Author Archives: Dave Yuan
NEWS: Mazda teases rotary engine announcement
It seems that Mazda is about to reveal some news about the rotary engine. The company published the above graphic of a 1967 Cosmo Sport, Mazda’s first rotary-powered car, along with a countdown indicating that there was some rotary goodness … Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: Restored Gatorade RX-3 and other classic Mazda racers at Laguna Seca
Monterey Car Week’s centerpiece racing event, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, concluded this weekend. While there was a noticeable lack of Japanese representation at Laguna Seca as compared to last year (despite the fact that the theme was the 50th … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged imsa, Laguna Seca, mazda, monterey historics, Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, rx-2, rx-3, rx-7
10 Comments
EVENT: Mazda celebrates Roadster’s 30th anniversary in Turin
People around the world continue to celebrate the 30th birthday of the Mazda Roadster, this time at the home of the Italian automotive industry. In June, over 300 MX-5s gathered in Turin, Italy’s Detroit, for “MX-5 Icon’s Day,” a celebration … Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged mazda, miata, Miata NA, Miata NB, Miata NC, Miata ND, mx-5, Tom Matano
3 Comments
NEWS: Mazda still testing rotary engine in RX-8 mule
Last year we reported that Mazda appeared to be running an RX-8 test mule in Europe. The RX-8, as you know, has been out of production since 2012, and a rotary engine successor has gone through more cycles of rumor … Continue reading
NEWS: Mazda might have a sporty 3 in the works
Mazda has trademarked a bunch of new model names in Europe, including one that might herald a sub-Miata sports offering: MX-30. The name recalls the sporty MX-3 hatchback of the 90s, which was sold in Japan as the Eunos Presso … Continue reading
NEWS: Mazda is building a rear-wheel-drive straight-six platform
Mazda is working on a rear-wheel-drive platform to be powered by an inline-6 engine. An investor presentation posted recently on a Mazda website revealed that inline-6 engines running on diesel and gasoline (in compression-ignition SkyActiv-X guise) will be mounted longitudinally … Continue reading
NEWS: Mazda restores a BD Familia hatchback
In 2015 Mazda launched an in-house restoration program of a 1967 Cosmo Sport. With a key goal of providing its younger employees with a connection to the company’s heritage, it resulted in the world’s most definitive restoration of an L10A … Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: Long-lost Mazda RX-7 Le Mans racer rediscovered after 35 years
A Mazda race car long thought to have been lost to history surfaced. The Mazda 254i not only competed in the 1982 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but represents the last of its breed. It was the … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged 252i/253i/254i, le mans, mazda, rx-7, sa22, Takashi Yorino, yojiro terada
18 Comments
Chicago Auto Show: 30th Anniversary Miata sells out in four hours
Looks like a lot of people wanted an orange Miata. The entire allotment of the 30th Anniversary Edition models, announced this morning, that were destined for the US have already sold out. To be fair, that’s the US market’s 500 … Continue reading
MINICARS: Tamiya releases new R/C HiLux based on real Hilux based on old Tamiya R/C Hilux
Remember when Toyota UK created a real Toyota HiLux inspired by the old Tamiya 4×4 Pickup radio control kit? Tamiya was so impressed that they released a new kit based on that truck. And because it is Tamiya, no detail is … Continue reading
NEWS: Mazda was likely testing a rotary sports car as recently as eight months ago
Somehow this slipped past our radar, but it seems that Mazda was testing what is likely a rotary powered sports car as recently as December 2017. Spy photos captured a prototype based on a Mazda RX-8, a car that has … Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: The Mazda Cosmo Sport and the most grueling race of all time
This article was originally published May 31, 2016. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the 1968 Marathon de la Route today, we are re-publishing this story. The Mazda Cosmo Sport. This space age sports car from the spunky little … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport, racing
Tagged 84 Hours of Nurburgring, cosmo sport, Endurance Racing, marathon de la route, mazda, rotary engine
11 Comments
Japanese Nostalgic Train: The iconic Odakyu 7000 Series “Romancecar” makes its last voyage
Imagine a classic Japanese vehicle, avant garde in its time, beloved by fans, and part of a record-setting and influential legacy. For fans of Japanese nostalgic train, that vehicle is the Odakyu 7000 Series LSE Romancecar. Since 1980, this Japanese … Continue reading
SHOWA SNAP: A bullet train glides through Yurakucho crossing
Here is a random photo of the famed Yurakucho Crossing, one of Tokyo’s most famous intersections. It is considered a prime viewing spot for the Shinkansen, or bullet trains, as they pull out of Tokyo Station southbound heading towards Nagoya, Osaka, and points … Continue reading
NEWS: Mazda completes restoration of a 1969 Luce Rotary Coupé
Over three years ago, Mazda began restoring some of its landmark vehicles, starting with a 1967 Cosmo Sport. The Restore Program was geared in part towards passing down Mazda’s philosophy and spirit to the next generation of craftsmen and engineers, … Continue reading
SEARCH & RESCUE: Mazda Millenia S
Dear JNC readers, we need your help. We trust that if you are reading you 1.) believe in our mission to preserve cars for posterity, and 2.) are experienced in tracking down an elusive but prime vehicular specimens for purchase. We are introducing … Continue reading
25 YEAR CLUB: Mazda Autozam AZ-1
Kei cars are cool. Slow and small they might be, but they are feats of engineering ingenuity that extract the most space, efficiency, and usability out of a tightly defined set of rules. And sometimes, the most fun as well. … Continue reading
COLLECTIONS: The oldest surviving Mazda rotary car in the world, and its nod to Hiroshima’s nuclear past
What comes to mind when you hear the words “priceless artifact”? Ru ware of Imperial China? Paleolithic paintings of the Chauvet Cave? In the automotive realm it’s historically significant race cars, unique or outstanding examples of production cars, and serendipitously preserved … Continue reading
Posted in Collections, Uncategorized
Tagged cosmo sport, mazda, prototype, rotary engine
20 Comments
RIP Kenichi Yamamoto, Father of the Mazda Rotary Engine, 1922-2017
Kenichi Yamamoto, who famously led Mazda’s “47 Ronin” team that brought the rotary engine into reality, passed away on December 20, 2017. His family made public his passing to the Japanese press on Christmas Day. Yamamoto was 95. A bona fide legend in … Continue reading
Posted in Legends
Tagged cosmo sport, fc3s, fd3s, k360, Kenichi Yamamoto, mazda, r100, r360, rotary engine, rx-2, rx-3, rx-4, rx-5, rx-7, RX-Vision, sa22, Tsuneji Matsuda
11 Comments
(not so) MINICARS: Life-size Tamiya Bruiser Toyota Hilux pickup
As Marty McFly said, “All the best stuff is made in Japan.” Cars aside, this also holds true for hobby products. And in the land of remote controlled model cars, one kit persistently remains the best of the best in … Continue reading
Posted in minicars
4 Comments
