The Japanese have an odd tax structure when it comes to cars—among the taxes based on consumption spending and net weight, there also is a tax based on engine size. This is the reason why Kei cars are a thing in Japan, and it’s a reason why Mazda exploited the Wankel rotary engine. Our Pick of the Day is a JDM vehicle that offered both rotary and piston engines, and can you guess which one was more popular in its home market? This 1976 Mazda Cosmo is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Christiansburg, Virginia.
Mazda’s first official flirtation with the Wankel rotary engine was with the 1967-72 Mazda Cosmo, an interesting vehicle arguably on par with the Toyota 2000GT. The rotary engine was little, but it packed an outsized punch, making it attractive to both engineers and Japanese consumers. Mazda took it racing to Nürburgring to demonstrate its durability, as the engine was still somewhat of a novelty for most of the world since it had only been three years since NSU (the company that Felix Wankel worked for) brought a single-rotor model to market.
But that’s not the Cosmo that is the focus of this story. From the mid-1970s through the early 1980s, the Cosmo was a RWD two-door fastback luxury sport coupe with a 98.8-inch wheelbase that topped Mazda’s line in America. When the Cosmo appeared in the United States for 1976, it was available with a 1.3-liter twin-rotor engine, but some markets also included a “conventional” SOHC four-cylinder. The interior featured contoured, velour reclining bucket seats, wood-framed instrument panel, and real-wood steering wheel and gear-shift knob.
However, it was the greenhouse that may have been the most interesting feature aside of the Wankel, as the B-pillar with glass that could be lowered like a conventional window. Out back, horizontal taillights, connected by a single piece of trim, turned upwards.
“It combines the elegance and dash of a fine touring car with the well-bred power of the rotary engine,” read the brochure. “Performance is more than acceleration. It’s handling. And ride. So, Cosmo comes standard with things like power-assisted disc brakes at all wheels, independent front suspension with coil springs and torsion bar stabilizer, front and rear sway bars, double-acting gas-filled shock absorbers, and steel-belted radial tires.”
The Mazda Cosmo was available in the U.S. only through 1978, but this 1976 example with 64,854 kilometers (approximately, 40,307 miles), is from the home market, as evidenced by its right-hand-drive configuration. Interestingly, this is one of the rarer piston-powered cars, meaning it is powered by a 1769cc four. Shifting comes from the standard five-speed manual. Features included console AM/FM with cassette, digital clock, overhead console, and those nifty home-market side mirrors.
The ad for this Mazda mentions little, but it is being sold by a dealer that is known for having unusual JDM vehicles. As such, if your interest is piqued, it doesn’t hurt to reach out to them about this $19,944 coupe. Your taxes will be dependent on your state, but you will not be penalized for having Mazda’s larger engine, right?
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com