1975 RX-5 errr Cosmo.

pertano · **Posted:** Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:11 am

Okay so I know officially these cars were only made as 76 model years, but that's to a friend at the DMV and a very very low production date/vin number I got my car registered as a 1975. When I found the car it was a bit of a mixed bag. Very descent interior, hammered looking body and blown motor. I was going to part the car or not even deal with it until I got a wild hair to put my streetport motor that I had been saving in it. I'm glad I did. The swap took a little longer then anticipated but was well worth the wait.

The car is great!!! Not fast, and not a great handling car, but super comfortable. It's got aftermarket sway bars so it has no body roll, and with the stock nikki and exhaust under it the streetport really struggles to make any real power. But none of that matters right now. The interior is clean and the car rides like a newer car. Just glides over bumps and smoothes out the road. I'm hoping to get the A/C charged up this week and call it a day. Gonna ride out for a little while.

I do plan on running some 17x9 inch wheels on the back and 17x8 up front in the very near future though. Just gotta finish up a few other things.

Here's a brief photo collage to update the cars progress.

Rockatansky · **Posted:** Mon Aug 24, 2009 1:06 pm

Looking great! Any pictures of the interior?

bullitt · **Posted:** Tue Aug 25, 2009 2:30 pm

nice Car...

what are wheel and tyre size? i like the combination..

ben · **Posted:** Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:05 pm

So glad you put one of these back on the road. It's so rare and underappreciated.

BigWillieStyles · **Posted:** Wed Aug 26, 2009 1:11 am

Very nice work.

pertano · **Posted:** Wed Aug 26, 2009 9:47 pm

Thanks for the compliments fellas. The car is definately different, but cool. It's got a bad rap because it's so heavy. Not a typical sporty Mazda.

joaco · **Posted:** Thu Aug 27, 2009 3:21 pm

Robert
Nice car, Yeah they are heavy but they have rear disk brakes (rare those days) and share lots of parts with the RX4. Also they were available from 76 to 78 if not mistaken. Got to love the wood trim and steering wheel also a very rare wheel bolt patern for a Mazda of those days 4x130. Just my .02.
Joaquin

G · **Posted:** Sat Aug 29, 2009 7:19 am

Engine & underbody pics?

magnusrx7 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 29, 2009 11:17 am

joaco wrote:

Robert
Nice car, Yeah they are heavy but they have rear disk brakes (rare those days) and share lots of parts with the RX4. Also they were available from 76 to 78 if not mistaken. Got to love the wood trim and steering wheel also a very rare wheel bolt patern for a Mazda of those days 4x130. Just my .02.
Joaquin

Nice car, I like the wheels but the pattern is 4x120.

//Magnus

pertano · **Posted:** Sat Aug 29, 2009 11:56 am

I was going to say that about the bolt pattern but you beat me too it.

What do you want to see under the car for? It looks like metal and cables. :lol:

G · **Posted:** Sat Aug 29, 2009 12:47 pm

See how clean it is or isn't.

Lincoln Stax · **Posted:** Sat Aug 29, 2009 12:48 pm

PERTANO wrote:

The car is definately different, but cool. It's got a bad rap because it's so heavy. Not a typical sporty Mazda.

Nothing the engine from the 787B couldn't solve.

pertano · **Posted:** Sat Aug 29, 2009 2:54 pm

Yeah a 4 rotor motor would be sick, but I'd love to put a 20B in this thing at some point. Can't afford to, but would love to.

Oh and under the car is just stock. No rust or crap like that. Just a stock car with nothing spectacular. I hate rusty cars and pass them up.

Lincoln Stax · **Posted:** Sat Aug 29, 2009 3:31 pm

By the way, I have a US brochure for the Cosmo. Let me know if you're interested.

G · **Posted:** Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:47 pm

Engine pics? Under body pics?

joaco · **Posted:** Sun Aug 30, 2009 3:53 pm

Yeap, my mistake it is 4x120, still odd for a RWD of the era.

matsuda9 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 31, 2009 4:57 am

From memory there are only 2 cars that shared that stud pattern

121/rx5/cosmo
and 1st gen Civic

pertano · **Posted:** Mon Aug 31, 2009 9:42 am

That's what I'm gathering too. But i've already got a solution for that.

GSL-SE front suspension to convert to 4x114.

Then pull the rear axles and redrille to 4x114 out back. I am still looking for the donor car to lend the brakes and suspension for this one. After that I will order up the wheels and lower the car even more. I'm going to try for that Tuner/VIP look here. Should be interesting. Also RX-7 camber plates bolt right up so that makes life easier too. I hope the GSL-SE rotors are the same size up front because this car stops really well.

magnusrx7 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 04, 2009 11:21 pm

PERTANO wrote:

That's what I'm gathering too. But i've already got a solution for that.

GSL-SE front suspension to convert to 4x114.

Then pull the rear axles and redrille to 4x114 out back. I am still looking for the donor car to lend the brakes and suspension for this one. After that I will order up the wheels and lower the car even more. I'm going to try for that Tuner/VIP look here. Should be interesting. Also RX-7 camber plates bolt right up so that makes life easier too. I hope the GSL-SE rotors are the same size up front because this car stops really well.

I have the same thing in mind for my green one.
Have you checked how the driveshafts look? If there is material enought to drill 4 new holes?

//Magnus

pertano · **Posted:** Sat Sep 05, 2009 8:56 am

I haven't looked at the driveshaft yet, but I was just thinking I'd make a new one anyway. I'm not a big fan of 2 piece shafts and the local shop will build me a new one for dirt cheap. So I'm probably just going to go that route.

1975 RX-5 errr Cosmo.

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