Thought I would post this photo of a rare "Long Nose" RX-2. The one pictured is probably a 1975 Japanese Domestic Model. I don't believe these were ever exported with this front end treatment. I think maybe the piston engine version was exported to Europe for a very short time (616LN). It kind of reminds me of an RX-4 front end. These were manufactured up to 1978 (only 240 units made in which all were sedans). It was replaced by the 626 model but unfortuneatly the 626 came without rotary power. Like or dislike this version? Was Mazda smart to end imports of the RX-2 in 1974?

 

the one in the pic doesnt look like a sedan

 

The one in the photo is a 1975 only 1840 coupes made
4113 sedans

1976 69 Coupes
484 Sedans

1977 7 Coupes
246 Sedans

1978 0 Coupes
240 Sedans
The above figures are from the Mazda Information Dept. in Japan.

 

That's what those in AUS. call a RARE series 4 Rx2....they have the different, square rear lights....kinda wierd but killer to own.

 

1977 coupe would be the one to have
or the opposite end of things and have one of the first
sent over to north america.
we should start a registry of rx2 vin numbers to see who
has the oldest
matt

 

A few made it to New Zealand as well... they look way better in the flesh, that pic does not do them justice. This is not much better, but here you go anyway:

 

RE10....did you blokes in NZ get sedans and coupes? Or just sedans?

 

I have only seen a couple of s.4 sedans in the flesh, but you hear stories from time to time...

 

You're right about the square tail lights. See photo. This green one has a matching green interior which looks pretty strange.

 

Looks like the same taillights that came on the 1974's in the US:



Most of the ones I've seen elsewhere have the plastic panel painted grey, but both Madman's and my car have a black panel.

By the way, anyone know where I can get some fender mirrors like that? I think Japan might have been the only ones that got them.

 

the fender mirrors are a Japanese thing. Same deal with Datsuns, some BMWs, etc. Pretty hip but The USA DOT probably didn't go for them

 

I just got a parts manual off ebay and its for the newer
74 to 75 rx2's.
was looking at this parts book, the exhaust
is diffrent and a few other things including the dash.
i like the look of the older dash and tail lights.
matt

 

Those taillights are fairly common over here - the ones to get are in the attached file... A Jappa 12a powered GS Capella...

 

Now that is what I'm talking about re10, couldn't find the photo I had of that tail light setup.
I would so love to import one of those over here to the usa.

 

Yeah definitely, I wish I could find someone selling that set of taillights, the square US ones are a pain to mount a license plate and light, they don't have a place in the middle of the taillights like all the other models. Right now I just have the older license plate bracket/lights mounted below the taillights but I can't put the bumper back on because it will be covering up almost the whole license plate.

It's too bad there's no one selling some of these Japanese items for the RX-2/Capella because I'd definitely be interested in this stuff, I always see the old Toyota/Datsun guys selling all sorts of Japanese taillights, grills, mirrors, fender flares, turn signals, etc.

 

I have a friend in South Africa building a drag car from one... see this story:

http://rotarynews.com/view.php?id=222

PICS AT BOTTOM

-Bern

 

Those tail lights of the "G" series RX2 coupes and Sedans are so rare. I havent seen any for sale in Japan and i havent seen any early RX2's for sale in Japan either!!

 

I like that air filter set-up on your friends car Bern. Any information on his airdam? Looks custom made.

 

looks like an RX-4 from the front and an RX-3 from the back - I bet Mazda was trying to make their line of coupes look more 'integrated' or something . . .

 

John McBeth,

Those production numbers you have posted, are they for the Capella, RX-2, rotary only, 616 - or for all versions combined?

BR, Bo

 

The production numbers are for rotary engine cars only. This would include Japanese domestic models (Capella) and export models (RX-2). Most of the Capellas made during the 1975-78 time frame were the piston engine models and are not included here.

 

Do you have RX3 numbers?

 

I have the numbers for the Savanna/RX-3 for years 1971-1977. For some reason 1978 is missing but I can tell you that less than 1600 Coupes with the rotary engine were made in 1978.
Coupes 159,732
Sedans 48,752
Wagons 78,752
Total 286,757 Plus the total for 1978.
Again, these are only rotary engine cars. The numbers for the piston engine models (808,818 and Grand Familia) are much larger.
In 1973 there were 72 Savanna Vans (rotary) produced. These are basically wagons without a backseat.

 

John McBeth,

When indicating the age of a given car, this is mostly done by saying e.g. "I have a 1975 RX-2". To me and, I assume, most people this means that I have an RX-2 from MODEL year 1975, i.e. typically manufactured between august 1974 and july 1975. No problems with this.

However, when talking about production numbers for a given year the car manufacturers normally indicate how many cars of a given model was manufactured in the CALENDAR year, i.e. from january to december. To confuse matter further, the numbers may also indicate the number of cars sold/delivered.

Therefore, without you indicating that I am wrong, I assume that the production numbers you have posted are in respect of calendar year production.

This said, I find the information very interesting. And: do you have the corresponding numbers for the Luce RE/RX-4?

BR, Bo

 

You make a good point reguarding "Model" year and "Calendar" year. I believe the these numbers would have to be Model year. When I requested the numbers, I requested rotary engine production numbers for Familia, Rotary Pickup, Capella and Savanna Models. The first Savannas which were sold in Japan in 1971 would have had to been produced in late 1970. There is no production number given to me for Savanna in 1970, only 1971. I do know they have no numbers available concerning domestic and export numbers. I'm sure buried away in their files they would have to have this information. Also, I think the respective countries that imported these vehicles would have some type of import numbers of each individual model. I know in the U.S, Mazda changed management many times in the early years and alot of the records are incomplete. I guess the production numbers given for each year would have to be considered an estimate. I am quite sure of the Grand Totals though, as these can be found in many Mazda publications.
Other points:
Only about 800 units of the Roadpacer were produced (1975-1977) making it the rarest rotary of them all. Given that though, I don't know the numbers for the Parkway Rotary bus. It could have been even less.
1176 units of the original Mazda Cosmo were built between 1967-1972.
Mazda of Japan has no production number available for the Rotary Pickup.
I don't have any numbers for the Luce models. Rotary versions started in 1969 and went all the way through 1991.