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The Mazda Cosmo: Back to the Future
Blend the best European and Japanese car styling of the ‘60s and you get the Mazda Cosmo. Production of this model began in May of 1967 and just one unit was handmade per day. A mere 6 of 1,519 Series II Cosmos were imported into the United States. Originally fit with a Wankel engine this is the first rotary-powered sports car. Mazda used this futuristic amenity to its advantage in the Japanese automotive industry.
True to sports car form, the Cosmo is lightweight, smooth and a joy to drive. Behind the right side steering wheel (intended for driving in Asia and Europe) Jay Leno reviews his very own Mazda Cosmo. He calls it “a Japanese classic,” and we definitely agree.
On this episode of “Jay Leno’s Garage,” see his updated Cosmo and hear the roar of 9,000 RPMs:
Source: www.YouTube.com/JayLenosGarage
Image Sources: Mazda-News.eu, Motor Trend
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Anonymous
The Mazda was most certainly not the first rotary engined sports car. That honor goes to the 1964 NSU Spyder. Felix Wankel was the German engineer who invented the rotary engine. The small German car & motorcycle manufacturer NSU began producing Wankel engined cars during the late ’60s. Later Mazda bought the license to produce the rotary.
John Kuhn Bleimaier