Mazda, 80 Years Of Making Small Cars
Mazda have been making small cars for 80 years. That might be something of a surprise, but it began 80 years ago with a prototype. If it wasn’t for the Second World War Mazda would have produced many more and might be even bigger than it is now. If you see the way they gained ground when they could start making mass produced cars.
Mazda have been known for making small cars for Europe for some time. Over here in the UK we were supplied with the 323 for what seemed like ages, then being replaced by the Mazda 3 and more appropriately in size by the Mazda 2. But there have been many more and not all of them have made it to the UK, or the US. Certainly not in the kind of numbers that they have sold in Japan.
1940 Prototype Sub Compact Mazda Passenger Car
The first small Mazda was a sub compact car built in 1940. Only a prototype at this stage, but it showed the intentions to be in this market segment. Think of it as a Japanese equivalent to an Austin 8 but probaby 7 in size. Styling trends appearing to be similar worldwide as they often are. Because this was at the early stages of World War Two, it meant that the car was never to enter production.
Designed with large windows and a spacious interior, it was intended to have the comfort of a larger vehicle in a smaller package.
1960 Mazda R360 Coupe
The R360 Coupe was the first mass production passenger car Mazda produced. After the war it was commercial vehicles that was focussed on. It worked as there was enough funds to develop the sub compact, or micro car, that Mazda intended. It only weighed 380kg, making it the lightest in its class. It was also less than 3m long and could seat four adults.
It was quite a successful car, capturing 15% of the sales for that segment.
1962 Mazda Carol 360
The Carol 360 was introduced in 1962 as the world’s smallest four door saloon. Not only that it features one of the smallest four cylinder engines used in a car at 358cc. Mazda managed to fit a full four doors into an overall length of 2,990mm or 117.7 in. The wheelbase was 1930mm or 76 in.
There was a 600 version too with a 568cc engine with the same wheelbase, but a little longer overall at 3,200mm or 126 in.
1963 Mazda Familia
Moving to the next market segment, or going up in size to a compact car, Mazda introduced the Familia in 1963. New models and growth into new sectors was relentless building continually on the previous successes.
This was quite a stylish car at the time, it could have had an Italian badge. No surprise as it was designed at Bertone by a young Giorgetto Giugiaro. Mazda’s first move into the compact segment was attractive and came in saloon, estate (wagon), pick up or coupe. It proved very popular selling over 400,000 units in the first generation. Later the Familia would be called the 800, 1000, 1200 and 1300.
1967 Mazda R100 Coupe
In 1967 the Familia was replaced with the second generation, still bearing the same name. The coupe featured rotary power as the R100, but many conventional engined models were available. The same range of body styles remained and remained in production until 1977. The pickup and estate derived vans got another year.
1971 Mazda 818
The 818, or Grand Famailia, was a close relation to the Familia, being effectively a long wheelbase version of it. This larger compact body style offered five seats and a comparable interior volume to that of European offerings. It was still a relatively compact car at around 4m long.
There was of course a coupe version of the car that gave rise to the one below.
1971 Mazda RX3
The Mazda RX-3 was the Rotary powered version, known as the Savanna. This name was continued into a model range of it’s own. These small rotarty cars were popular due to the taxation of larger engined vehicles in Japan.
1977 Mazda 323
There was a big change in 1977 with the hatchback era. This new style of small cars were all the rage across Europe and Mazda were soon to follow. The 323 arrived in 1977 sporting the latest fashion accessory of an entire opening rear end.
Available in both three and five door variants this was a volume seller across Europe. In fact it was so successful it was the longest running and best selling model. I always wondered why they dropped the 323 name. However this was essentially the third generation Famila as it was known in Japan.
It was in 1980 that the rear wheel drive original was replaced with a new front wheel drive one. Just three years to substatially replace a complete model.That doesn’t happen today.
1986 Mazda 121
Cars were growing in size, so a new sub compact model was reduced to fill in the new gap. The 121 was introduced in 1986 at the request of then owners Ford who used the design as the Festiva. Not only that it was to also be used as the Kia Pride, making its way to the UK where the Festiva was sent to Canada and the US. Ford’s interest in Kia at the time seeming to influence the distribution of marques to different places. This probably had something to do with the Festiva being made in Seoul, Korea.
The car also made it to China as the Guangtong GTQ5010X. A catchy name, but there is a myriad of small cars made on global platforms. I’m getting more curious to know about the history of China’s growing automotive market.
1985 Mazda 323 GT-AWD
The 323 had a great deal of rallying success and in no doubt that was down the the AWD version here. Everyone wanted to build an Audi Quattro, Mazda were no exception. But they used a hatchback. Launched in 1985 this group A really contender was really neat. AWD, turbocharged all in a compact body style.
This later example in the picture from 1993 featured the facelifted body. It was over for the best selling 323 by 1994 when Mazda replaced it with the next generation. The hatchback was similar in size, but the saloon was much longer. The eight generation after that was a much larger car still and was more of a mid segment offering.
Of course, you could buy this example as a Ford. A Laser, Meteor or Tonic should you want one. But sadly not in AWD form as far as I know. The Latin American versions look like an unfortunate mating of a MkIV Cortina and a 323.
1989 Mazda 323F
From the front wheel drive 323 came the 323F. A fastback style hatchback with pop up headlights. This rather nice car was a fairly common sight for a while in the UK for what is obviously good reason. In 1994 you could get it with a 2.0 litre V6 engine.
The model lasted until 1998, but in facelifted from from 1994 minus the pop up headlights. I’d be happy to have a first generation, they were really decent cars in their day. Still are now, if you can find one.
1991 Mazda 121
The second generation Mazda 121 was sold in Japan as the Autozam Revue. Autozam being a sub brand of Mazda for some time. You could alse get the car as the Mazda Revue to confuse matters.
In a departure from the original 121 with Ford, this was soley a Mazda offering. Built from 1991 until 1998, where strangely in Europe it was replaced in 1996 by a rebadged Fiesta.
The 121 came with a small saloon style body and still had neat features such as the full length sunroof as in the picture. The 121 name was later stuck on the export versions of the Demio, a tall 5 door mini van, but that’s a different story.
Of course the story doesn’t end there, but we’re intersted in the older stuff at Jalopy.
Thanks to Mazda for the use of the images.
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