Good morning! I trust you all had a good weekend. We’re in the midst of a heat wave here in Portland, but we won’t let that stop us from checking out a couple of cool ’70s rides from opposite sides of the Pacific. First, though, let’s see how Friday’s runner-up battle went down:
Interesting… the classics edged out the sofa-on-wheels Buick, but not by much. And the Kia? Yeah, I don’t care about it either.
1976 was a dismal year for cars, all things considered. American cars just kept getting fatter and slower, like the high school quarterback at the twenty year reunion. Engine compartments became an unintelligble tangle of extra wires and vacuum lines, adding insult to the injury of lost power. The last vestiges of the good old designs were either being replaced by newer, fussier shapes, or disappearing under the crushing weight of 5 mph bumpers and landau tops.
Meanwhile, Japan was sending over boatloads of small cars that ran and drove a whole lot better than some of ours, and used about half as much gas, but often featured weird technology that didn’t always work well, and had a tendency to rust if you breathed on them hard. And, in my small town at least, faced the ire of an increasingly vocal group of folks who were convinced that Japanese cars spelled doom for their livelihoods. But they sold, in huge numbers, and changed the vehicular landscape forever.
So today, we’re going to take a look at two survivors from the Bicentennial year, both personal luxury coupes, both running and driving, both a bit scruffy. (Also, I just noticed, both red, white, and blue, if you count the air cleaners.) One is a Japanese upstart with a bizarre engine that looked and sounded like nothing else, and the other is a jumbo-sized American, clinging to the glory days of the ’60s with a neutered V8. Let’s see which one has aged better.
1976 Mazda Cosmo – $4,000
Engine/drivetrain: 1.3 liter 2-rotor Wankel, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Coeur D’Alene, Idaho
Odometer reading: 125,000 miles
Runs/drives? Yep
I had to look this up – I didn’t realize that Mazda ever sold the Cosmo in the US. But they did, from 1976-78, powered by a 13B rotary and, in this case at least, a three-speed automatic. It’s a larger and heavier car than the early (and beautiful) two-seat Cosmo, but still small by American standards at the time. The American styling influence is clear, from the upright waterfall grille to the not-quite opera windows in the rear pillars. It works, though: this is a sharp-looking car.
Inisde, the feel is more European than American, with bucket seats, a center console, and an almost Alfa Romeo-like steering wheel. The Mazda Rotary logo on the horn button is a nice touch. Unfortunately, this car seems to have been parked out in the sun for a great many years; the upholstery is faded to pink, where it isn’t worn out, and the dash pad looks like someone attacked it with a machete.
Outside, things are better, with only a little rust, and a couple of dings and scrapes to add character. The original alloy wheels are present, and a great ’70s design. The American design influence was so strong with Japanese automakers in the ’70s that some US-market Cosmos apparently even came with vinyl roofs; this car has been spared that indignity.
The seller says this rotary-powered relic runs well, and it looks clean under the hood. The automatic is a bummer from an enthusiast’s point of view, and is certainly the wrong choice to back up a rotary, but as a period piece, it fits the car well. There aren’t many nice Mazda rotaries of any style left from this era, and this has got to be one of the rarest. Restoring it would be an absolute nightmare, but if you left it as-is and enjoyed it as a scruffy conversation piece, I think it could be a fun car.
1976 Ford Elite – $3,900
Engine/drivetrain: 351 cubic inch overhead valve V8, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Des Moines, WA
Odometer reading: 132,000 miles
Runs/drives? Sure does
Meanwhile, at Ford, Lee Iaccoca had pointed the shrink-ray at the Mustang, and apparently zapped that extra size into all the rest of their cars. Personal luxury coupes were all the rage, as was taking up as much space as possible with them. This eighteen-foot-long monster, believe it or not, was a mid-sized car; the ’76 Ford Thunderbird was even bigger, and the not-much-smaller Granada was considered a compact. Those size categories, of course, are based on interior volume, not exterior dimensions, which shows just how much wasted space there was in these designs.
What interior volume there was, however, was absolutely stuffed with comfort. Deeply padded seats worked in concert with the soft suspension to make sure no pothole ruined your ride, and the illusion of opulence was everywhere. I mean, when was the last time you saw a car with button-tufted door panels? And if I recall, these even had a very thin strip of fake wood embedded in the steering wheel rim. It’s absolutely ridiculous, but wonderful at the same time.
