Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S
The Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S holds a unique place in automotive history as the world's first production car powered by a twin-rotor Wankel engine. Launched in 1967, it was the culmination of Mazda's intense development of the rotary engine — a program that consumed enormous resources and nearly bankrupted the company before succeeding brilliantly.
The 10A twin-rotor engine displaced 982cc (equivalent) and produced 110 horsepower at 7,000 rpm. The engine was remarkably smooth — the rotary design eliminated the reciprocating motion of pistons, resulting in vibration-free operation. It revved freely to its 7,000 rpm redline with a distinctive high-pitched whir that was quite unlike any conventional engine.
The body was a futuristic and elegant two-seat coupe designed by Mazda's in-house team. Flowing lines, a low nose, and a fastback rear created a shape that looked exotic and modern. The car sat on a ladder-frame chassis with independent front suspension (double wishbones and coil springs) and a live rear axle on leaf springs.
Two series were produced. The early L10A (1967-68) had a shorter wheelbase (2,200mm) and the 110 hp engine. The later L10B (1968-72) had a longer wheelbase (2,350mm) and a more powerful 128 hp version of the engine. Both series featured front disc brakes, a four-speed manual gearbox, and comprehensive instrumentation.
The Cosmo Sport was not produced in large numbers — only 1,519 units were built across both series. It was expensive for a Japanese car and was primarily intended as a technology showcase rather than a volume seller. The car demonstrated to the world that Mazda had successfully tamed the Wankel rotary engine, a feat that many larger manufacturers (including Mercedes-Benz and Citroen) attempted but eventually abandoned.
Today, the Cosmo Sport 110S is a highly prized collector's item. Its historical significance as the first rotary-powered production car, combined with its elegant design and extreme rarity, makes it one of the most valuable and sought-after Japanese classics. Surviving examples are carefully preserved by enthusiasts worldwide.
Extremely rare — authenticate through Mazda records and Japanese export documentation. Rotary engine apex seals wear and require specialized rebuilding. Body panels are unique and essentially unobtainable. Check for chassis corrosion. The four-speed gearbox is robust. L10A (short wheelbase) models are rarer and more valuable than L10B. Japanese domestic market examples command the highest prices.
The L10A series (110S) was produced from May 1967 to July 1968 at Mazda's Hiroshima factory. Only 343 units of the first series were built. The later L10B series (1968-72) added 1,176 more units for a combined total of 1,519 Cosmo Sports.