1973 Mazda Capella from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

Only the usual set of points, distributor caps.

Other than that, it's been a pleasure to own.

This being my first car, I have nothing against my Capella at the moment. It's stock standard at the moment, but it still has more go than what it looks like.

Its interior is plain, but to the point. Seats are still like new and very nice to sit in on short and long trips. The body styling is very good for the look of the car. The boot is nice and big to put all of your shopping in.

The engine is very good for tuning and of course getting up and going.

I agree the only thing I have had to fix is the distributer cap and radiator coil, but apart from that it has been a very reliable car

Brenton

lank2@hotmail.com.

I recently bought my Capella about 3 to 4 months ago and to this point I have no regrets or anything in fact to complain about. She has been very reliable and economical and I don't think that I could have chosen a better car as my first. I've kept her well looked after and tried my best to keep her in stock standard shape apart from the sound I've installed. Thank you Mazda for this great car.

My daughter "inherited" her grandfather's '72' Mazda Capella which he owned from new, and had done less than 100,000kms when he stopped driving at 83. It was still in "mint" condition. Unfortunately after 3 years, she was hit in the rear end when parked and the body shell was bent beyond repair. Luckily we found another body shell and swapped all the good bits into it. But this '74' body is rusting around the front and rear screens. I wish I could find a better body shell, as she loves driving this reliable, cheap car. Its running gear and interior has been in the family for 33 trouble free years.

My experience is with the Capella station wagon first registered in Japan in 1997, with the 1.8L motor & 4 stage auto. It has done only 53500km. It is like new in bottle green and the last of the 'old' shape, 92 - 97. I endorse the enthusiasm for the no-nonsense plain qualities, strong performance with good economy, cheap 10k servicing and long-life reputation. Getting 32mpg (8.8L/100km). what more could you want?

My very first car was a 1975 mazda capella way back in 1984.Of all the V8 holdens I've owned one fairlane a few fancy 4wds I remember that little white capella the with the most fondest of memories. It was cheap to run easy to fix on the rare moments it did go wrong and had a no nonsense integrity about it and character plus. OK I love my current mitsubishi 380 and wouldn't swap it for anything, but would love to own a capella again for old times sake.Don't suppose theres many left, most would have been raced rallied or rolled by now.

My Dad had a 1971 Capella 1600 from that year until 1990. They are extremely reliable - it had 500,000MILES on the odometer and was still going. Unfortunately parts were hard to find and were getting expensive, so he had to sell.

Do you people find parts difficult to source?

If they were not I would love one of these cars, as I liked dad's one and wished that I would have inherited it (I was only 9 at the time of its departure tho). These old Japanese cars are SO much better than the new plastic and front wheel drive things - they were cheap, practical and reliable, but they also 'kept it real' with RWD and old school minimalism. And I did a Wikipedia search and the 1.6 put out 77kw!! This was no mean feat in 1971, considering that my Dad's 1990 Mazda 626 with a 2.2L only put out 85kw!! (and that a mid-80s BMW 318i produced the same)

Take care of your Capellas!!!

I too have fond memories of a mazda capella. i learnt how to drive in one. it was my mums car from brand new in 1975 to about 1986.she actually offered it to me as a first car, but nooo as a know all teenager I had to have a big v8 holden as my first car. (big mistake).they came from a time when japanese cars were cheap, simple, and very well built. its easy to see now why the japanese are the world leaders in automotive production when they were that good in the 60s and 70s.if anyone out there still has an original unmolested example take good care of it they command respect.