I was waiting for this episode, Stephen! They were called the Mazda 808 in Australia, and as someone else commented, I think the RX3 in rotary engine form in the sedan coupe versions. However, my story is that I only ever rode in the wagon version of the 808. It was in January 1978. I came from Newcastle New South Wales. My first girlfriend lived in a place called Tintenbar north of Ballina on the far north coast of New South Wales. My family holidayed in Ballina each year after Christmas for three or four weeks. Because my girlfriend and I lived 700 km apart, we wrote love letters to each other every week, and as my family didn't have a telephone at home, I'd call her once a week from a public phone box, armed with a pocket full of coins. Her father was a sugar cane farmer, and her family had a phone in their house. I had stayed with them in February 1977 for a short time. Anyway, one of her girlfriends had a Mazda 808 wagon, and drove my girlfriend and I, and another female friend of hers, to a nearby Drive-In to watch movies. Well, respecting our privacy, the other two girls went to the candy store and left us to, ummmm, play in the back seat. At the time I had recently turned 21, and she was just 17. What did Cat Stevens say? "The first cut is the deepest". I've never forgotten that girl, and the rare times we spent together. I'm heading for 68 very soon, and she would be 64 now. She ended our relationship abruptly only a year and four months later. I didn't see that one coming, and it took me a long time to "try to love again" as the song said. When I did eventually marry my late wife in Australia in 1984, she owned an early seventies model Mazda 1500. In 1989, I bought a new Mazda 121 hatchback. There have been quite a few Mazda connections in my life!
Thanks for this.🙂 In Finland, the 818 estate was also available with a 1600cc engine. My friend's first car was a blue 818 coupe in the early 90s. Fun cruising memories, although the interior and knee room in the back were very cramped. In the winter, the 1.3 liter engine had enough power to make the car slide sideways, which was of course part of the driving fun back then.
Another interesting Mazda from the 70's, pretty much unknown to me before. I think I saw some of these as a small kid, but not often. The coupe looks cool and other versions pretty typical 70's family cars. Interesting prices written in that brochure. My dad copied once the 1983 Mazda 323 rear axle wheel alignment values from Haynes / Alfamer service manual he borrowed from library, to the back page of the 323 brochure :D
Yes, southern hemisphere territory ( New Zealand ) they were known as the "8-0-8" with either piston combustion engine or the Wankel Rotary ( three rotary ). The smaller displacement "Rotary" was also matched with "Piston Combustion " engine 😮 The Japanese perfected the old wankel blueprint from Germany 🇩🇪 whom pioneered the concept, but never perfected the combustion sealing. Fast forward, the RX3 had three of everything, typically like - three horns and the such. Three spark plugs 🔌 per Rotary, triple ignition. I seem to remember Nissan use to provide twin ignition per Piston Combustion engine for their 80's range of performance vehicles.😮 Thanks for the gaining of awareness of the northern hemisphere "8-1-8" which I shall assume is the same ( 1272cc ) 4 piston engine. ❤
The problem with Mazda Rotary engines were something different for the US car market. The problem with the Rotary was that it was very thirsty; I think overall mpg was around 21 mpg. Worse in city driving. Maintenance was key to the survival of these Rotary engines; neglect the engine, the rotary seals eventually would fail. We used to have a Mazda dealership years ago in a small town close to where I live in upstate New York, so these British models look very familiar!!
Similar time Holden export there HJ Kingswood with rotary engine, at least 818 is smaller but i prefer inline 4 cylinder engine n in wagon version, just easier access with nice front end. Nice interior too.
The Coupe is niçer than equivalent German coupes, and as far as I'm concerned, if the Turning Circle is LESS than 30 feet, I'd buy it right away! Try getting a car wuth a decent turning circle TODAY!
I think the coupe and sedan are a RX3 when fitted with a rotary.
