Rear-wheel-drive 1970s Japanese two-doors are hot. Prices are up—and availability is tight. While you’ll find oodles of Datsun Z and Mazda RX-7 sports car listings, the same cannot be said for the sedans and coupes that preceded them. Datsun 510 listings can be sparse and Mazda RX-3 listings are sadly few and far between. But the rarity only makes for a more thrilling hunt.
The Datsun 510 was produced between 1968 and 1973. Known in Japan as the Bluebird, the American version was fitted with a 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine that produced a whopping 96 horsepower, along with a four-wheel independent suspension and front disc brakes. The 510 was available as a two-door sedan, a four-door sedan, and a five door wagon. While a true sloped-window coupe was never offered in America (as it was elsewhere), the boxy two-door sedan became the most popular in the fleet.
Squint at that profile of the photo at the top of this post, and tell me that the letters B-M-W don’t come to mind.
Meanwhile, the rotary engine Mazda RX-3 coupe was sold in the United States from 1972 through 1978. While the 12A rotary engine delivered a reasonable amount of punch and was easily modded, it had a gas-thirsty reputation. I can personally attest that Mazdas of that vintage were capable of burning rubber in at least three of four gears. The RX-3 was discontinued to make room for the RX-7’s entry in 1979. Mazda’s last rotary engine car was the RX8, which left our shores in 2012.
The Datsun 510’s tag proudly displays the little wonder’s horsepower rating.
The Datsun 510 and Mazda RX-3 enjoyed considerable popularity and success on the race track. While both cars have been highly competitive in SCCA over the years, the RX-3 enjoyed a second life on the drag strip, and the 510 in stage rally. The rotary’s popularity with the quarter-mile crowd has taken its toll on the pool of clean original cars, with many undergoing extensive chassis modifications to handle the rigors of the drag strip.
Aftermarket Support for 510
While RX3 sheet metal is extremely hard to come by in the States these days, 510 owners are fortunate to have considerable aftermarket support from New Hampshire-based Futofab. The company started in the mid-1980s building roll cages and began offering reproduction sheet metal parts for the 510 in 2009.
The first of FutoFab’s reproduction 510 body parts were rocker panels and the tail light panel. “Since then, we added hoods, front and rear valances, front fenders and more,” said David Patten, Futofab’s founder. “Coming by year’s end will be chrome front and rear bumpers with quarter panels and inner rear fenders next on the horizon.” The company also sells flared fiberglass and carbon fiber pieces to accommodate racers and street cars with lowered suspensions and wider wheel/tire combos.
Say goodbye to rust with Futofab’s reproduction 510 fender.
So what makes the 510 so irresistible to enthusiasts? “It is a blank canvas that responds extremely well to both handling and horsepower modifications,” explained Patten. “For the original buyers when new, they were inexpensive and outright durable for day-to-day use. And everyone likes the simple and clean styling. It’s an almost timeless design.”
The 510’s OEM four-banger is commonly swapped out for something with more ooomph. Sometimes it stays in the family—with a 1.8-liter L18 or 2.0-liter L20B, but sometimes not. “By far the most popular engines are Nissan engines and likely one of these three,” said Patten, calling out the naturally aspirated 3.0-liter VG30E from the earliest 300ZX sportscars; the 2.4-liter KA24DE twin cam from the US market 240SX; and the 2.0L turbocharged twin cam SR20DET out of a 1990s JDM Silvia.
Australia Carries the Rotary Torch
The RX-3 SP sports an aggressive front spoiler and big bold stripes.
Go looking for new sheet metal for vintage Mazdas on eBay.com, and you might not find what you need. The trick is to search eBay.com.au, where you’ll find a comprehensive listing of RX-3 parts from Phils.Rotarys, of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Phils offers reproduction nose panels, lower apron panels, fenders, trunk lids and cross members for the RX-3, along with lots of engine parts, rubber kits, trim, interior, and other pieces. They also carry a healthy selection of used and OEM stock.
Shipping from Australia to the America can be costly. This has prompted Phils to forgo many listings on the eBay USA site. When you browse their listings, you’ll notice a statement that warns about shipping restrictions. Yet, Phils will work with you to minimize shipping costs through careful packing.
Phils.Rotarys offers a treasure trove of RX3 parts, from nose sheet metal to tail light covers.
The RX-3’s stock engine is frequently swapped and modded. The original 12A rotary was rated at 130 horsepower and 115 pound feet of torque. Mazda’s 13B rotary is commonly dropped in place of the stock 12A, with forced induction a potent path.
Nissan recently paid homage to the 510 with the Idx Freeflow and NISMO concepts on the auto show circuit, but the latest buzz is that the little stunner may never see production. Things aren’t rosy on the other side of the block, either. While a glimmer of hope remains that Mazda’s legendary rotary engine will return in a sports car one day, it’s doubtful that we’ll see anything like the RX-3 on these shores again. Gentlemen, start your barn crawls.
See Xenon Light Bulbs for Mazda RX-3 for sale on eBay.
