Mazda R100
Encyclopedia
The Mazda R100 was the export name for the Mazda Familia Rotary Coupe, an automobile
produced by Mazda
in Japan
from 1968 to 1973. It used the chassis from the Familia
and the rotary
0820 engine similar to the one used in the Cosmo Sport Series II. It was a 2 door 2+2 coupé and was produced from 1968 to 1973. It was also known as the Familia Presto Rotary and was quite ordinary except for its powerplant. Power was rated at just 100 hp due to a small carburetor
(thus the "R100" name).
for the new Mazda Motors of America, sold in model years 1971 and 1972. It was a surprising hit with the American public, though sales were limited to some Northwestern states initially.
at Nürburgring
in 1968, Mazda decided to race another rotary car. The Familia Rotary Coupé won its first outing, at the Grand Prix of Singapore, in April, 1969.
Next, the company took on the touring car
endurance challenge at Spa
, the Spa 24 Hours
. For 1969, Mazda entered a pair of Familia Rotary Coupés. The cars came fifth and sixth the first year after a quartet of Porsche 911
s. The Familia also placed fifth at the Marathon de la Route at Nürburgring
in 1969, the same race that the Cosmo had bowed at the previous year. Finally, Mazda took the Familia home for the Suzuka
All-Japan Grand Cup, where it won easily.
For 1970, the Familia placed eighth at the RAC Tourist Trophy
in June, followed by a fourth place at the West German Touring Car race in July. At Spa, four Familias were present, battling with BMW Alpinas, and Alfa Romeo
s for the podium. This time, three of the Mazdas retired, with the fourth claiming the fifth position.
Mazda also turned its attention to Le Mans
in 1970 with rotary-powered prototypes. The company would finally win that race 21 years later with the 787B.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
produced by Mazda
Mazda
is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
from 1968 to 1973. It used the chassis from the Familia
Mazda Familia
Mazda's automotive plans for the early sixties consisted of growing alongside the Japanese economy. To achieve this goal, they began by building an extremely cheap Kei car, the R360 in 1960, planning on introducing gradually larger and pricier cars as the Japanese customers became able to afford them...
and the rotary
Wankel engine
The Wankel engine is a type of internal combustion engine using an eccentric rotary design to convert pressure into a rotating motion instead of using reciprocating pistons. Its four-stroke cycle takes place in a space between the inside of an oval-like epitrochoid-shaped housing and a rotor that...
0820 engine similar to the one used in the Cosmo Sport Series II. It was a 2 door 2+2 coupé and was produced from 1968 to 1973. It was also known as the Familia Presto Rotary and was quite ordinary except for its powerplant. Power was rated at just 100 hp due to a small carburetor
Carburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
(thus the "R100" name).
United States
The R100 was one of the first cars imported into the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for the new Mazda Motors of America, sold in model years 1971 and 1972. It was a surprising hit with the American public, though sales were limited to some Northwestern states initially.
Racing
Following on the success of the Cosmo SportsMazda Cosmo
There have been four generations of Mazda automobiles which went by the name of Cosmo, although they are not all particularly related. All were Grand tourers, with the first proving a successful launch for the Mazda Wankel engine and acting as a "halo" vehicle for the new Mazda brand...
at Nürburgring
Nürburgring
The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about...
in 1968, Mazda decided to race another rotary car. The Familia Rotary Coupé won its first outing, at the Grand Prix of Singapore, in April, 1969.
Next, the company took on the touring car
Grand tourer
A grand tourer is a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The most common format is a two-door coupé with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement....
endurance challenge at Spa
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is the venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix and the Spa 24 Hours endurance race. It is also home to the all Volkswagen club event, 25 Hours of Spa, run by the Uniroyal Fun Cup. It is one of the most challenging race tracks in the world, mainly due to its...
, the Spa 24 Hours
Spa 24 Hours
The Total 24 Hours of Spa is an endurance racing event held annually in Belgium at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Conceived by Jules de Their and Henri Langlois Van Ophem just one year after the first 24 Hours of Le Mans, the race was run under the auspices of the Royal Automobile Club Belgium...
. For 1969, Mazda entered a pair of Familia Rotary Coupés. The cars came fifth and sixth the first year after a quartet of Porsche 911
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 is a luxury 2-door sports coupe made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. It has a distinctive design, rear-engined and with independent rear suspension, an evolution of the swing axle on the Porsche 356. The engine was also air-cooled until the introduction of the Type 996 in 1998...
s. The Familia also placed fifth at the Marathon de la Route at Nürburgring
Nürburgring
The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about...
in 1969, the same race that the Cosmo had bowed at the previous year. Finally, Mazda took the Familia home for the Suzuka
Suzuka Circuit
, Suzuka Circuit for short, is a motorsport race track located in Ino, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan and operated by Mobilityland Corporation, the subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd..-Introduction:...
All-Japan Grand Cup, where it won easily.
For 1970, the Familia placed eighth at the RAC Tourist Trophy
RAC Tourist Trophy
The International Tourist Trophy is an award given by the Royal Automobile Club and awarded semi-annually to the winners of a selected motor racing event each year in the United Kingdom. It was first awarded in 1905 and continues to be awarded to this day, making it the longest lasting trophy in...
in June, followed by a fourth place at the West German Touring Car race in July. At Spa, four Familias were present, battling with BMW Alpinas, and Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...
s for the podium. This time, three of the Mazdas retired, with the fourth claiming the fifth position.
Mazda also turned its attention to Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
in 1970 with rotary-powered prototypes. The company would finally win that race 21 years later with the 787B.