Sunday, December 27, 2009

Mazda RX-2

The Mazda RX-2 was a midsize car introduced in 1970 and sold through 1978. It used a rotary engine and shared a chassis with the piston-engined Mazda Capella/616/618.


The RX-2 was really an option package for the Capella, albeit one that included a powerful rotary engine. In fact, early RX-2s were simply badged "Capella" with a small "RE" or rotor shape in the grille. The RX-2 was intended as a rotary-powered family car, while the Mazda RX-3 would be the sporty coupé.


The first RX-2 (known as the Series I and II) were introduced in 1970 and replaced in 1974. They shared chassis of the Mazda Capella and used a 12A Wankel engine. They were a tremendous success due to their comparatively high power and performance. In 1970, output was 130 hp (97 kW) and 115 ft·lbf (156 Nm

RX-2 (USA)
The RX-2 was one of the first Mazda vehicles offered for sale in the United States, lasting from 1971 through 1974. It appeared just after the Familia-based Mazda R100, and distribution of both cars was initially limited to the West Coast.

American emissions modifications reduced the 12A engine's output to 120 hp (89 kW), slowing the car's acceleration to 60 mph (97 km/h) from 10 to 11.3 sec. Nevertheless, Road & Track magazine reviewed the car favorably, calling the engine "impressive" and "plenty torquey" and comparing it to a smooth straight-6. The car's suspension and brakes also pleased the reviewers, but they were less enthusiastic about the "notchy" 4-speed manual transmission. All in all, the contemporary reviewers considered the RX-2, priced around US$3,000, "a steal".

Early RX-2s had trouble with failure of the oil seals, causing excessive oil consumption and heavier exhaust. Another failure mode involved overheating of the O-ring side seals between sections of the side housing which introduced coolant into the combustion chamber, reducing available power and making the engine hard to start, and ultimately rendering the vehicle inoperable.[1] At first, Mazda fixed the engines under warranty, replacing the overheated seals with new ones of the same design. Later, they offered a better, redesigned set of seals but at a cost to the consumer of US$1,000 per engine.[2] This caused many Mazda RX-2 owners to abandon rather than repair their cars, accounting for the extreme rarity of these exotic, sporty sedans.

Racing success
The RX-2 was the first Wankel-powered car to be widely raced - the original Cosmo competed in just a single race. Car and Driver magazine and Racing Beat built an RX-2 race car in 1973 for the IMSA sedan series. With radically-enlarged ports (they were so large that a "bridge" of steel was required to keep the corner seals in place), the RX-2 produced 198 hp (148 kW) in racing trim.

The RX-2 took the pole in its first race, at Pocono, but did not finish the race due to a broken differential. Lime Rock was its third race, and the RX-2 claimed both the pole and the win. Another win came at Road Atlanta, even with a 300 lb (136 kg) lead weight handicap. The engine modifications were outlawed for 1974, but the RX-2 kept winning. Car and Driver lost interest in the car, but others continued to race it, and other RX-2 and RX-3 racers soon appeared.


The RX-2 rotary engine (Wankel) suffered from rotor tip wear that the company was unable to correct until late 1974. RX-2s that experienced this rotor tip wear would have reduced power, thus impacting the driving experience.

Manufacturer Mazda


Production 1970–1978

Class Midsize

Body style(s) 2-door coupé

4-door sedan

Layout FR layout

Engine(s) 12A

12B

Wheelbase 2464 mm (97.s in)

Length 4140 mm (163 in)

Width 1575 mm (62.2 in)

Curb weight 1050 kg (2315 lb)

Related Mazda Capella/616/618

SOURCE:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_RX-2

Saturday, May 16, 2009

MR2 AW11: MR2 First generation.The first japan sport mid-engine










The small and light MR2, chassis code AW11, was something no one had expected from Toyota, known for their economical and practical cars. The two-seat MR2 was definitely not practical as a family car, but the design criteria were different from that of most previous cars. Cars with a similar design and the same concept were the Lancia Beta Montecarlo, Fiat X 1/9 and the exotic Lancia Stratos, all produced in the 70s. The most important features of the AW11 were its light body (as low as 2,200 lb (998 kg) in Japan and 2,350 lb (1066 kg) in the US), superior handling and lightly powered, small-displacement engine. Toyota's cooperation with Lotus during the prototype phase can be seen in the AW11, and it owes much to Lotus's legendary sports cars of the 1960s and 1970s.

