Early Mazda 4 rotor concept

[gt_james]

After finding a photo of this cool mid engine Mazda concept from the 60s I did some digging and eventually found an article about it. It’s a concept for a 4 rotor vehicle.




https://www.excite.co.jp/news/article/Clicccar_519070/

[Jamie R]

Thanks for posting James, fantastic find.

I wish I could translate lol

[Jamie R]

Translated

Another candidate for the 4 rotor experimental vehicle body type was the GT Coupe. General Manager Matsui, Matasaburo Maeda Chief Designer (later Design Director) Modeler, a subordinate designer, produced 1/5 clay models of both types.
R16A coupe 1/5 clay model.
The design of the coupe is very interesting. Mazda planners and designers were sensitive to Western design trends and were willing to incorporate good, attractive features. The R16A is said to have taken full advantage of something. Among them was the Lancia Flavia 4-speed transmission I owned for research.
Lancia flavia zagato. The rear window has negative surface glass, and the quarter window is cut up on the roof.

Flavia was a front-wheel drive vehicle with a water-cooled OHV horizontally opposed 4-cylinder mounted on the front overhang. Engine-final drive-transmission layout.
Mazda was proactive about Western design trends. The first Familia was an example of the interpretation of Chevrolet Corvair, which was said to have prevailed at that time (others are NSU, Fiat, etc.). As you know, the concept design leading to the first Luce was commissioned to Bertone. R16A borrowed MT from Lancia Flavia, but it seems to be Zagato. The Zagato featured a quarter window on the roof and a negative rear window. The latter was a shallow buttress style.

An R16A coupe clay model intended for a rear window embedded in a deep buttress and a quarter window cut into the roof.
The R16A quarter window is larger and cuts into the roof. The rear window is embedded in a deep buttress. The 1964 Porsche 904 GTS proved the aerodynamics of the Buttress without regret, then Ferrari's Dino ("" was intended to be a Ferrari sub-Fland), and a Jaguar designed by Malcolm Sayer from Bristol Airlines. Adopted by XJS.

By the way, Kinutani team of Hiroshima layout plan draws layout figure of many future sports cars. Although the original figure was left in a 16mm movie frame size, which is a microfiche, the sharpness is not good because it is a photo printed from it (for the purpose of keeping the drawing, it is seen with a dedicated enlarged reader machine).
COSMO MC.

One of them is labeled "COSMO MC". Did the next generation envision midships? I have 2 rotors on midship.
Another interesting thing is the open-wheel single-seat racing car, which draws three rotors. F2 and F3 in the mid 60's had a one-liter rule. F1 will be 3L in 1966. There is a theory that they wanted to shift to F2 1.5L. In the United States, there was a one-make formula equipped with 12A.
Open wheel single seat 3 rotor.
I've been at the Jim Russell Driving School in Califo

[Jamie R]

Some more Mazda rotary stuff

An RX33 ?

https://carsthatnevermadeitetc.tumblr.com/post/161518815553/mazda-r16a-1963-an-early-mazda-rotary-test-bed#notes


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[Jamie R]

http://cp_www.tripod.com/rotary/pg03.htm


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[clive]

Excellent finds both of you.

Never seen that concept before   

[Jamie R]

Almost fd style rear lights



T top roof looks like a thong


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[re japi]

Yeah, excelent finds! Thanks for sharing


Lähetetty minun G8141 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[Jamie R]

Was james mainly. I speak to him most days. Although he don’t post on here much.

Was a good find. A 1.6 litre 4 rotor !

I bet it revved so smoothly having smaller rotors


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