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A Brief History of Mazda Sports Cars

Compared to Japanese giants Toyota and Honda, Mazda is a relatively small car company. Founded in Japan in 1920, Mazda sells about a million vehicles a year. Almost all of these cars and trucks are manufactured in Japanese plants. In this brief article we will take a look at the interesting history of Mazda.

The company began by manufacturing machine tools but soon shifted its focus to vehicles when other automakers started posting robust profits. They completed their first prototype in 1931, the Mazda-Go. But the Second World War put their automotive aspirations on hold, as the company was ordered to produce weapons for the Japanese military.

By the 1960's, the company made the bold decision to develop the Wankel rotary engine. It was believed that this new engine would give them a competitive advantage over other Japanese automakers. That advantage extended to the race track. Just a year the first of the mazda sports cars, the Cosmo Sport, was introduced, the company entered its first international race.

Mazda racing cars would go on to win some of the most prestigious races in the world, such as the 24 hours of Le Mans, the world's oldest sports car endurance race. Their cars have also enjoyed success in Formula One, drag racing, and the World Land Speed competition.

There is no question that the Mazda's success in racing has had a profound effect on the design and engineering of their passenger vehicles. Mazda sports cars are among the most respected road vehicles in the world.