1975 Mazda 808 Wagon review from Australia and New Zealand

There hasn't been too many things I haven't replaced or repaired on this car. I have owned a few 808 wagons and sedans mostly I used them for parts and I have a 2 mates that also own 808 wagons. so I'll just tell the common faults that happen to all 808s.

Wheel alignment constantly needs ajusting even after all front end parts have been replaced with new ones.

Door seals leak and you can't buy genuine rear door seals and the door seals you can get cost a lot.

All 4 speed gear boxes thrush bearings go.

They all seem to rust in the bottom corners of the front windscreen, under rear side windows, inthe gutters and the bottom of doors. There's an easy way of preventing bottom of doors rusting, they rust because drainage holes getting clogged up so keep holes clean.

Rear seat's clips for holding seats up break.

Car was constantly getting broken into so I put solex locks on, people continued to try to break in with coat hangers, but solex locks are spring loaded so it won't unlock, but the plastic door lock clips would snap and they don't get made any more.

808 wagons are extremely rare, that is why I've currently got it off the road. I'm putting a 13B fuel injected turbo rotary engine in it. I'm also painting it and cleaning up the interior.

It is currently painted Holden Cameo Yellow and that is the same color as it originally was, so I'm going to paint it the same yellow with a pearl through it.

If you are a bit of a rev head you should definitely put fat tyres on this car as they don't handle the best. They hang on to the corner really well until the last second when the body roll shifts then they slide right out and are extremely hard to control when this happens.

This car is suitable for car shows as any car over 25 years old are vintage and people realy enjoy seeing an 808 wagon as there are very few left, my car was a show car until I had an accident in it, but it will be once again soon.