Part of the reason for the overwrought interior style, I think, was to distract buyers from the dismal performance. Ford offered two completely different 351 engines in 1976, and I don’t know the differences well enough to tell which one this is under all the bric-a-brac, but it hardly matters; both of them were in the 150ish horsepower range, and the 0-60 time in seconds was roughly equivalent to the fuel economy in miles per gallon – both around 13.
The seller says this Elite runs and drives fine, though they suspect a vacuum leak somewhere, and note that it could use a front-end rebuild to fix some play in the steering. It also has some telltale bubbles in the vinyl top, indicating rust underneath. Aside from that, however, it looks like a disco-era time capsule.
Let’s be honest – both of these cars are absolute crap compared to even the least-expensive new car today. Every aspect of automotive design and manufacture has improved since 1976: engineering, metallurgy, build quality, everything. But these cars represented the best that automakers could accomplish with what they had, within the constraints imposed upon them. And hey, they’re still here, still alive and kicking, so that’s saying something. Which one has stood the test of time better?
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
My first car was a second generation RX-7, I’ve come close to buying another rotary a few times over the years, and I’ve never been too interested in big American luxo barges. So normally I’d be voting Mazda, but that Ford has an odd appeal to me.
Now that’s probably largely due to the fact that I currently own a Lotus Elite, and the thought of having two very different ridiculous 70’s cars both called Elite REALLY appeals to me. Should we take the Elite today, or the Elite?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PWMiy4RysI
The Ferd is in nicer shape, but its exterior almost reads as a parody of the era and the Cosmo is just so rare and weird here. You know my need for weirdness. You KNOW.
I love that both of these cars represent the peak of opera window innovation. Not satisfied with an opera window that’s also a B-pillar? Then how about TWO opera windows??
The Elite is the fanciest Torino ever … but despite that, we’ll take the Mazda that’s fascinated me since I was a kid. Think I can duct tape that dash pad together? (jkjk)
The Mazda will at least be an interesting money pit. Fix up the seats, get a dash toupee and somehow get a manual in there. Oh, Fluid Film the snot out of it since it’ll probably rust from a salty French fry.
I already have the Elite’s prettier sister. For variety, I’d add a Cosmo to the stable.
Mazda pros:
Mazda cons:
Ford pros:
Ford cons:
Taking the Mazda on size and curiosity. That Ford looks like a bar of Dove soap.
Really wanted to go with the Mazda as it looks marginally cool, it’s not a mid-70’s Ford, and its name is Cosmo. But that interior is a freakin’ wreck, there’s the whole Wankel thing, and it might be fun to get the Elite back into cosmetically good shape and then cruise around town in a stately fashion. Ford it (ack!) is.
The RX-5 Cosmo is going to be a pain to do correctly, but anyone who knows me will not be shocked to learn I picked the Mazda. Long live triangles!
I’ve always been fascinated with the RX-5 Cosmo because of the funky tail lights. That gets my vote.
That there is a 351 Cleveland judging by the Valve cover shape. It would be near the end of the run for those, and they do make some trick Aussie style heads over at Edelbrock for those. but that car in general, while very clean for what it is, still is what it is. a Monte Carlo wanna be. I have to go Mazda here, even though that would be even more of a nightmare to keep running, it still is super rare and that makes it interesting enough for me to want to even try.
That’s a 351M or 400 for ’76. No more Clevelands after ’74, and looks too OEM for someone to have dropped an older motor in there
The Cleveland was used more for high performance applications, i.e., large trucks, Mustangs, Torinos, etc. The Windsor was more often used in sedans and light trucks. The Cleveland was eventually replaced by the 400 and the 351M (a modified 400).
Both the 351 Windsor and the 351M were used in the Elite, more or less arbitrarily.
It’s most likely a 351M, but you’re right in that the Clevelands sold down under had modified heads from the factory.
I am a person, and I enjoy luxury. The Elite it is.
And I would leave it bone stock looking while I hotrodded it.
The Elite is the ideal candidate for an extremely stupid restomod. Meanwhile I’d always feel a tinge of guilt if I pulled a rotary out of a Cosmo.
