Although established in the 1920s, Mazda Motor Corporation ventured into passenger car mass production in 1960.
It wasn’t until four years later that the Japanese automaker revealed its prototype, equipped with a revolutionary rotary engine, after acquiring manufacturing rights to NSU’s Wankel engines.
Mazda’s rotary-powered vehicle, the Cosmo L10A, debuted in 1966, with production commencing the subsequent year.
Positioned as Mazda’s flagship model, the Cosmo boasted a twin-rotor engine packing 982cc displacement and delivering 110bhp, propelling the sleek two-seater coupe to a top speed of 185km/h (110mph).
Its front suspension featured ‘A’ arms and coil springs, while the rear incorporated a leaf-sprung De Dion axle secured by trailing arms. Disc brakes adorned the front wheels, with drums adorning the rear.
Power transfer occurred via a four-speed manual gearbox. July 1968 saw the introduction of the L10B variant, which offered more power and speed, boasting 128bhp and a top speed of 193km/h, along with an elongated wheelbase.
The Cosmo was a labor-intensive masterpiece, with only one car crafted daily. The Cosmo Sport Series 1 production concluded in 1972, with a mere 343 units manufactured, in stark contrast to the 1,176 units of the subsequent Series 2 model.
The Mazda Cosmo reigns supreme alongside esteemed counterparts like Toyota’s 2000 GT and Nissan’s Skyline GT-R in seeking-after Japanese classics.
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