1976 Mazda 616

[@twentyrothmans7308]

I think that it was a Capella in Australia, at least, there was a model called that. A friend at school inherited his mother's RX-3 - that was a death trap, went like a scalded cat above 6000 RPM.

[@OldCarsNewVan]

Like you, I'm struggling to remember this one. I briefly owned a 1978 626 Montrose so I like the era and agree it's a great looking car. Thanks for posting.

[@quarterlight]

Thank you - hope your doing well

[@ianmynard431]

Yes,, I remember them well. I was to young to drive, however our family took a holiday to Tasmania and our hire car was a navy blue Capella (616). It seemed to go well, and was head shoulders over my parents Holden Kingswood!!,

[@awc900]

I preferred the nose on the earlier version which was reminiscent of the earlier (Giugiaro styled) 1500/1800. I owned a 1974 Capella RX-2 in 1977. My first good car although I was still in my late teens at the time.

[@frothe42]

I believe at the time, in the US, this was the Mazda RX-4, with the infamous Rotary engine. I don't remember whether or not the front seats had either headrests or highback front seats. The steering wheel is so Mazda of the 1970's, as well as the dash and controls!Mazda in the US had lots of equipment standard; it is why, especially after the fuel crisis, they sold or traded in their full sized vehicles for a Mazda, not realising that the rotary engine was very thirsty! I believe a 5-speed manual was standard, air conditioning and automatic were optional. Sedan and wagon models (saloon and estate).

[@club1fan552]

The rotary version was an RX2. The RX4 had the body of the 929 (Luce). All old rotary Mazdas in good condition are worth over $100, 000 (AUD) in Australia.

[@frothe42]

@club1fan552 I know there was an RX-3 as well.

[@Hans-k9j]

Had a Mazda 626 2.2 I automatic with all extras, even a sunroof. Bought it of my father and was absolutely the cheapest and best car I ever owned. That’s why I bought CX30 automatic to accompany me to the grave.

[@quarterlight]

Aw very nice

[@NiceCakeMix]

What a nice brochure for Monday. The front end reminds me of the Rootes group Arrow series of cars, specifically the Humber Snipe version. I do like the interior on these. Compare this to a Ford Escort Mk2 which would have just come out, or the Morris Marina, or even the Vauxhall Viva, this Mazda gives you so much more and looks nicer for probably he same price its easy to see why people bought them. Interesting steering wheel and dashboard.

[@quarterlight]

Certainly an interesting forgotten car

[@mrjsv4935]

Interesting, I don't remember these cars at all, the Mazda 1500 / 1800 I remember seeing, I guess it was earlier car. Seems Mazda had quality and longevity in mind already in the 70's, and fancy computer technology in manufacturing, or at least in designing the cars. Side profile brought Peugeot 504 in my mind, the rear end and the air vent in the C-pillar. I guess the "hm" logo comes from "Hiroshima Mazda", if I'm not mistaken. Mazda HQ is located in Hiroshima and some cars manufactured there as well. From Wikipedia, seems my 1982 323 was built in Hiroshima factory, but my later 1990 323 in Hofu plant. Oh and Mazda manufacturer used to be called Toyo Kogyo before 1984. I remember as a kid I saw probably the little text in windows of my dad's 1983 323, Toyo Kogyo and didn't know at the time what it means, Toyo, almost like Toyota? :D

[@gaufrid1956]

These were called the Mazda Capella in Australia. As well as the sedan, they came as a wagon and a coupe. There were rotary engined versions as well that wore the RX badge. Maybe RX2 for this model range. As someone else commented here, RX versions in good condition are around $100,000 AUD. They were real performance cars, but very thirsty and prone to mechanical problems. I think the Capella styling was Italian inspired. The earlier Mazda 1500 and 1800 models had Italian styling, perhaps Bertone, but I'd need to check. You are right to say that the frontal styling is very Italian of the time, with the quad headlights.

[@club1fan552]

No Capella wagons were ever sold in Oz, and the coupe only for a very short period (series 1). The issues were often to do with the rotor seals in rotaries, but by the mid 70's Mazda had produced hundreds of thousands of rotas and they were pretty good. The RX7 virtually used the engine from the RX3. Yes, the 1500/1800 models were from Nuccio Bertone who approached Alfa Romeo with the design who weren't interested so it was sold to Mazda. I had a 1500SS. The 1500 (Luce) was arguably Mazdas first "proper" car and started the Mazda Car Club of Australia.

[@xtxt9135]

Very thirsty. I remember a lot of guys went through a brief phase with them and traded them pretty quick.

[@adampowell5376]

I didn't know that Mazda were exporting cars to the UK in 1976. I remember Mazdas from the 1980s.

[@AllanT-nu4rw]

Cars like this Mazda 616 saloon and the air cooled Honda 1300 saloon from the early to mid 70s all followed the same design philosophy. They were very simple, well designed and equipped for the time. I wonder if you happen to have any brochures for the same air cooled early 70s Honda 1300 saloon and coupe.

[@quarterlight]

I’m not sure to honest - I will keep that in mind as I continue organizing everything

[@AllanT-nu4rw]

@@quarterlight The 1300 Coupe was a very well balanced looking car with a bit of flair to it. The 1300 Saloon was your typical boxy design like all the others from the time period. Have a look at the Coupe 9 at this link and yes that is four carbs on the engine, kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKq3i6yJpqmVsJI

[@quarterlight]

Will do 👍

[@EricaMTB]

Definitely needs a rotary conversion.

[@russelljameson9118]

Make a good Pimp Rider/Air Rider?? Reliable too!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@club1fan552]

A good seller for Mazda in Oz as it was their "mid sizer". Early Capella's ('70-'71) had better performance than the revered Datsun 1600 but by the time the model you have profiled was released they were bigger which took the edge of performance. Your model did the quarter mile in 19.5 secs (same as '78 1.4 Mazda 323) but early Capellas did it in under 19 seconds and had similar performance to the RX2 (the rotary equivalent) of the mid seventies...the RX2 also losing performance. However even as an auto, all Capellas still had reasonable performance. Prices were comparable to rivals so it was no bargain. However it was FAR better value for money than Mazda's flagship, the 929 which offered no better performance from it's 1769 cc engine (from the Mazda 1800) or interior space but cost far more. Capellas were often bought by small families. A work colleague in the 80's was told by another owner to "get one". He did. He loved it. The aerial in the windscreen gave poor reception, even 30 kms away. Another superb Mazda model, from the halcyon days of the company (60's - 80's). Brilliant vid!

[@quarterlight]

Thank you for the info

[@germulqueen3002]

I was only 5y/o in 1976, so maybe that's why I don't remember the 616, but they must've been around for a few years, so I don't understand why I don't remember the car; that said; it looks familiar, so, maybe it was known by another name here, in Ireland. Could it have been known as the 323??

[@adampowell5376]

It is unusual for a car with a 1.6 litre engine to run on 2 star petrol.