MAZDA RX-3 BUYING

ONCE UPON a time, car-yards lined major metropolitan roads and many of those car yards housed Mazda rotaries that they couldn’t sell. Fuel consumption was a huge issue for buyers and sellers of rotaries from the 1970s-90s and remained an impediment until RX-3s started being viewed more as collectables than serious transport. The market today has changed dramatically with more RX-3s coming in from Japan with Savanna badging than are being discovered and refurbished here. Despite some vendors in Japan claiming that stocks of older rotaries are dwindling there are always cars popping up, albeit at continually climbing prices. Balancing that is the progressive disappearance of sad local examples. Cars that in years past were cheap enough to serve as a young ratbag’s first car have disappeared into wrecking yards and everything in today’s market ranges from acceptable to extraordinary condition. Lots of these cars have to a degree been modified and that will have an impact on future demand and value growth. Finding an early car that hasn’t acquired a later 12A or even 13B engine to replace the original 10A is difficult but is in the long term going to be worth the search. RX-3 sedans generally cost 30 per cent less than coupes and that relationship is likely to remain for as long as no one unearths a stash of pristine two-doors. With plenty of spares and repair outfits specialising in rotary Mazdas, finding the parts and expertise to keep a car running won’t be difficult. Joining one of the Mazda clubs that exist nationwide will help you decide which of these businesses might do the best job of taking care of your car and your wallet.