Tag: Rotary

  • World’s First Wankel: 1965 NSU Spider

    Mazda may own the volume rotary engine production story, but NSU put them into production first. So, in a sense, Audi has rotary heritage. We’ve not heard of any plans to bring one back, however. All that said, this is a second-year NSU spider, which has a rear-engine, rear wheel drive layout and makes the…

  • Turbocharged Rotary in a Suzuki Samurai!

    Turbocharged Rotary in a Suzuki Samurai!

    The Samurai gets no respect among automotive pseudo-enthusiasts, but it gets lots of respect among those who know it’s a truly capable off-roader.  Interestingly, it seems people sometimes want to convert them into street-only machines.  We previously featured a V8-equipped, RWD Samurai – call that the redneck path.  Today’s feature car is more the sport-compact…

  • Not Your Typical Modified Beetle

    Not Your Typical Modified Beetle

    We see plenty of VW Beetles and try to post only the most unusual.  Today’s feature is a 1950s Beetle with a Mazda 13B rotary engine, which also means it’s water cooled. The swap looks pretty clean and it’s no surprise that the tiny rotary fits with space to spare.  How, you ask, does one…

  • Rarely Seen First-Gen RX-7 Project

    Rarely Seen First-Gen RX-7 Project

    The first generation RX-7 was a fairly common sight in the 80s and early 90s, but we confess we have not seen one in a very long time except perhaps at Cars and Coffee.  Today’s feature car is a project, but the price is low enough that it might make sense.  The end result would…

  • Wankel Engine + 4×4 + Articulation.  No Kidding!

    Wankel Engine + 4×4 + Articulation. No Kidding!

    Here we have an uber-rare West German Croco off-road vehicle.  It floats, it has four-wheel drive AND steering and it’s powered by a Wankel.  What’s not to love? Anytime you find or own a vehicle about which the best source of information is Lane Motor Museum, you’re onto something good.  I thought the background in…

  • Would you like a small, German Wankel?

    Would you like a small, German Wankel?

    This little car was the first production car powered by a Wankel rotary.  Yes, it’s true, NSU was there long before Mazda.  Of course, NSU was absorbed into Audi, while Mazda lives on and currently doesn’t sell a Rotary.  Which fate is better?  I guess we should ask Ducati. This is a project car, as…

  • Mixed feelings: Datsun 411 Wagon with rotary

    Mixed feelings: Datsun 411 Wagon with rotary

    Here we have another Datsun with a rotary swap, but this one’s in one of my favorite models, the 411 Wagon. This looks like it could use some finishing, but it qualifies as a bit of a rat rod, as is.  If the claimed mechanical work was done and done well, this isn’t a terrible…

  • Long trim name / Great Car

    Long trim name / Great Car

    We just don’t see enough first generation (FB) RX-7s on the road anymore.  It seems they were quite common when new to lightly used, but disappeared somewhere along the line.  This example is the best of the breed:  The GSL-SE, which featured the 13B engine that would become standard on the second generation (FC) cars.…

  • Rotary masterpiece

    Rotary masterpiece

    We see Mazda rotary engines thrown into just about everything these days and we generally approve, but this seems like a fantastic version AND, for once, the car originally came with a Wankel.  The RX-4 was one of Mazda’s many interesting, and relatively obscure, creations. It never came with this Wankel, however, as it’s the…

  • 1973 Dodge Colt – anything unusual here?

    1973 Dodge Colt – anything unusual here?

    Here we have a MitsuDodge Colt, one of the first of many 70s imports to be sold in the US under a domestic name. The owner swapped in a Mazda 12A rotary, which is certainly interesting.  Some other decisions made in the fix-up process are rather interesting.  The Transformers decal is obvious in the photos,…