1974 Mazda RX-4 Station Wagon on eBay - Robbins, IL

Not mine, don't know the owner - just posting for those who may be both rotary engine and station wagon fans :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/?cmd...32498&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_2672wt_1165

Current bid price of $8,100 (as I post this) seems a bit steep, but there's at least three guys out there who must want it pretty badly.

 

Boy does that bring back the memories.
My first station wagon was a '74 RX-4. Just like this except yellow on the outside with white vinyl seats.

Owner's a bit out there on the price. I saw one on E-bay last year I think that was in better condition for around $6k.

 

8 hours left to go on this auction, current bid is $8,301 and reserve still not met! I agree, reserve price is set a bit high.

One of the interesting things about the RX-4 is that it introduced the 13B rotary to North America, being used in the RX-4s from 1974-78 as well as Mazda's rotary pick-up and the RX-5.

After 1978 the 13B wasn't used in North America until it became available in the 1st gen RX-7 GSL-SE in 1984 as the 13B DEI (Dynamic Effect Intake - Mazda loves to use three letter acronyms).

This would be a nice wagon to have if it could be had for a lower price.

 

Didn't those first Mazda rotary engines have bad issues with the rotor seals? I thought I read that sometime back.

Weird wagon!

 

Depends on who you talk to. The 12A engine used in the RX-2, RX-3 and non-GSL-SE RX-7s from 1978 to 1985 were said to be bullet-proof. I've heard the same thing said about the 13B DEI engine used in the 2nd gen RX-7s from 1986-91. You can find many 1st and 2nd gen RX-7s still going strong at 150k and more miles

The 13B REW used in the 3rd gen RX-7 (1993-95) is another story. Engine rebuilds at 100k miles (or less) seem to be common.

I suppose it's like everything - your mileage may vary depending on how you maintain your car, driving habits, etc.

Interesting rotary trivia: the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving uses 13B powered Formula Mazda cars for their driving schools: http://www.bondurant.com/cars/formula-mazda

 

It's all in the engine design. You have to be religiously fanatical about your oil with these. Keep extra oil with you at all times. Keep it topped off. And change your oil and filter at least as often as the factory recommends - maybe more often.

I bought my yournger daughter a used RX-8 and made sure she knew all about the issues.

 

I had a 13B in my 76 Rotary PU. Original engine as the ID plate specified 13B.