Mazda R360 #1
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Mazda R360 #1
The R360 was Mazda's first real car - a two-door, four-seat coupé. Introduced in 1960, it featured a short 69 inch (1753 mm) wheelbase and weighed just 838 lb (380 kg). It was powered by a rear-mounted air-cooled 356 cc V-twin engine putting out about 16 hp (12 kW) and 16 lb·ft (22 Nm) of torque. The car was capable of about 52 mph (84 km/h). It had a 4-speed manual or two-speed automatic transmission. The suspension, front and rear, was rubber "springs" and torsion bars.
Within a few years of introducing the R360, Mazda had captured much of the lightweight (kei car) market in Japan. It was augmented by the Mazda P360 "Carol" 2+2 in 1962, as well as a convertible version in 1964. Production of the R360 lasted for six years.
Wow, looks like a well used example too. Thanks for sharing again!
It speaks a lot about what Mazda stood for when the first car you launch is a rotary powered sports car.
Interesting how the big 3 in the US and Germany started off pretty early, while in Japan, around the 1910s, there were only really Toyota and Nissan. Mitsubishi and Subaru were still making planes and ships and stuff.
Honda and Mazda are relatively recent marques.
And it's also interesting to note that while there are many defunct European and American car companies, I have yet to think of a defunct Japanese automaker. For the most part, they're still all around. It helps though that they don't just make cars- just look at Mitsubishi and Subaru. They're large conglomerate businesses.