WHAT IS IT?
Behold another incredibly rare survivor here on The Best One On The Planet. The Wankel rotary engine is an automotive oddity. Invented in Germany and first used by the now defunct NSU and later licensed and improved by Mazda for the masses, this small, light, and incredibly smooth powertrain was Mazda’s calling card before they became known for the Miata and “Zoom Zoom.” It’s one of the few forays into alternative internal combustion powerplants for cars after the reciprocating piston engine became the default standard around the world.
Perhaps best remembered in the US for the RX-7 sports car that came out in 1979, Mazda had used this engine in other cars and even pickup trucks earlier in the decade (and the original Cosmo coupe of the 1960s).
This 1975 example represents the second generation of the Cosmo and was only sold in the U.S. until 1978 when it was replaced with the sportier RX-7. Production continued in Japan and other markets for a few extra years.
WHY THIS ONE HAS THE BEST ONE ON THE PLANET CRED
The RX-5 was also available with a standard piston engine though this one has the more interesting and more powerful 13B option (rather than the smaller 12A rotary) and a manual transmission, so it wins our respect immediately. Claimed to have traveled only 23,000 miles and looking resplendent in its gold paint over red velour interior, this is certainly a survivor and true period piece.
The second generation Cosmo in itself was a bit of an oddity aside from the engine. It was more of a personal luxury coupe in the American sense of the time and didn’t really catch fire with consumers who apparently really wanted the sportier RX-7.
We would imagine that while Wankel engines are light and smooth they are also pretty low on low-rpm torque and better suited to that sportier application.
The Facebook listing is light on details, such as whether that paint and color combo are original, but the condition appears to be fantastic aside from a crack in top of the plastic dashboard. The red velour and faux wood trim are just so perfectly 1970s it makes a C3 Corvette from period seem relatively boring. With interest growing all the time for vintage Japanese cars, this is a true collectors item.
Claimed to have traveled only 23,000 miles and looking resplendent in its gold paint over red velour interior, this is certainly a survivor and true period piece.
THE VERDICT
Delivered by Chief Judge Dave Kinney: OMG- this is as rare a beast as I have seen this year. With a small build number and few remaining, it’s a rare beast. And those colors? Just as they should be, odd and lovable.
I’m fairly certain I’ve never actually seen one of these in person, and I only vaguely recall their existence. I’m simply in awe of the fact that this car is here, and for sale on Facebook Marketplace. I’m not sure what that means, or what if anything it’s a metaphor for, but this has to be the best one extant.
OMG- this is as rare a beast as I have seen this year. With a small build number and few remaining, it’s a rare beast. And those colors? Just as they should be, odd and lovable. Judge Dave votes five stars!
What an unbelievable piece of automotive history. I can say with confidence that I’ve never seen one in person. If I had all the money and all the space, I’d be all over this weird little RX. Five stars for sure, and I dare you to find a nicer one.