The Mazda RX-3 is an automobile sold in the 1970s. It was intended to be smaller and sportier than its brother, the RX-2Capella Rotary. In 1972 all rotary engines had their die-cast rotor housing coated with a new process. The new Transplant Coating Processes (TCP) featured sprayed-on steel wich is then coated with chrome, giving greatly increased life. It was available from September, 1971 through 1978 in Super deluxe coupé. Deluxe sedan, and station wagon forms. The deluxe coupe was heavier and carried an optional body stripe, clock, rear defogger and the centre console/high armrest and collapsible steering column. All series 1 RX-3 came with the 982cc 10A. It was based on the compact Mazda Grand Familia and was sold in Japan as the Mazda Savanna. Sold from 1972 through 1978 in the United States, the RX-3 was extremly sucessful.
It originally used a 10A rotary engine like the Mazda R100, but American cars shared the larger 12A engine from the RX2. Perfomance-wise the 10A RX-3 wasn`t able to match the RX-2 with 12A. With a power to-weight ratio of 10.9kg per KW compared to the RX-2`s 9.9kg per KW, the RX-3 was slower. aussue motoring journalist did well push 17.6 second quarters at 76mph (122km/u) out of the lighter Sedan. Performance-wise the 12A RX-3 wasn`t able match the RX-2 with 12A either, despite its lighter weight.
