A ROTARY REVOLUTION

Often overlooked when compared to the later RX-7 coupé or the earlier and far rarer Mazda Cosmo, the Mazda RX-3 was a landmark car in Mazda’s history, one that cemented the company’s association with the rotary engine at home and abroad. By the time production came to an end in 1978, no fewer than 286,757 RX-3s had been produced, making it the second biggest selling Mazda rotary after the RX-7.

There were versions of the model with conventional piston engines too, called the Mazda 808, Mazda 818 or Grand Familia depending on the market, and these increased the sales tally further. And while it was the two-door coupé that was the most popular model of RX-3 and the one best remembered today, the RX-3 was also offered in saloon and estate body styles, making it the first Mazda rotary estate car.

So, how did it all begin? Having introduced the stunning Cosmo 110S sports car in 1967, followed