I think I’d take the Ford.
The Mazda is definitely more interesting from a wonky technical perspective.
Both cars are very much of their era.
The Ford reminds me of the guy that peaked in High School, and he’s back at the reunion having put on weight, but put on nice clothing for the event.
The Mazda doesn’t leave me with any feeling at all, really.
There was a store in the Detroit area in the 1970’s called “Korvettes”, and it was better than Kmart, but not as good as Sears. You might buy a stereo at Korvettes that had a record player, an 8 track player, and an AM/FM radio, with two speakers. It may have even had a brand name, like Panasonic, or Fisher. Everyone made them. They were probably all made by the same company. But they were anonymous, an appliance, that was not quite disposable, but nothing you cared about. And that’s the Mazda. An appliance that you bought a Korvettes, that maybe was a little better than reputation let on, but “Meh…”
I’d never be able to restore the Mazda’s interior to factory original, and I don’t think the car’s value would increase enough to justify the incredible effort it would take to do it.
On the other hand, I am 100% sure I could restore it to an alternate version of “like new”, and that would make the Mazda a very comfortable and interesting hobby car.
I’d be willing to rebuilt the Mazda’s interior with similar but non-stock materials and while I’m fussing with it, I would probably find a way to get a manual transmission in there, too…
I’ve owned a Ford product similar to that Elite (a Mercury Montego), and have little interest in going there ever again.
This is the correct answer. Please accept this complimentary hood ornament.
I voted for the Mazda because it comes with the cocaine that someone spilled all over the seats.
That Mazda would be close to impossible to restore. My vote goes to the Ford because it’s in great shape, easy to maintain and I remember them from my youth…however, I’ve only ever seen these in brown.
These cars are brown regardless of the color. Everything about them screams brown.
The Ford is in better shape, will be easier to live with and I can only assume has much easier to find parts.
So anyway I picked the Mazda
For a land yacht, a ’70s Thunderbird would pull off the job with more style, but the up-market Torino isn’t the worst. That interior is plush! I considered the Mazda, but besides being rough, restoring it won’t get you the better car you want it to be.
Never driven or owned a rotary. I really need to correct that omission…
Voted Mazda.
Definitely have to go with the rotary on this, despite the auto trans and trashed dashboard. The profile and rear window treatment is really cool on these, if I actually owned it it’d probably get a turbo FC or FD engine and manual transmission, and it’d be a neat cruiser. The Ford on the other hand, despite the similarities, just rubs me the wrong way – it seems like such a wasteful attempt at opulence that just falls short.
Also, can’t fault the Cosmo’s seller’s car choice… Lancia Scorpion, another Cosmo, Toyota Van (I think), and something properly pointy hiding behind that fence (Lotus maybe?)
Both tempting, but the Ford is in better shape and probably less likely to go wrong…and when it does go wrong, parts should be easy enough to find. Honestly, if the Mazda’s interior wasn’t so rough, and if it wasn’t an automatic, I would have picked it. Anyway I’ve already got a ’72 Super Beetle, so I’m covered on the ’70s economy car front. Might as well get the polar opposite of an economy car to contrast the Beetle.
On principle I took the weirdo despite the interior because malaise era vehicles just sadden me to no end. But man this was like choosing what circle of hell you’d rather live in.
Well this brings back memories. Best friend in high school had a 75 Torino that we would cruise in. Had 2 huge home stereo box speakers in the back seat. We would pull them out and place on the roof for parties.
Or for other activities in the back seat.
My girlfriend was a state level gymnastics star. And she made me see lots of stars (and other things) in that back seat. Those were the days.
Some memories are forever.
I didn’t want to vote for a malaise-era tacky land boat over a far more interesting import, but then I saw the Mazda’s interior. Yikes. Have to go with the Ford today.
People forget after a point replacing the interior doesnt take much more effort. If it needs replaced pretty much same effort with 1 big cut or 20 just reupholster
A rotary Mazda with an automatic transmission is like kissing your sibling. And no matter how much you put into that car, it won’t be any better.
On the other hand, a grand or two completely erases the Ford’s malaise-era engine bogusness. The rest of the car wins on condition alone, so….
as much as I hate Fords, in this case it wins.