The information provided in this thread may not be accurate or complete. This thread will be under construction permanantly, so please reply or send me a PM if you have anything to add.

Click HERE for the RX-3 Restoration Information thread.

Production & Sale

The RX-3 was released onto the Australian market for sale in early 1972, though there are earlier examples on the road as cars were imported for testing and readying for sale before the actual "on sale date". Producion started in August 1971 in Japan, and the model went on sale in Japan on September6, 1971. Series 2 cars were released in Australia sometime around the start of 1974. They were sold only until very early in 1976, and Australia never received any series 3 or series 4 cars.

Series* Differences

*Please note that Mazda themselves make no definition of "series." This is terminology applied by Australian enthusiasts of these cars, and will likely confuse your spare parts guy at the Mazda counter. Mazda differentiate exclusively by build dates.

Series one cars were powered by the twin distributor 10A motor with no pollution controls for Australian delivered cars. Series 2 cars were powered by the 12A single distributor engine equipped with REAPS (Rotary Engine Anti Pollution System).

Of course the drivetrains were completely different, not just the motor. The gearboxes aren't interchangable, and the gearbox mount positions are correspondingly different. The diff housing was different too, with S124A cars having a beefier unit identified by a bolt on gaurd for the brake line. Exhausts were totally different, S124A cars having the REAPS setup with the ace rectangular exhaust cutout. The rear beaver exhaust cutout was correspondingly larger on S124A cars, as the S102As got only a notch to accomodate their standard round pea-shooter. The S124A cars have a much thicker wiring loom in the engine bay & under dash, as well as a "Mitsubishi Electrics" box under the dash that S102A cars didn't have. There was also the oft mentioned exhaust heat sensor in the boot on S124A models.

External differences were the nose cone (which I will leave to photos to differentiate) and some badging. S102A cars recieved the bootlock surround badge, S124A cars had nothing. Early S102A coupes had a third "Super Deluxe" badge on the left hand side of the bootlid lip. The mount on the "C" pillar for the Super Deluxe badges differed too, S102A cars having a squared off "C" shaped design enclosing three sides of the badge, S124A cars having a straight mounting open at both ends. S102A cars had one piece all metal sill trims with pointy ends, and S124A cars had three piece blunt ends with plastic end caps. S102A cars had a metal frame on the beaver panel behind the number plate, S124A cars missed out on this feature.

Tail lights were the same physical piece, but painted differently. S102A cars had a clear red paint (often referred to as "candy", but I don't believe it was actually metallic) around the section surrounding the actual lenses, and a grey paint on the inner section (beyond the reverse light), while S124A cars were an all grey finish. The immediate rings surrounding the taillights themselves was bare chrome, as was the outer rim of the assembly in both models. Both were painted over a fully chromed finish.

Interiors were mostly identical between series with a few small differences. S102A cars had carpet on the leading lower edge of the front door trims, S124A cars didn't. I think early S102A cars missed out on the "Rotary Engine" dash plate, but later S102A cars certainly had it. Speedos differ, the S102A cars being in MPH to 130. Later S102As had both MPH & KPH on the same face, with MPH being the most prominant. S124A cars had 200KPH units. It should be noted that this was an ADR instigated change that probably didn't co-incide exactly with the model change. S102A cars had a 30A amp gauge, S124A cars a 50A gauge. S124A cars also had a small red light with an "Exhaust Overheat" sticker above it to the lower left of the tacho.

Many of these changes (barring the mechanical) may well have been running changes that had some model crossover too (there is evidence for example that the all grey tail lights' fitment began late in the S102A model), so this infomation should be taken as a rough guide only. I believe it to be fairly accurate though.

