Is this one of Japan's most underrated classics? More shots from our PH Heroes piece on the Mazda RX-3.
Think of a Japanese hero car. No doubt many minds will be gravitating immediately to the Nissan Skyline GT-R. And rightfully so. Going back to its original form, which was introduced in 1969, we’re talking about a high-revving, 2.0-litre, straight-six punching out 230hp at 8,400rpm, with butch looks and a mega racing pedigree. All the hallmarks of a hero car, then.
Well, the old ‘win on Sunday, sell on Monday’ thing paid off. Mazda’s profile exploded as a result of its competition successes, and the Wankel’s unreliability issues, which had sealed – excuse the unintentional pun – the NSU Ro80’s fate, were seen by the world not to be holding back the RX-3. Sales boomed. And you could buy a rotary-powered RX-3s in coupé, saloon and even estate guises. Confusingly, you could also buy a piston-engined RX-3.
Like a set of Ford wheels, which have now been changed for a period set with chrome hubcaps and wafer-thin, 155/80 13 Continentals. Also, the original 10A unit had been swapped for a later 12A motor and five-speed manual ‘box from an RX-7. That’s been left in situ, as has the uprated radiator, electric fan and beefier alternator that came with it. There's more, too.
It's also dripping with exquisite details. Take the old-style Mazda badges, which have the arms of the ‘M’ extended at either end. This is set in a Wankel-rotor-shaped triangle and the whole thing is 3D. Behind it there’s a black honeycomb grille, surrounded by twin headlights and a slim, chrome bumper below. At the back, the pair of three roundel taillights are another attempt at yank styling. But these look every bit the Japanese knock-off they are, surrounded by sprayed sliver surrounds.
Once beyond confined streets and into the freedom offered by the Garden of England’s rolling countryside, I could wind the thing up. That changed everything. The parp from the RX-3's whizzing rotors became truly distinct as the revs piled on. Imagine a large-capacity, two-stroke chainsaw fitted with a cherry bomb. You’re about halfway there, now. It isn't grating, though, it’s great, and the engine’s never less than perfectly balanced.
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