First generation
(AW10/AW11)
Toyota MR2
Production 1984-1989
Body style(s) 2-door coupé
Engine(s) 1.5L 83 PS (61 kW) I4 (Japan only)

1.6L 112 hp (84 kW) I4
1.6L 130 PS (96 kW) I4

1.6L 145 PS (107 kW) Supercharged I4
Transmission(s) 4-speed automatic
5-speed manual
Wheelbase 91.3 in (2319 mm)
Length 155.5 in (3950 mm)
Width 65.6 in (1666 mm)
Height 48.6 in (1234 mm)


Production 1984-1989
Body style(s) 2-door coupé
Engine(s) 1.5L 83 PS (61 kW) I4 (Japan only)

1.6L 112 hp (84 kW) I4
1.6L 130 PS (96 kW) I4

1.6L 145 PS (107 kW) Supercharged I4
Transmission(s) 4-speed automatic
5-speed manual
Wheelbase 91.3 in (2319 mm)
Length 155.5 in (3950 mm)
Width 65.6 in (1666 mm)
Height 48.6 in (1234 mm)

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_MR2

Monday, February 16, 2009

Japan Classic Car in events.[Source:http://www.japanesenostalgiccar.com/]

New Year Meeting 2009 JCCA New Year Meeting
Odaiba, Tokyo
January 25, 2009
2008 Norm Reeves Honda Show Norm Reeves Honda Show
Cerritos, California
November 16, 2008
DHM Toy Drive Datsun Heritage Museum Toy Drive
Murietta, California
November 8, 2008
2008 SEMA Show SEMA
Las Vegas, Nevada
November 4, 2008
Crown Picnic 2008 Crown Picnic
Yokohama, Kanagawa
November 2, 2008
Maniac 2008 Nakatsugawa Maniac 2008 Hometown Pride Festival
Nakatsugawa, Gifu
October 26, 2008
Japanese Classic Car Show 2008 Japanese Classic Car Show
Irvine, California
October 12, 2008
SevenStock XI 2008 Seven Stock XI
Irvine, California
September 27, 2008
OSTCBPT 2008 OSTCBPT Show
Bridgeport, Connecticut
August 17, 2008
Motoring J Style 2008 Motoring J Style
Vallejo, California
May 24, 2008
Tokyo Nostalgic Car Show Tokyo Nostalgic Car Show
Odaiba, Tokyo
May 18, 2008
Z Car Club Inland Valley Z Car Club Inland Valley
Murrieta, California
May 18, 2008
TORC All Toyotafest 2008 TORC All Toyotafest
Long Beach, California
May 3, 2008
Z Car West Coast Nationals 2008 Z Car West Coast Nationals
Silverado, California
April 27, 2008
Solvang Datsun Roadster Classic 2008 Solvang Datsun Roadster Classic
Solvang, California
April 26, 2008
Morning Mania Cruise Morning Mania Cruise
Yokohama, Kanagawa
March 9, 2008
New Year Meeting 2008 JCCA New Year Meeting
Odaiba, Tokyo
January 27, 2008
2007 Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show
Yokohama, Kanagawa
December 2, 2007
2007 Norm Reeves Honda Show Norm Reeves Honda Show
Cerritos, California
December 2, 2007
2007 Empire Z Empire Z Club Show
Corona, California
December 1, 2007
2007 SEMA Show SEMA
Las Vegas, Nevada
October 30, 2007
Japanese Classic Car Show Japanese Classic Car Show
Long Beach, California
October 6, 2007
Bay to Birdwood The Bay to Birdwood
Adelaide, South Australia
September 30, 2007
SevenStock X SevenStock X
Irvine, California
September 22, 2007
Kanto Industrial College Summer Festival 2007 Kanto Industrial College Summer Festival
Kounosu, Saitama
August 26, 2007
Monterey Historics 2007 Monterey Historics
Monterey, California
August 17-19, 2007
Motoring J Style 2007 Motoring J Style
Vallejo, California
July 28, 2007
TORC All Toyotafest 2007 TORC All Toyotafest
Long Beach, California
May 12, 2007
Z Car West Coast Nationals 2007 Z Car West Coast Nationals
Silverado, California
April 29, 2007
Solvang Datsun Roadster Meet 2007 Solvang Datsun Roadster Meet
Solvang, California
April 28, 2007
Mooneyes Street Car Nationals 2007 Mooneyes Street Car Nationals
Odaiba, Tokyo
April 15, 2007
New Year Meeting 2007 JCCA New Year Meeting
Odaiba, Tokyo
January 28, 2007
Morning Mania Cruise Morning Mania Cruise
Yokohama, Kanagawa
January 14, 2007
2007 Tokyo Auto Salon Tokyo Auto Salon
Chiba, Chiba Prefecture
January 12, 2007
2006 Kiryu Classic Car Festival Kiryu Classic Car Festival
Kiryu, Gunma
November 5, 2006
2006 SEMA Show SEMA
Las Vegas, Nevada
October 31, 2006
2006 Japanese Classic Car Show Japanese Classic Car Show
Long Beach, California
September 30, 2006
SEMA Show Archive SEMA Archive
Las Vegas, Nevada

Source:http://www.japanesenostalgiccar.com/