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Hi all, after 15 years of dreaming, another 5 of hunting and then a nervous 6 months of waiting, I have finally made the ultimate addition to my Mazda family!

For those who don't know what the vehicle is, it is a 1969 Mazda Cosmo Sport L10B. The Cosmo Sport was Mazda's first production rotary engine vehicle. They were built from 1967 through to 1972 and were only sold in Japan. Of the production run there were two versions, the L10A and L10B. The latter being the model I purchased as it is more desirable due to the fitment of the more powerful 0813 engine (128hp vs 110hp of the L10A) , a 5-speed gearbox (4-speed in the L10A) and a longer wheelbase (150mm longer than the L10A). The Cosmo's were all hand-assembled with only 1,519 built in total. Of this, 343 were L10A's (therefore 1176 were L10B's). It appears that there are only about 100 Cosmo's (combined L10A & L10B) in serviceable condition left in the world. To my knowledge and other than my L10B, only two reside in Australia. An L10A owned by Mazda Australia, and an L10B owned by Eric Houghton of Melbourne.

This one had been stored in a shed somewhere north of Mt Fuji for more than 10 years and has not turned a wheel in that time. It has just 80,000km on the clock which I expect to be accurate due to the finite life of the early rotary engines...the engine in it could have been rebuilt a couple of times in its life already. I have no real time frame for it's restoration, however I would love to have the mechanicals addressed by next year.

Cheers,
Danny

Here are some photos.




































I think the number plates are quite apt.

Oh my goodness
It's a minter...

So you're turning it into a running showpiece?

um, yeah. ok wow. just amazing.

PUR157 wrote:So you're turning it into a running showpiece?

That's certainly the plan. I have a copy of the L10B Parts Book and am currently working with a Mazda dealer to see what drivetrain parts can still be sourced new. I know that the engine's water jacket 'O'-rings are still available. So that's a good start. I'm sure that there will be parts that I'll have to re-manufacture...but that's half the fun.

Cheers,
Danny

Ho-Lee-Shiat!!!



Danny, you continue to amaze, astound and generally make the rest of us awestruck!

All I can say is ARRRRRGGGGGGGLLLLLLLHHHHHHHHHHH

Right from the get-go, Mazda's designers just got the proportions right on every car they've done. It's like they have a magic formula for the bonnet/cabin/rear ratios that just works for the eye - the MX5, RX2/3/4/7/8, the 929 - even this - have a wonderful sense of proportion to them.......

That's got to be quite a garage

Having stood beside the Mazda Australia car...all I can say...I'm soooo envious!!!

Sooooo much awesome.

Aha! this may explain your longish "meeting" today

meeting up with sex on a stick and making brrrmm brrrm sounds

Oh! well whilst I was waiting . . .

congrats danny. she's a beauty

SPy vs. SPy wrote:Aha! this may explain your longish "meeting" today

If that was the case I wouldn't have returned to the office! Nah it was for our ISO 9001 accreditation program.

SPy vs. SPy wrote:Oh! well whilst I was waiting . . .

Yup, just keeping the merchandise out of harms way! See you tomorrow Mark.

Cheers,
Danny

sliq wrote::shock:

congrats danny. she's a beauty

Thanks Michael. I have to pinch myself everytime I venture into the rear of the shed....I can't believe it's finally here. There's a bit of a story to the acquisition which I'll tell at a later date.

Cheers,
Danny

Any plans to procure one of these Road Blocks

Danny,
Thanks for sharing.
Greg.

This must be one of the few still alive. Fantastic find Danny!