Mazdax605

iTrader: (5)

Hey guys,

I have been doing a lot of research on the 76 RX-4 that a fellow club member is selling,and I have come to the conclusion that while I like the look of it,no one else seems to. Now I agree with what most people say that the nose on the 74-75 cars are better looking,but I think the front end of the 76 isn't ugly,just different. The rear treatment on the 76 is wayyyy better looking in my opinion,but I seem to be in the minority here as well. Other than those two things the cars seem identical,is that true? Why no love for the 76+ cars? If I were to buy the 76 that is for sale(at least it was as of last contact with seller) would it be even more difficult to find parts fro it than a 74-75 car due to the non-love for the later cars?

For the record I am a big fan of the 70's Mazda lineup,and the RX-4 is a really great looking almost muscle car style ride no matter what year it is,and quite frankly I had not been considering one in my search for an old school Mazda to replace my 74 REPU that I am trying to sell. Now I really think it is high on my list,and the 76 in CO that is for sale looks like a good candidate,but I am so far away,and I have no idea what sort of situation I would be getting into with this particular model as it seems I see even less of these than I do REPU's on the internet,and such. Any help on this would be appreciated.

For the record I am looking for a pre-RX-7 Mazda coupe/sedan/wagon to replace my very solid,nice 74 REPu due to the fatc I have two kids that I can't take with me in the truck,so if you can help me out I would appreciate it. I am not looking for a total project,but a little work is okay with me as long as the car is soild to begin with.

RX2fan

Well the body on all RX4s are the same the only difference is the front end. I beleave that finding parts for a 75+ is easyer because they made more than they made the 74 body style. by the way i thought that the 74 body style was only in 74 that in 75 it changed to the big bumper cosmo look. RX4 i think is the hardest car to find parts for, but if you want room in the interior go with the RX4. hope this helps

Mazdax605

iTrader: (5)

Wow,really no love!!!

diabolical1

iTrader: (3)

i don't have anything against Rx-4s. actually, i think i'd take an Rx-4 over an Rx-3 if given the choice. i like the coupes and the wagons.

Landon303

iTrader: (25)

of all the mazda rotaries i like the 76+ 4's the least, that front end is just gaudy haha. not to say i wouldn't rock a vintage rotary, because if the oppurtunity came i'd drive one. on the other hand, i'm one of the only people i've come across to be in love with the body of the rx-5/cosmo of 76-78... so mark one more tally on the "no love" side of your chart, ha

Mazdax605

iTrader: (5)

I like the Cosmo as well,and I am sort of close to buying a 78 in VA. The only thing that is holding me back is it seems there are almost no parts for these cars available,and they seem very unloved as well. That,and I am not sure I want to spend the $5000 on the car even though it seems worth it.

Siraniko

iTrader: (13)

I used to own a 74 and a 76 quattro at the same time. I sold them with my REPUs and a RX-3 to buy my house back in early 90s. With the 76, I was the 2nd owner and came with faded blue paint job and white interior. There is love for it except, these darn things are very heavy. I prefer the lighter 74 with small bumpers. See, there is love but not mucho.

Crunchy

I prefer the 76 cosmo over the 76 rx4.
I have a 76 cosmo its been sitting for 20 years and I'm going to restore the thing, with a to goal keep it looking stock excluding the area under the hood.

Mazdax605

iTrader: (5)

Would a 76 RX-4 coupe be heavier than say my 74 REPU? I don't really care about weight,I just want an old school car that I can take my kids out in,and have it be in half-way decent shape. The closer to original the better,but I will take almost anything that looks half-way decent with out being a total project. I really like the look of the 76 RX-4,and the 78 Cosmo I was thinking about buying as well.

I even have a member on here offering me an RX-2 sedan,and I am very interested in that as well,but I am sure it has little to no appeal to most being a 4-door. I would really like an RX-3 wagon,but those seem hard to come by. Did Mazda make a 76 RX-4 in wagon form? I have seen earlier RX-4 wagons,but never a newer one.

Keep your eyes out for any old school rides like I am looking for,and let me know what you find,as I would really like to do something sooner rather than later,and oh yeah my REPU is for sale in the classifieds.

RX2fan

yea they made a 76 wagon. Remember the RX2 coupe and RX2 sedan are the same size only difference is that the sedan has a higher roof in the rear and has a few more inches of room in the rear seat. the RX3 is smaller than a RX2. RX4 is the largest with the wagon option.

Mazdax605

iTrader: (5)

How could an RX-2 coupe,and sedan be the same size,but the sedan has more room in the rear? The RX-3 is smaller than an RX-2? I thought as the numbers went up the cars got bigger until of course the -7.

John McBeth

iTrader: (1)

Go for the Cosmo! That is one of the nicest around and it will eventually have the following of the other rotary cars. The Cosmo is built on the same platform as the Rx-4 and weighs about the same and shares the same 99 inch wheelbase. Some of the mechanical differences between the Cosmo and Rx4 is that the Cosmo has rack in pinion steering, bigger wheels(14inch) four wheel disc brakes and a coil rear suspension as opposed to the leaf spring set up on the RX4. And how about that cool wooden steering wheel as well as more power options inside. If you need any parts, Atkins Rotary would be able to most anything you need.
The Rx2 sedan is bigger inside because of the roof design and the addition of two more doors but both cars (coupe/sedan) are the same size. The Rx-3 (91 inch wheelbase/2060 lbs) is smaller than the Rx-2 (97 inch wheelbase/2300lbs).