Body Styles

For Australian delivery, the RX-3 was available in four door sedan and two door fastback styled coupe bodystyles only. Both seated five, though it's arguable whether or not they seated five comfortably. Japan and various other export markets received the RX-3 in a wagon version too. Size and price wise it was slightly below the Capella Rotary (RX-2) it joined, and slightly above the R100 it replaced. The RX-3 coupe was thought to make both the smaller R100 and bigger RX-2 coupes redundant, and sales of both these models ceased in Australia, though both continued to be sold in other markets. It was smaller than the RX-4 coupe and sedan which were sold alongside it from 1973 on.

Series 1 RX-3 (Australian Specification)

Sale dates: Late 1971 through early 1976

Chassis prefix: S102A
Engine type: 10A twin distributor
Displacement: 982 cc
Power output: 105bhp* @TBA
Torque: TBA

Earliest known Australian compliance**: 12/71***
Latest known Australian compliance**: 11/73***

Series 2 RX-3 (Australian Specification)

Sale Dates: Late 1973 through early 1976

Chassis prefix: S124A
Engine Type: 12A single distributor REAPS equipped
Displacement: 1146 cc
Power output: 120bhp* @6500rpm
Torque: 16.0kg/m @4000rpm

Earliest known Australian compliance**: 3/74***
Latest known Australian compliance**: 1/75***

*Horsepower given for Japanese market model. Please PM me Australian model information if different.
**Compliance is NOT build date. It is the date the car was inspected in Australia after importation, and approved for sale as having met all relevant Australian compliance rules.
***This information is taken from the RX-3 register in the Members Rides section of this site. If you have a car that falls outside these dates, please PM me the details and I will update this post.

Dimensions

Wheelbase: 2310mm
Length: 4065mm (series 1), 4075mm (series 2)
Width: 1595mm
Height: 1355mm (coupe) 1380mm (sedan)
Weight*: 920kg (coupe), 925kg (sedan, manual), 935kg (sedan, automatic)
Fuel Tank: 60L (sedan & coupe)

*Weights given here are for the 12A REAPS equipped models. This information was taken from a Japanese brochure, and may vary slightly from the Australian delivered cars. Please PM me your information from an Australian brochure.

Driveline

4-speed manual
Ratios: 3.6683:1, 2.263:1, 1.397:1, 1:1. Reverse 3.692:1
3-speed jatco automatic optional (sedan only)
Ratios: 2.458:1, 1.458:1, 1:1 Reverse 2.181:1
Final drive ratio: 3.727:1
Wheels: Steel 13 x 4.5"
Tyres: Z78-13

Price when new

Prices in Australia:
1972:
Deluxe Sedan $
Super Deluxe Coupe $

Prices in Japan: ($1AUD = ¥369, January 1972)
1972:
Base Sedan: ¥600,000 ($1,626AUD)
RX Sedan: ¥670,000 ($1,816AUD)
GR Sedan: ¥700,000 ($1,897AUD) (Roughly equivalent to Australian spec Deluxe sedans)

Base Coupe: ¥600,000 ($1,626AUD)
SX Coupe: ¥670,000 ($1,816AUD)
GS Coupe: ¥700,000 ($1,897AUD) (Roughly equivalent to Australian spec Super Deluxe coupes)
GSII Coupe: ¥750,000 ($2,033)

Performance

I have a lot of factory road tests in Australia, however I have very little information on this here in Japan. Please PM me the details you have from contemporary Wheels, Modern Motor and other magazines. Even better, scan the entitre articles and send them to me.

Racing History in Australia

To be added at a later point. Please PM me your information.

Japanese Model Release History

Here is some information on the release dates and update dates for the Japanese market. Please note that it doesn't apply to the Australian market cars:

September 6, 1971: Savanna series announced and put on sale in Sedan & Coupe guise. Sedan available in Base, RX and GR spec levels, coupe available in base, SX, GS and GSII trim spec levels. Australian delivered cars were equivalent specification to GR (sedan) and GS (coupe). 10A rotary motor rated at 105ps, 4 speed transmission standard, no optional powertrains.

January 8, 1972: "RE Matic" Automatic transmission introduced as an option on GR sedans and GSII coupes.

