1968 Mazda Cosmo Series I

The car is finished in white over black vinyl and fabric upholstery and is powered by a 982cc 10A rotary engine linked to a five-speed manual transmission. Equipment includes a single carburetor, power-assisted front disc brakes, 14â?³ slotted-mag-style wheels, fender-mounted mirrors, pop-out quarter windows, a push-button AM radio, and a wood-rimmed Nardi steering wheel. The Cosmo was developed as a halo vehicle for Mazda and was introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show ahead of the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics. It entered production in May 1967, with all units being built by hand at Mazdaâ??s Hiroshima factory. Cosmetic imperfections are shown up close in the gallery. The 14â?³ slotted-mag-style alloy wheels are mounted with 165/80 Dunlop Enasave EC202 tires. The front suspension features a conventional control-arm configuration with coil springs and an anti-roll bar, while a leaf-sprung de Dion axle is fitted out back. Braking is handled by unassisted discs up front and drums out back. The right-hand-drive cabin houses bucket seats trimmed in black vinyl with fabric inserts, along with color-coordinated door panels and carpets. Equipment includes lap belts, an AM radio, and a Nardi Torino steering wheel.