Get ready for the new RX7s and RX9s...

[Crit]

Whoops - sorry to dig up an old thread, but we can't let misinformation get out there, can we? This internet stuff is serious business. I think you're misunderstanding what 87T2 was saying, and being more than a little indignant about it to boot.

Hmm. You are a bit off on this.

A. RX means Rotary Experimental. There is no "It could mean"....It DOES mean. It's long been known. Others will say it stood for Sports. As in X is Sporty. But thats all hype.

Not so. It was largely thought back in the day to mean Rotary Export. The R100 was a Familia Rotary, the RX-2 was the Capella Rotary, the RX-3 was the Savanna, the RX-4 was the Luce, the RX-5 was the Cosmo..... in the home market. Prior to the RX-7, the Japanese folks never saw the "RX" nomenclature used, except on the export models. Is it the truth, who knows. Is it debatable? Yes.

So, Mazda started US sales with the R100. If you wanted a boinger in your R100, you could buy a 1300.

B. The RX2 Came only with a Rotary Engine as it was an option package for the Capella. But an RX2 designation, only came with a Rotary engine. The 12A. It had problems with the seals, causing Mazda to offer a better set of seals but at something like $1000 cost to the customer. Most people junked em. Thats why they are so rare today.

Largely correct. Early twin-distrubutor 12As had 6mm apex seals (modern ones were 3mm and 2mm) and they wore fast as shit, because they were all carbon. They wore, lost compression, life sucked. 1974 happened and brought graphite/steel alloy, they fixed it, and their reputation began to rebound. If you wanted a boinger that looked like an RX-2, you bought a 616 (Capella elsewere).

C. The RX3, came with a 10A, 12A and 13B. No option for Gasoline engine. The 3 stayed in production until the RX7 came out.

In the US, the RX-3 was sold as a Sedan, Coupe, or Wagon. Internationally, some got 10As (As did Capella Rotary models) All US RX-3s got 12As. No RX-3 or Savanna ever got a 13B. If you wanted a boinger that looked like an RX-3, you bought an 808.

D. The RX4, CAme with 12A and 13B as well. No Gasoline engine.

I've always liked RX-4s. They were available here only with a 13B, and the engine, tranny and steering wheel were all directly transplanted into the Rotary Pickups that were made from 74 to 77. Good cars. But if you wanted a boinger in your RX-4 rather than the 13B, you could get the 929.

E. The RX5, IE Cosmo in America. Was not meant as an experiment into Luxury per say, it was meant to emulate American cars. Bigger, more Muscle car looking. That is what made it so popular in Japan. Video for your pleasure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQgpC...eature=related

Yeah, the RX-5 sucked. In the US it was always called the Cosmo but the rotorheads knew better. If you wanted a boinger that looked like an RX-5, you bought a 121.

F. The RX9. The Luce Legato was sold in Japan. Never made it to the states in that form. The Luce was sold to "General Issue" countries (Whatever the hell that means, I guess it means Greece.) with Rotaries and badged the RX9.

So, the RX7 was not the first RX series car to only have a Rotary. ALL RX series cars were only Rotaries. You will never find where an RX badged car was sold from the factory with a piston engine in it. Maybe the chassis was renamed and a piston put in, but never an RX series car.

As for the RX7. I actually can see them doing a 4th Generation. Simply because the name carries so much weight. I doubt you could walk down the street, ask the first person you come up too if they know what an RX7 is and them not know. If Mazda is smart, they will cash in on that. The RX7 has too many followers to let that kind of market value slip away.

Chris, it sounds like your memory was spot-on, and that EVERY rotary-powered Mazda sold in the US had a piston-powered sister car. Up until the RX-7, that is. Don't let other folks tell you you're wrong when you're not. You must have a smart buddy.

http://www.vintagerotaries.org/index.php?showtopic=38