Add this one to the, “How many can there be left?” list. A 1976 Mazda RX4 wagon, replete with manual transmission, amber driving lights and all four original hubcaps. These rotary-powered wagons offered a distinctive alternative to the Country Squire your grandparents almost certainly owned, and they hardly ever come up for sale today. Find this example here on craigslist in Portland for $4,500.
This is a 13B-equipped version, which is more than likely what you’ll find under the hood if you discover any others. Originally launched with the 12A Wankle rotary, the earlier cars had a robust 130 b.h.p. on board. The 13B came along to replace the 12A when consumption and emissions concerns became top priority, so power suffered a slight setback to 125 b.h.p. Still, paired with a manual transmission, this was no slouch. The seats are in amazing condition.
Similar to Mazda’s rotary-powered cars from recent memory, these innovative power plants always had some nagging reliability issues. In this case, the 13B needed frequent seal replacement – just Google “worn apex seals” to see how many pages upon pages pop up from committed-but-weary Mazda enthusiasts. Still, when it’s running well, no engine sounds like a rotary nor can it constantly be wound so high, so often. This RX4’s body and trim remains in excellent shape.
Also in nice condition is the interior, even the stain-prone storage area. The seller says the car has been sitting since 1999 and has some “typical fender rust” to contend with, though it’s hard to see how extensive it is in photos. The RX4 will also need the carb rebuilt, but a new kit is included in the sale. Overall, finding an RX4 in any condition is a literal needle in a haystack, but this one looks quite nice and should absolutely be preserved as an original specimen.
This is no substitute for a giant country squire. These were compact econoboxes, although I will say the quad headlights and fanciful grill gives this almost 2nd gen Cressida upscale econobox sort of class.
I remember hearing a Mazda commercial on the radio when I was a kid. Kind of went like, A Mazda goes hmmmmmmmm, and a Chevy Vega goes bumbumbumbumbumbumbumbum. I think the sound effects were the courtesy of a guitar, basically saying that the rotary engine was better.
The first car I ever owned AND registered was an RX-4 coupe, in 1985. I won’t describe everything I went through with that car, because you’d make fun of me for keeping it. I will say that I wouldn’t go anywhere in it without a case of oil in the trunk. Looking back, it’s hard to believe it was only 9 years old at the time. The body was 80% Bondo, conveniently painted the same color as masking tape. All things considered, though, it’s an experience I’m glad I had, and I fully support preserving any RX-4 or other pre-RX-7 rotaries that come along.
My son whose 14 loves rotaries I guess from the YouTube videos where they’re drifting and making tons of power
I’m glad I talked him into a 240 wagon that will probably build a turbo motor for its also a 5 speed so he’s happy!
I’d still like to build a rotory just to say that I have
Thank god I bought the 240 before he saw this!
I had a 72 RX-4 that was traded in to the Chevy dealer where I worked. One of our mechanics Bracket drag raced an RX-2. He took my RX-4, worked the exhaust and changed weights in the distributor. That little sucker ran quarter mile times in low 13’s on skinny street tires. It backfired through a pressure relief pipe that ran next to the muffler every time I shifted from Second to third, funny as hell. I wrecked it into a tree in ’77
Orlando,Fl
1974 rx4
Beauty. Probably the nicest one left on planet earth. Mine was a two door, but the lines were the same
I bought a new RX3 in ’74 – silver with white interior. A truly beautiful car and a lot of fun to drive. But, from the day I got it, it would backfire. Took it to the dealer time and again and they were never able to solve the problem. Traded it off on a ’73 124 Sport. Happy to report my car-buying decisions have gotten better over time.
My family bought one of these wagons new in ’76. What a blast to drive with a bouncy hydraulic clutch and BR-60-13 tires. Loved the dash and shifter layout, even more fun than our Rabbit. Now I have a twin-turbo RX-7 from 1995 and can’t wait to get it out on the street and relive those great times!
My buddy Tim had one of these, it was fun and would roost gravel.
I had a 74 rx4 the dealer did a few up grades to the dual coil distributor and the car would blow off many small block v eights.
I had one of these for over 10 years and put over 180,000 miles on it. Mazda replaced the engine twice. It was a 4 speed manual. It was a very nice driving car. I could shift down to 3rd at 70 mph for quicker acceleration. I sometimes regret I sold it.
How could a beat up wagon like this with the engine problems we all know it has, be worth $4500.00?
Because it doesn’t have the engine problems you think it has.
Apex seal issues were basically resolved after the early 10a engine’s carbon seals were replaced by steel in the 12a in the early 70s.
This engine is good for well over 100k miles. My Rx4 sedan ran over 220k miles with one rebuild. Not actually too bad compared to many other cars of the time.
The perception of rotaries being so unreliable is a holdover from an early design.
Agreed….and the rule with rotaries I was always told was to expect about a quart oil consumption every 1000 miles or so – this is normal- and by all means change oil often…stay on it….keep it clean.
I’m not sure about the fit of that back passenger door…with the mismatched paint that was likely the target of some parking lot altercation. I think the price is about $1k too high for the known issues.
I’d like this little wagon more if it had three doors instead of five, leather interior and the alloy wheels shown on the yellow show-stopper from Edwin’s post!
Had one in the 90’s that I bought for a spare when I owned a courier service. It had relatively low miles on it when I bought it and I ran the daylights out of it for the courier. Ended up giving it to one of my employees when their car died and he drove it for quite some time. It was a great inexpensive car.
My hottie swimming instructor Betsy drove one exactly like this. I was like seven, she was like 17. Sometimes she’d drive her family’s other one, a white ‘75 wagon with the nicer grille and styled steel wheels.
My parents had a ’74 “RotaryWagon” in blue. Automatic, but still fun to get on it. They owned it when I first got my license, so it became the cruiser for me and my friends.
Very different car, I never remember seeing another one, even back in the late ’70s. Definitely not popular in the Northeast.
In Europe, this was a Mazda 929, with a classic piston engine of 1800 cc. My father sadly died behind the wheel of his one, 33 years ago.
Straight Outta Kalispell, MT
The ad has been removed. Can someone help me find it in cache ? Many Thanks
My 1974 Rx-4
Palm Bay, Fl
i just found 2 days ago and gonna drag these home, 1976 mazda rx4, isn’t rotten yet lucky and was drove there and parked 10 years ago, and a 1975 mazda rotary pick up that was redone lotta years ago and the guy who owns it parked that there and one day it didn’t start so got pushed into the shed and has been sitting there 10 years
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