Mazda -- All Car History Volume4

  
Mazda began as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd,The company claims that: "Everything we do is
founded in Japan in 1920 manufacturing machinedaring, ingenious and fun. Our cars all have that
tools. In 1927 it was renamed Toyo Kogyo Co.,extra-special 'Zoom-Zoom' factor: sports-inspired
Ltd. and shortly after started manufacturingdesign and motoring in their soul,". This is reflected
vehicles, the first being a three-wheel truck, thethrough the full range of current cars from the
Mazdago, in 1931.all-new Mazda2 supermini to the Mazda BT-50
 pick-up.
  
Mazda's first car, the Mazda R360 Coupe 
two-door passenger vehicle, came out in 1960,DID YOU KNOW?
with the four-door Mazda Carol appearing in 1962.- Mazda's factory at Hiroshima is one of the
The next year, Mazda's car production toppedlargest single-site automobile plants in the world,
one million. During the 1970s, Mazda successfullywith an annual production capacity of about
entered the North American market, and financial480,000 cars.
difficulties during the 1990s saw Ford take a- Mazda is the only manufacturer in the world that
controlling interest in Mazda in 1999.makes petrol, diesel and rotary internal
 combustion engines.
 - The Mazda 787B won the Le Mans 24-Hour
Mazda cars have a reputation for looking andrace in 1991. This was the first and only time a
feeling different from the mainstream, thanks inrotary engine has ever won the race, also
part to their use of Wankel - or rotary - enginesmarking the first victory for a Japanese car
in certain models. During the 1960s, Mazdamanufacturer.
cooperated with NSU's Felix Wankel - who gave- The name Mazda stems from Ahura Mazda, the
his name to the engine - in Germany to introducehighest Zoroastrian God of reason who granted
rotary-powered vehicles and this continues to thewisdom and united man, nature and the other
present day with the RX-8.gods.