Before we found this 1974 Mazda RX-4 on ebay, we thought the letters “GTR” were found trailing the emblems on Nissan Skylines, Isuzu Bellets, and the occasional Toyota Carina.
According to the seller, the GTR was a special edition for the RX-4 in a similar vein as, if less sporty than, the SP RX-3s. He also says there were only a little over 500 made and all were gold, but guess what? No documentation! The blacked out hood and GTR stripe definitely look like a product of that era, but we’re stumped. Any Mazdafarians care to chime in?
In any case, bids start at $600 or a BuyItNow of $1200, a good price for any RX-4 and not exactly a sum for which you need to part with a major organ. But if that extra kidney is burning a hole in your abdomen, there’s always this 1968 Mazda Cosmo Sports. More photos after the jump.
everybody want to get in on the gt-r mystique
Yes, but does your precious Skyline have a trunk mounted luggage rack? 😉
I love the color and paint scheme! 😀
It’s got kinda of a Cosworth-Vega Look to it, I love it….!
Oh Ben that’s a GTR Luggage Rack sooo JDM!
Sounds like Dice – Dealer Installed Cosmetic Enhancement. 😆
oh my i like that
don’t know much about Mazdas, but that blacked out hood and side stripe certainly look about as old as the paint. So I guess the question is, would someone back then be inclined to do this to their new car?
I’m with Mr Camouflage, Dealers do stuff like this all the time to sell cars. Up here in Canada a common sight is a Z22 Chevy Cavalier (as oposed to the factory optioned Z24) and its just a base Cavalier with the z24 cowl hood and a fancy sticker on the rear quarter that says “Z22”
You will never find anything by the manufacturer that mentions this trim level as it was not offered by them.
I think I need to sell my last kidney for this Luce! 😀
BTW: got a link to the “occasional” Toyota Carina badge? AFAIK only two types of Carina GTR exist: the 4AGE AA63 and the 3SGE ST150
My understanding is that this is a US dealer option… not much more than a sticker kit. Still, an interesting car!!
I thought I’ld mention that my 1st car was a’74 Mazda RX-4 GTR, and it was silver and black.
Thanks for filling in some blanks. Can you tell us a little more? Was it a dealer option?
I’m sorry, I haven’t information about the GTR being a dealer or manufacturer option. But I always believed it to that way from the factory. They were rare in ’79 when I got mine and I had it up 155mph at one time. It was a going little machine! My brother had a RX-3 and when we raced, I would take him on the straight-a-ways. but his would corner better.
I owned a ’74 GTR that I purchased new in ’75. It was fire engine red and was a speeding ticket just sitting still.
I kept it for 12 years and finally sold it because I was sick of being harassed by cops and punks wanting to race me.
It was one of the best most reliable cars I ever owned. Maintenance was simple. I had an independent mechanic that had worked for Mazda corporate who kept it in great condition.
I made major cosmetic mods to it, making it look even more menacing.
It’s a pity you can’t post images here, otherwise I would.
The “GTR” option came in I think four colors. Red, yellow, white and I believe silver.
You can post pics here, just copy/paste HTML. Or better yet, post it in the forum, I’d love to see it. http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/forum/
I bought my gtr in 74 for three grand, drove it out of the showroom floor. the build sheet on the window showed the gtr stripes and blacked out hood as a factory option. blew the doors off many America makes on the top end including v8’s. would give a kidney to own another one. mine was dark green four speed, 13b with a 650 Holly carb. lost it when I was t boned crossing an intersection. haven’t seen one on the streets since the 70’s.