GO C O S M O !

Mazdax605

iTrader: (5)

I thought the Cosmo used a plain ole steering box like the other cars,but it was/is powered instead of manual. I like the Cosmo,and I was hoping to go buy it this week,but due to work,and such I could not make it,and it is sort of on the high side of my budget. Also I have had no movement on my REPU,so I am not sure I will be able to sell it to fund the purchase of the Cosmo. The Cosmo for sale here is very nice,but I am not a huge fan of the maroon interior. It wouldn't stop me from buying it,but I like black,or red interiors.

Mazdax605

iTrader: (5)

I meant black or WHITE interiors.

rotarydude

iTrader: (2)

Ok here are the scoops for you, If you want the room go for the Rx4 wagon not the cosmo. The cosmo is nice and cool but it is extremely hard to find parts for. Also it is not as easy as you would think to get into the back of one to lock someone into a car seat or such. Not all cosmos were power steering cars neither were the Rx4s again some where some weren't. Now lets talk parts there are parts kits available mostly out of Aus for suspension and other parts for the Rx4 including rubber weatherseals, there is absolutely nothing out there for the cosmo. the cosmo uses a queer 4X120mm wheel stud pattern try finding rims for it. the rear brakes are a combination of disk and drum some pieces haven't been available for years. Ok i will take some heat for my scathing critque but I am more qualified to make these statements about Cosmos than anyone else in the US because i doubt anyone owns more of them than I do. I am not trying to disuade you but you need to know what you are getting into.

Now if you really want a Cosmo Jerry's is one of the nicest that there is but (sorry jerry) it is also the hardest of those to find parts for. the 78 was the last year for the US only about 400-500 were made and there were alot of specfic oddities to only that year.

Don't think I know what I am talking about, We own a total of 12 cosmos including the parts cars 8 76s, 1 77, 2 78s and a 76 J-spec RHD. we also own 7 Rx4s not to mention all the parts we have stored for them.

hooks rotary

iTrader: (4)

Hey dave do you have a 73 Rx4 (luce)? if so have of those do you have?

Mazdax605

iTrader: (5)

Thanks for the info. I figured either you or Kansei could give me the low down on the Cosmo,as I know little to nothing about them. Is the RX-5 Cosmo a regular steering box like I thought,or is it a R&P rack? Jerry's car is very nice like you said,and I really do like it,but I am concerned about parts,and I was unable to make it down there this week like I wanted to see it.

If I were to get a 76+ RX-4 would that be easier to get parts for? Do you have any 76+,or any year RX-4's you want to sell? Wagon/coupe/sedan doesn't matter to me but I prefer the coupe/wagon. I like the 76+ RX-4's more than the earlier ones,but I may be odd.

Thanks again,and I never thought you didn't know what you were talking about.

rotarydude

iTrader: (2)

No I can't say I have the 73 luce, might get my hands on one some day.

A bit of history for those readers that are wondering, the Rx-4 is also known as a Luce in japan and they were built prior to 74. Production actually started in oct 72 so there is a 1973 Rx4/Luce and it would be a home market car or a Right hand drive J-spec.

Now I do have 2 of the first US version Rx4s both within the first 100 built and the fist month of import model

The Rx4s I have right now 4 Coupes all 74s (one parts only, 2 resto projects see above, one daily driver) 3 wagons 75,76,78 all in various states of disrepair/reconstruction


Mazdax605

No the cosmo does not have a R&P it has a standard steering box. The 76 and later Rx4s I have are not really good candidates for you as they have all been setting for a really long time, are not complete and do have some major issues. Most anyone else would probably scrap them out instead of trying to save them. Strangely enough the later Rx4 is easier to find some parts for unless you are talking about sheetmetal or glass. It is much easier to find the weatherstriping especially if it is a wagon or sedan. Now some things between the cosmo and the rx4 in 76 are same including most of the front suspension and brakes there are a few companies in Aus that make some cool suspension and brake packages that allow us to modify without destroying the car... the same kits are not useable on the cosmo because of the weird rear brake setup. As far as bodies the coupe was only made 74-76 therefore trying to find a 76 coupe is not the easiest task more likely you would find a sedan or wagon. Hope this helps
if you need to email me directly.

billyboy

Not sure how the cars were optioned over there. Here, the post 75 cars came with the same wood rimmed wheel as the RX5 and the faux walnut instrument surround too. The 120mm pcd wheels were shared with the early 929 apparently.

Oddly enough, there are a lot more early 12a and pointy nose 13b powered cars over here...second fuel crisis playing it's part I think, with the late version considered the "collector" (but multiple hits with the ugly stick!) item because of rarity.

gambone

iTrader: (3)

OK I have one and if I knew how to post a pic I do one, use to post pics some time ago but things have changed abd I have not kept up, So I have had it longer then most of you been alive O well some ones going to say I'm 55 years old . But any how your rite there are hard to find parts for, but you know you can up grade the parts that go in so as soon as ifind out how to post pic agen I show tou all

gripp2maxx

o one with 20b enegine..........also in in AU THEY LOVE THEM

gambone

iTrader: (3)

my RX4

RotorRican

Nice RX-4!

Siraniko

iTrader: (13)

whats up with the front bumper and the paint on the TII rims doesnt match the car. sorry but Im just

BASTARD

iTrader: (4)

that is why there is no love for the 76