Mazda RX3 GT Racing Type (Fujimi)
The name Mazda Savanna (sometimes incorrectly spelled "Savannah") was used on the rotary-powered model sold in Japan, as a coupe, sedan, and wagon. Internationally it was called the Mazda RX-3. It was smaller and sportier than its brother, the Capella Rotary/RX-2, and was largely identical to its conventional inline-four donor model, the Mazda Grand Familia. It was available from September 1971 through 1978 in Super Deluxe coupé, Deluxe sedan, and station wagon forms. The Super Deluxe coupé was heavier (884 kg vs 864 kg) and carried an optional body stripe, clock, rear defogger and the centre console/high armrest and collapsible steering column. Sold from 1972 through 1978 in the United States, the RX-3 version was extremely successful.
It originally used a 10A rotary engine like the Mazda Familia Rotary Coupe/Mazda R100, but US cars shared the larger 12A engine from the RX-2. Performance-wise the 10A RX-3 was not able to match the RX-2 with 12A. With a weight-to-power ratio of 10.9 kg per kW compared to the RX-2's 9.9 kg per kW, the RX-3 was slower. The 12A RX-3 wasn't able to match the RX-2 with 12A either, despite its lighter weight. The smaller engined version has the internal model code S102, while the larger one is known as the S124.
In Japan, the installation of a rotary engine gave Japanese buyers a financial advantage when it came time to pay the annual road tax in that they bought a car that was more powerful than a traditional inline engine, but without having the penalty for having an engine in the higher 1.5 litre tax bracket.
Racing
The Savanna/RX-3 was the next Mazda racing entry, following up the success of the Cosmo and Familia Rotary. The Savanna debuted with a win at the September, 1971 "Fuji 500" race.
The cars battled with Nissan's Skyline on the Japanese Grand Prix in 1972, winning the touring car category there and preventing the GT-R from winning 50 consecutive races. The cars continued to be competitive, claiming over 100 victories in 1976, and continue in club racing today.
In Australia the RX-3 proved very successful both on and off the race track. One of many RX-3s racing in the 1975 Bathurst 1000 caused more than a worried look after placing fifth outright and 1st in its class for the second consecutive year after its initial class win in 1974. The RX-3 dominated the class C in 1975 holding 4 of the top 5 positions.
In North America, the RX-3 had much success in SCCA and IMSA competition. Many RX-3s are still competing and one in particular is the SCCA Super Production car driven by Irish driver John Cummins. The RX3 was replaced with the Mazda RX-7
[Text from Wikipedia]
This Lego miniland scale Mazda RX3 GT Racing Type has been created for Flickr LUGNuts' 97th Build Challenge, titled - 'Our First Wheels' - a challenge to recreate, in Lego, a vehicle that we have owned as a toy or model.
Why is it here?
Many moons ago. Actually, many, many moons ago, when I was a young lad, I was in an organisation called 'The Boys' Brigade', a Christian youth organisation. In many ways it was much like the Scouts. As part of the learning structure we did activities like plastic model making. In this one particular year, we were to build model WW!! aeroplanes, and, as an award for producing the model showing the highest skills, I was awarded a model car kit - the RX3 Racer, including an internal clock-wound engine.
Unfortunately, I never built the model, and also can' recall what ever happened to the model.
The interesting connection is that one of the senior boys, who by this stage was old enough to drive, owned a rather intensely driven RX3 Coupe of his own - no doubt influencing the prize model.
I think I even remember his name - Lincoln Gill. One of the other older boys in his year level or thereabouts trained as an engineer, and was involved in the pre-release Australian engineering for Toyota Australia.
Mazda RX3 GT Racing Type (Fujimi)
The name Mazda Savanna (sometimes incorrectly spelled "Savannah") was used on the rotary-powered model sold in Japan, as a coupe, sedan, and wagon. Internationally it was called the Mazda RX-3. It was smaller and sportier than its brother, the Capella Rotary/RX-2, and was largely identical to its conventional inline-four donor model, the Mazda Grand Familia. It was available from September 1971 through 1978 in Super Deluxe coupé, Deluxe sedan, and station wagon forms. The Super Deluxe coupé was heavier (884 kg vs 864 kg) and carried an optional body stripe, clock, rear defogger and the centre console/high armrest and collapsible steering column. Sold from 1972 through 1978 in the United States, the RX-3 version was extremely successful.
It originally used a 10A rotary engine like the Mazda Familia Rotary Coupe/Mazda R100, but US cars shared the larger 12A engine from the RX-2. Performance-wise the 10A RX-3 was not able to match the RX-2 with 12A. With a weight-to-power ratio of 10.9 kg per kW compared to the RX-2's 9.9 kg per kW, the RX-3 was slower. The 12A RX-3 wasn't able to match the RX-2 with 12A either, despite its lighter weight. The smaller engined version has the internal model code S102, while the larger one is known as the S124.
In Japan, the installation of a rotary engine gave Japanese buyers a financial advantage when it came time to pay the annual road tax in that they bought a car that was more powerful than a traditional inline engine, but without having the penalty for having an engine in the higher 1.5 litre tax bracket.
Racing
The Savanna/RX-3 was the next Mazda racing entry, following up the success of the Cosmo and Familia Rotary. The Savanna debuted with a win at the September, 1971 "Fuji 500" race.
The cars battled with Nissan's Skyline on the Japanese Grand Prix in 1972, winning the touring car category there and preventing the GT-R from winning 50 consecutive races. The cars continued to be competitive, claiming over 100 victories in 1976, and continue in club racing today.
In Australia the RX-3 proved very successful both on and off the race track. One of many RX-3s racing in the 1975 Bathurst 1000 caused more than a worried look after placing fifth outright and 1st in its class for the second consecutive year after its initial class win in 1974. The RX-3 dominated the class C in 1975 holding 4 of the top 5 positions.
In North America, the RX-3 had much success in SCCA and IMSA competition. Many RX-3s are still competing and one in particular is the SCCA Super Production car driven by Irish driver John Cummins. The RX3 was replaced with the Mazda RX-7
[Text from Wikipedia]
This Lego miniland scale Mazda RX3 GT Racing Type has been created for Flickr LUGNuts' 97th Build Challenge, titled - 'Our First Wheels' - a challenge to recreate, in Lego, a vehicle that we have owned as a toy or model.
Why is it here?
Many moons ago. Actually, many, many moons ago, when I was a young lad, I was in an organisation called 'The Boys' Brigade', a Christian youth organisation. In many ways it was much like the Scouts. As part of the learning structure we did activities like plastic model making. In this one particular year, we were to build model WW!! aeroplanes, and, as an award for producing the model showing the highest skills, I was awarded a model car kit - the RX3 Racer, including an internal clock-wound engine.
Unfortunately, I never built the model, and also can' recall what ever happened to the model.
The interesting connection is that one of the senior boys, who by this stage was old enough to drive, owned a rather intensely driven RX3 Coupe of his own - no doubt influencing the prize model.
I think I even remember his name - Lincoln Gill. One of the other older boys in his year level or thereabouts trained as an engineer, and was involved in the pre-release Australian engineering for Toyota Australia.