1974 Mazda 1300 review from Australia and New Zealand
"A great car, and advanced mechanically for its time"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Muffler burnt out, 1976, replaced with stainless steel type and it is still going.
Door rust started early, but has been repaired.
Head was overhauled at 90,000 km due to a burnt valve.
Clutch and gearbox overhaul at 110,000.
Hand brake cannot seem to be made to work properly.
The engine does not like to run when cold, and stalls during warm up time, manipulation of choke becomes an art form.
Other than general maintenance, it has been very reliable
General comments?
This car has proven to be a reliable workhorse for 29 1/2 years of ownership and due to its life of short runs, the engine is a little smokey at its relatively low k.
It is a car that I probably won't ever part with even though it has been moved down a peg after the purchase of a new Astina.
Recommended reviews
| A great little car, often overlooked |
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| 1974 - 1300 2-door sedan 1.3 SOHC leaded Cheap and zippy, great car for its age |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1974 |
| First year of ownership | 1974 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | Manual |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 5 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 123000 kilometres |
| Date of Entry | 15th December, 2003 |