Mazda Rotary Pickup
From Ford Wiki
| Automotive industry | Mazda |
|---|---|
| Production | 1974-1977 |
| Car classification | Compact car Pickup truck |
| Car body style | 2-door truck |
| Internal combustion engine | 1.3 L Mazda Wankel engine |
| Related | Mazda B-Series Ford Courier |
The Rotary Pickup (REPU) from Mazda was the world's first and only Wankel engine Pickup truck. It was sold from 1974 to 1977 and appears to have been available only in the United States and Canada. Toyo Kogyo (Mazda) made trucks for Ford in the Courier as well as its own Mazda B-Series. These trucks shared many of the same parts, but the Rotary Engined Pickup (REPU) had a 4-port Mazda Wankel engine 4-barrel carbureted engine, flared fenders, a different dash, front grille, and round taillights.
It is estimated that just over 15,000 total units were built. Most were made for the 1974 model year, due to the Energy crisis putting a damper on sales, Mazda restamped many of the 1974 models with a prefix "S" designating it as a "1975" model. Approximately 700 units were built for the 1976 model year. Mazda invested in a moderate redesign for the 1977 model, updating electrical systems, adding an additional 4 inches cab stretch for more comfort, and adding a 5-speed manual transmission with different differential gearing. However, after about 3,000 units, the REPU was discontinued due to poor sales.
Road & Track magazine was impressed with the "smooth, quiet power" and the "nice" interior. Price at the time was about US$3500, and observed fuel economy was 16.5 miles per US gallon (14.3 L/100 km; 19.8 mpg-imp).
Most of the trucks are found on the west coast of the US, and they continue to be sought out by enthusiasts.
Racing
Like many of the other Mazda rotary vehicles, the REPU was raced. Its most notable finish was an overall victory at the 1975 SCCA Mojave 24 Hour Rally at the hands of drivers Malcolm Smith (motorcyclist) and Jack Sreenan. 1.JPG
See also
References
- Mazda.com History of Rotary
- Club for Mazda REPU owners
- Road & Track magazine, July 1974
| Mazda Mazda Wankel engine timeline
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| Compact car | Familia/R100 | R100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size car | Capella/RX-2 | RX-2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Luce/RX-4 | R130 | RX-4 | Legato | HB | HC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size car | Roadpacer | RP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand tourer | Cosmo/RX-5 | L10A | L10B | CD | HB | JC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports car | Savanna/RX-3/RX-7/RX-8 | RX-3 | SA | FB | FC | FD | SE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pickup truck | Proceed/REPU | REPU | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mazda road car timeline, 1990s–2000s
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| Scrum | Scrum/Scrum Wagon | Scrum/Scrum Wagon | ||||||||||||||||||
| Subcompact car | Revue/121 | Demio/121 | Demio/Mazda2 | Demio/Mazda2 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Compact car | Familia/323/Protegé | Familia/323/Protegé | Familia/323/Protegé | Axela/Mazda3 | ||||||||||||||||
| Nissan AD | Nissan AD | Nissan AD | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size car | Capella/626 | Capella | Capella/626 | Atenza/Mazda6 | Atenza/Mazda6 | |||||||||||||||
| Cronos/626/Xedos 6/Eunos 500 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Eunos 800/Mazda Xedos 9/Millenia | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size car | Sentia/929/Efini MS-8 | Sentia | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sports car | MX-6/Mystère | MX-6/Mystère/Efini MS-6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Roadster/MX-5/Miata | Roadster/MX-5/Miata | Roadster/MX-5 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| RX-7 | Efini RX-7/RX-7 | RX-8 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Mazda AZ-1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pickup truck | B-Series | B-Series | B-Series | BT-50 | ||||||||||||||||
| Minivan | Mazda Premacy | Mazda Premacy | ||||||||||||||||||
| Efini MPV/MPV | MPV | MPV/Mazda8 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Crossover SUV | CX-7 | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Sport utility vehicle | Navajo | Tribute | Tribute | |||||||||||||||||
| Van | Bongo | Bongo | ||||||||||||||||||
| Truck | Titan | Titan | Titan | Titan | ||||||||||||||||
