Bring A Trailer doesn’t normally run features on freaks of this caliber, and when they do it’s something worth checking out. Other than their obscurity, why would they focus on a 1974 Mazda Rotary Pickup? It’s a Mazda Proceed/Ford Courier with a rotary engine…whoopee. There’s a fan base for them, but in the end, it’s still an early mini truck. What would it take to garner my interest? Something a lot more interesting than the truck itself.
From the ad:
Motor
1970 Oldsmobile Toronado 455 bored to 468
Kieth Black pistons and rods
Polished crank
Schnieder cam
Edelbrock intake
Demon 750 carb
Hei ignition
Trans
Stock Toronado THM425 automatic (rebuilt)
Custom made axles
Corvair swing arms with 9″drums
Disk brakes in front
The truck is fast as hell.
Gas tank and battery are mounted under the hood.
The truck is a blast to drive and actually gets good gas mileage
Truck needs a little TLC to be perfect body has a few dings and no body rot
Clean title in my name current registration. Runs and drives very well. I have the stock bench seat for it as well as the stock intake, carb, distributor I also have a vintage offy dual quad intake to go with it as well
$6000
OK, that’ll do nicely. A torque-y 455 Oldsmobile in a truck that weighed in at under 3,000 lbs? Sign me up.
Craigslist Link: 1974 Mazda Rotary Pickup
As a rotary fan, I would rather have had this stock. The REPUs aren’t exactly common anymore. Although I am curious how close this thing is to be able to yank wheelies at will on the street.
Best use of a mini truck ever! Nick, I could see the rotary if it was one of those wicked 13Bs that the rotary racers run. For me though the truck is perfect, I would just add one of those ugly aluminum bed topper shells.
WOW… oversteer much?
The swing axle bit it a bit iffy, but lord, I bet this thing goes like stink!
is this rear engine mazda still for sale?
I had a deal set up to trade the truck, but that just fell through. It is back up for sale. The swing arms are from a 68 corvair, with custom made axles and big heavy duty u-joints on both ends of the axle. The rear suspension is fully adjustable. Oh and yes the truck does pull the front wheels off the ground,,,,
The truck is back on Craigslist in the SFbay area