Being out of production for more than 40 years means this is starting to become one rare classic car, and the prices are certainly up in the cosmos! Still, it's always fun to learn about a 'new' old car, so I'll keep dreaming about this one a little bit longer!
There's nothing wrong with being a dreamer. Having your head up in the clouds is a nice distraction from day-to-day life. For the past few weeks this has been the case for me... or at least more than usual! During a visit to the Shanghai Automotive Museum I came across a car that I had heard of but never seen in person. I change my list of 'dream cars' frequently, but it now has a new front runner: the rotary powered Mazda Cosmo. The legendary first generation Cosmo 110 coupe was build by Mazda in Japan between 1967 and 1972. Its claim to fame, apart from being a long, sleek, attractive sports car, was that it housed a unique engine under its low hood. Instead of using cylinders (or pistons) that move up and down, the Wankel rotary engine instead uses triangular-shaped rotors that spin to turn the crankshaft. Several inherent problems with the Wankel engine have kept it from becoming mainstream, but it was rather revolutionary back in the 1960s, and set the Cosmo apart from every other sports car of the era. To my eyes, the Cosmo 110 has perfect proportions. The long sloping hood is bracketed by fenders that lead into the headlights, and the rear deck hangs way off behind the rear wheels, finishing in a mirrored pair of taillights above and below the bumper. There's enough chrome to highlight the design without being overkill. The roof looks like it would lift off, though it is fixed. The curve of the front and rear windows may be common today, but certainly looked modern back in the 60s. There are obviously many fan clubs for this car, but it really is an under-appreciated and little-known classic in the grand scheme of things. Not only does it deserve recognition for the great, unique looks and excellent styling details, but also as the first mass-produced car with the revolutionary Wankel engine. Later Mazda's (notably the RX series) owe their Wankel engine and daring coupe looks to their grandfather, the Cosmo, so I'm sure most Mazda fans love this car as much as I do.
Being out of production for more than 40 years means this is starting to become one rare classic car, and the prices are certainly up in the cosmos! Still, it's always fun to learn about a 'new' old car, so I'll keep dreaming about this one a little bit longer!
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AuthorWelcome! My name is Paul, and I am an old-fashioned, low-pressure, low-buck car fan with lots of automotive stories to tell! Archives
February 2020
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