January 13, 1972: Savanna Sports Wagon released.

March 10, 1972: First exports to the USA announced, leaving on March 14th. This shipment consisted of 830 Savanna series (RX-3), 450 Capella series (RX-2 and 1600), 300 Grand Familia series (808) and 250 "other", a total of 1830 cars.

September 18, 1972: Savanna GT released. Powertrain of 12A twin distributor motor 120ps and 5 speed transmission. Special round centre guage dashboard console and unique tail lights.

November 13, 1972: Remaining Savanna models upgraded with the GT style dasboard and tail lights, RE10 badging fitted.

June 7, 1973: Series 2 cosmetic upgrade released. Series 2 ("12A") front and hex style tail lamps fitted to all models (Sport Wagon tail lamps remeined unchanged). No changes to drivetrains.

July 23, 1973: REAPS pollution gear fitted to all automatic optioned Savannas, which were upgraded to 12A twin distributor (12A TD motor fitted as standard to Automatic equipped cars). GT model continued unchanged as 12A twin distibutor five speed manual non REAPS.

Manual non GT grade cars were to continue as 10A / 4 speed through to early-mid 74, when the entire Savanna range was upgraded to the single distributor 12A motor, well after exports of this combination started in RX-3s.

This is all the information I have been able to find so far. I don't think 10A cars ever got the "REAPS" fitted. Certainly the 10A was dropped for the rest of the Savanna range which got the 12A twin distributor motor with REAPS before the single distributor motors were released. 10A motors were sold in Savannas into 1974. Single dizzy motors were fitted to export models before they were sold on the JDM, just as the 12A TD was fitted to US exports before it was sold on the JDM in the GT.

Original Australian Market Catalog Scans

Series 1



Series 2

Note that this is a Japanese Savanna dressed up as an export model, and the rear bumper with small cutout is incorrect for Australian cars! Just goes to show you that Magazine articles featuring real Australian delivered cars are a better reference point for correct restorations!



More to come when I extract my digit.

Original Magazine Article Scans

Wheels, 1972.

Hope this is of use in this thread ...

same for this

body checking dimensions - sedan

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/ ... IONS01.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/ ... IONS02.jpg

A MAZDA RX3 KALEIDOSCOPE

Good reading Dom! I think i might have some Japanese road tests to scan...ill have a look.

I was wondering when you would add your input Dave

Do you know if the early Savanna Gts were carrying the S102 or the S124 prefix?
Was the 12A TD of those cars identical to the RX4 TD? have somenone got the housing and rotor part numbers of them?
Thanks

The prefix relates to the motor, not the year or nose cone.

The 73 RX4 TD and RX3 TD look the same, just not sure about part numbers?

Found Some Owner/worksop Manuals on-line:-

http://foxed.ca/foxed/index.php?page=rx7manual

Thought I would add this from Tytan Motors 22/8/73. (Edit) added the rest of the sales brochure.

hi im wondering if you would have any info on specs regarding 76 rx3 gt coupe also pics of the rear as im not sure what badges are meant to go on the boot as mine are missing also should i have a 4 or 5 speed or was that optional any help you could give me would be much appreciated

Hi Stealth

This thread is for Australian cars, and doesn't really look at Japanese spec cars. All GT (Japan only) cars were a 5 speed transmission. A 76 should be series 3, which were never imported to Australia. The boot should have a plain "mazda" badge on one side and a "RE-120" badge on the other. This was for Japanese cars, not Australian.

Dom where is your brochures on the GT RX3.

12A or 10A RX3 Nosecone and lower lip


what is the differnce between the 2

original japanese spec sales brochures

Was Sealike Blue a 808 colour or was it a option on rx3s aswell?

Added in some original Australian market sales brochure scans. More to come.

Why is it that there's no thread covering the RX-4? I'm looking for info and can't find anything on here at all.


Keith

Looks like it is time for you to start one