Repu

With such vehicles as the Miata, Mazda has gained the reputation as a niche-meister by successfully exploiting markets where others have feared to tread. (Those others note that it's much better to exploit volume markets, though that's easy for the big guys to say). It's largely assumed that Mazda's niche marketing strategy, which the company refers to as making cars that a few people love in stead of cars that most people like, is a recent development But that assumption ignores Mazda's attempt to fill one of the most narrowly defined niches in vehicle manufacturing: In 1974, as a midyear addition, Toyo Kogyo added the Rotary Pick up to its American market model line. The Rotary Pickup was ahead of its time and just about everything else when you stepped on the gas Road & Track Just in case you missed the point, the tailgate was about as unsubtle as it got. Road & Track Of course, the Rotary Pickup was unique. It was the only pickup truck with a rotary engine, and one that quickly earned a performance reputation. While some American pickup trucks had big V-8s, no small pickup truck, which were then exclusively Japanese, had anything but a tour-cylinder engine that, despite an OHC, was tuned for frugality and as much torque as possible from their diminutive displacement. The engines were noisy, interior accommodations were Spartan, and the ride, particularly when unladen, was bouncy. The Rotary Pickup was different. It wasn't any larger than the other truck from Japan, but it had a rotary engine under its hood and, as Road & Track noted, 'lots of smooth, quiet power very much in the American idiom." The interior was spiffed up, and for the first time in a truck this size, disc brakes on the trent wheels were standard. The track was increased: six inches up front and five at the rear, and fenders flared appropriately. And to make sure everyone noticed, the Rotary Truck got a new grille to distinguish it from Mazda's run of-the-mill trucks, complete with trochoid emblem and "Rotary Engine" badge, and around back, "ROTARY POWER" was spelled out in large letters across the tailgate. The engine was the same as in the RX-4, intro duced earlier in the 1974 model year, and rated at 110bhp it would accelerate the Mazda mini-truck 0-60mph in 11.0sec, turning the quarter mile in 18.3sec with the standard four-speed manual transmission. A three-speed automatic was optional. Said Road & Track, "Until somebody stuffs a 110bhp V-8 or V-6 in a pickup this light, the Mazda is a viable proposition for high performance with reasonable fuel economy." Ride and handling were better than most small though Road & Track noted a too-soft front end with a rear suspension. As for handling, with big bias ply fires, Road & Track wrote, "On a smooth [road], it has curve capability to equal some of the less expensive small sports sedans." Brakes were "more than adequate" though lock prone at the rear with no load. And though the in terior was a cut above most mini-trucks with, for example, a fake wood grain on the dash, a bolt-up-right bench seat was the only one available. A console was a nice touch, but made three-across seating difficult at best. And as with most of the early Japanese small pickups, six-footers found interior room inadequate, particularly from the neck up. Road & Track concluded that if "the public can think clearly amid all the conflicting talk of Mazdas and fuel economy, we think the Rotary Pickup will be a success" Well despite opening up "a whole new concept" in pickups--"high performance, refined running, good handling and reasonable fuel economy with half-ton pickup capability" -- the Rotary Pickup remained on the American market -- the only place it was ever sold--for only two and a half model years, and was discontinued after the 1976 model year. Even then, the rotary-powered trucks could be picked up new at dealerships well into 1977. Motor Trend road-tested a rotary powered truck in a five mini pickup comparison for its September 1977 issue and logged a 0-60mph acceleration of 8.9sec, compared to an earlier test where it clocked a 12.5sec sprint. Shown in that 1977 Motor Trend test was a flamed and flared Rotary Pickup sold by California dealer Freeway Mazda, although it was not the truck tested. Named the "Freeway Hummer,'' which was subtly airbrushed across the tail-gate, the special truck sold for $6,045. By being offered so late, this specially equipped pickup was likely a leftover that the dealer was working hard to sell! Even though slow off the lot, the Rotary Pickup was ahead of the pack on the road. Unfortunately, it was ahead of its time in the marketplace. From starship steering wheel to imitation wood dash, the Rotary Pickup was more car llke inside than most mini trucks  Dimensions, however, left falter riders with stiff necks Road & Track What to Look For Oh, are these ever rare out there. The good news is that the Mazda Rotary Truck was a tough customer and quite durable. But those fenders, front and rear, and the grille are exclusive to the model. The battery, mounted conventionally under the hood on piston-engined tracks, was mounted under the bed on the rotary truck behind a door on the right side Those few Rotary Pickups that were sold here were the only ones in the world If it is broken, you'll have to fix it; replacement parts are rarer than cavities in a hen that flosses regularly, Fortunately, the 13B rotary is an nil-the-shelf item, and the drivetrain can be replaced or repaired. Body, interior, and trim pieces will take a lot of long-dis- tance phone calls and long walks at swap meets. But a restored Rotary Truck--what a prize! It may never appreciate in value so much that you could trade it in on a semester at Harvard, but drive it to school and you'll probably have the only one in Cambridge. And you'll probably have the only one at most car shows as well. Following traditional Japanese truck practice, the battery was located in the front of the rear wheel: a lock protected battery from theft: Road & Track The rotary pickup concept was reprieved by the rotary-powered B2000 that finished second in Class 7 in the 1984 Baja 1000 off road race in the hands of Glenn Harris and John Swift. Mazda			
'73 MAZDA REPU			
ENGINES	CHASSY NUMBER ( --- )		
13B ( 645 x 2 )	135ps@6500 - 18.3kg-m@4000		
L - W - H	4369 - 1702 - 1575		
Truck bed L x W	1880 - 1448		
Wheel base	2642		
Track F/R	1422/1296		
Tires	7.35-14-6PLY		
Truning Circle			
Weight	1234		
Passangers	3		
Top Speed			
Fuel Consumption			
Fuel Tank	78L		
Oil Tank	5.2L		
Produced			
Towing	635		
Price