went into production, it achieved over 100 wins in Japanese motorsport. In 1972, it came to the UK, with the £1,633 RX-3 Coupe costing £335 more than the piston powered 818. In 1973, an estate RX-3 and 818 joined the line-up, but the RX-3 estate only lasted until 1974 before being dropped out of the UK line-up.

Standard equipment on the car was a clock, collapsible steering column, three-spoke steering wheel, and a five-speed manual gearbox (although the RX-3 in the video has a non-standard 1975 RX-7 12A engine and a RX-7 gearbox). Options in 1975 included improved upholstery, tinted glass, and the option of metallic paint for the first time. In 1976, RX-3 sales sadly stopped in the UK. However, the Mazda 818 estate stayed in the line-up until 1978, with the last saloons and coupes being sold in 1979.

A total of 286,757 were produced after the RX-3 was discontinued in 1978, making it the second best-selling rotary after the well-known and much beloved RX-7, with 811,634 sales.

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Intro: 0:00
Exhasut: 0:24
Drive: 0:33
Standard Features: 2:21
Drive: 2:42
History: 3:46
Drive: 4:27

Music used in the video:
Track: Cartoon - Howling (Ft. Asena) [NCS Release]
Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds.
Watch:    • Cartoon, Jéja - Howling (ft. Asena) |...  
Free Download / Stream: http://ncs.io/Howling

Filmed & edited by Sam Worth. B-roll footage filmed by Mazda UK.