I was waiting for this episode, Stephen! They were called the Mazda 808 in Australia, and as someone else commented, I think the RX3 in rotary engine form in the sedan coupe versions. However, my story is that I only ever rode in the wagon version of the 808. It was in January 1978. I came from Newcastle New South Wales. My first girlfriend lived in a place called Tintenbar north of Ballina on the far north coast of New South Wales. My family holidayed in Ballina each year after Christmas for three or four weeks. Because my girlfriend and I lived 700 km apart, we wrote love letters to each other every week, and as my family didn't have a telephone at home, I'd call her once a week from a public phone box, armed with a pocket full of coins. Her father was a sugar cane farmer, and her family had a phone in their house. I had stayed with them in February 1977 for a short time. Anyway, one of her girlfriends had a Mazda 808 wagon, and drove my girlfriend and I, and another female friend of hers, to a nearby Drive-In to watch movies. Well, respecting our privacy, the other two girls went to the candy store and left us to, ummmm, play in the back seat. At the time I had recently turned 21, and she was just 17. What did Cat Stevens say? "The first cut is the deepest". I've never forgotten that girl, and the rare times we spent together. I'm heading for 68 very soon, and she would be 64 now. She ended our relationship abruptly only a year and four months later. I didn't see that one coming, and it took me a long time to "try to love again" as the song said. When I did eventually marry my late wife in Australia in 1984, she owned an early seventies model Mazda 1500. In 1989, I bought a new Mazda 121 hatchback. There have been quite a few Mazda connections in my life!
Thanks for this.🙂
In Finland, the 818 estate was also available with a 1600cc engine.
My friend's first car was a blue 818 coupe in the early 90s. Fun cruising memories, although the interior and knee room in the back were very cramped. In the winter, the 1.3 liter engine had enough power to make the car slide sideways, which was of course part of the driving fun back then.
Wonderful
Another interesting Mazda from the 70's, pretty much unknown to me before. I think I saw some of these as a small kid, but not often. The coupe looks cool and other versions pretty typical 70's family cars.
Interesting prices written in that brochure.
My dad copied once the 1983 Mazda 323 rear axle wheel alignment values from Haynes / Alfamer service manual he borrowed from library, to the back page of the 323 brochure :D
Aw nice
It isn't a model I remember.
Mostly the early Mazda models I recall are the ones from the 80s..
Thanks for sharing Stephen..
Thank you for watching and commenting always appreciated
Yes, southern hemisphere territory ( New Zealand ) they were known as the "8-0-8" with either piston combustion engine or the Wankel Rotary ( three rotary ).
The smaller displacement "Rotary" was also matched with "Piston Combustion " engine 😮
The Japanese perfected the old wankel blueprint from Germany 🇩🇪 whom pioneered the concept, but never perfected the combustion sealing.
Fast forward, the RX3 had three of everything, typically like - three horns and the such.
Three spark plugs 🔌 per Rotary, triple ignition.
I seem to remember Nissan use to provide twin ignition per Piston Combustion engine for their 80's range of performance vehicles.😮
Thanks for the gaining of awareness of the northern hemisphere "8-1-8" which I shall assume is the same ( 1272cc ) 4 piston engine. ❤
Really nice video. I dont personally remember this model, but I do like the look of it. Thanks for sharing it.
Thank you for watching and commenting
It was the 808 in some markets like Australia.
A very attractive looking car in all it's body styles.
I'm considering a Mazda for my next car - maybe a 2 or a 3 circa 2018 model year.
Yea I would consider a modern Mazda
The problem with Mazda Rotary engines were something different for the US car market. The problem with the Rotary was that it was very thirsty; I think overall mpg was around 21 mpg. Worse in city driving. Maintenance was key to the survival of these Rotary engines; neglect the engine, the rotary seals eventually would fail. We used to have a Mazda dealership years ago in a small town close to where I live in upstate New York, so these British models look very familiar!!
Similar time Holden export there HJ Kingswood with rotary engine, at least 818 is smaller but i prefer inline 4 cylinder engine n in wagon version, just easier access with nice front end. Nice interior too.
The Coupe is niçer than equivalent German coupes, and as far as I'm concerned, if the Turning Circle is LESS than 30 feet, I'd buy it right away!
Try getting a car wuth a decent turning circle TODAY!