#rotary engine

@scarabesque-returns

Complete rebuild on the Mazda Rx7 FD rotary engine t80 turbo on and ready to go in the car.

Mazda 13B FD rotary engine

In 1961, Mazda (then Toyo Kogyo) licensed rotary engine technology from NSU Motorenwerke AG and Wankel GmbH to develop a unique, high-performance powerplant to differentiate its brand. The 1963 Mazda 802 concept was a groundbreaking, compact coupe presented at the 10th Tokyo Motor Show in 1963. It was an early prototype for Mazda’s first production rotary-powered car, the 1967 Cosmo Sport.

After its debut in 1967, the NSU Ro 80 became the company’s most famous product but also pushed NSU to the point of bankruptcy and into the arms of Volkswagen. It was voted Car of the Year for 1968 by European motoring writers. The car developed a reputation for unreliability because of its rotary engine in particular suffering from heavy wear on the rotor tip seals in addition to other issues. By the 1970 model year, most of the rotary engine’s problems were resolved, but the damage to the car's reputation and NSU's financial situation was irreparable. Plans for a 3-rotor version were abandoned. It remained in production until 1977 under Audi management but took the NSU marque with it when it was discontinued.

The NSU Spider made it down the Neckarsulm production line in 1963, becoming the world’s first series production car powered by a rotary engine. The Spider was designed by Franco Scaglione at Bertone. NSU had collaborated with Felix Wankel since 1951, developing the rotary engine. In total, 2,375 Spiders had been built when production ended in 1967.

Bertone presented the NSU Trapeze concept at the Paris Motor Show in October 1973. A radical rotary-engined prototype with the compact Wankel motor mounted amidships between the rear seats. Designed under Marcello Gandini, the Trapeze was compact at 4.03 m long but wide (18 cm wider than a Porsche 914), allowing the trapezoidal arrangement of the seats.

My Mazda Rx7 FD