Comments: 1-15, 16-17
Car would not idle. Tore apart the carburettor about a dozen times. Found out eventually that the PCV valve had fallen out (held on with plumbing tape by the previous owner).
Ran for about 5000km with a dud battery. Had to start it by pushing it.
Went to see how fast it would go. Got to 125 km/h and rear wheels caught alight.
Speedo needle wobbled a lot and then stopped completely.
Lost the key and bashed into the ignition with a screwdriver and hammer. Started with the screwdriver. The whole car would suddenly die at most inopportune moments. Would die at lights. Oil stick was clean (i.e. no oil). Then would condense and I'd drive the car off. Eventually loud noises and then a BANG and clouds of grey smoke. I think the camchain went.
This was my first car.
Same engine as a Laser. Think about that, Ford fans.
Obviously, you never enjoyed the driving pleasure of a well maintained stock standard 808 wagon (1298cc) 1976.
I've had my car for over 10 years and it really goes well in standard form.
The engine sounds sporty, has a wide power band, turns well, brakes quick and is cheap to run (a mechanic in the family helps).
This is a much under-rated and little known car. People who drive this model car always seem to have a smile on their faces and want to drag you off!
I have revved the guts out of this car for so long, nothing will break it.
Mark from Brisbane, Australia.
I owned a 1972 Mazda 808 2 door. It was my first car, and I will never love a car as much as I did it. It NEVER let me down. My only problem with it, was that I could not get parts for it. Other than that, I would totally own another, as a matter of fact, I have seen 2 more, and have wanted to trade my 14 year newer car for it. I would love to.
Christie.
The Mazda 808 and RX3 are brilliant cars and with a few cheap mods they can prove to be very gutsy light fun cars to throw around.
I had a Mazda 808 as my first car. Ran well, very economical to run but repairs cost a fortune because of the FAMOUS EXPENSIVE MAZDA PARTS. Mazda don't make money by selling CARS, they make huge money by selling spare parts. I drive a Toyota Camry now and will never buy a Mazda in my life again and I tell people NOT to buy Mazda because spare parts are ridiculously expensive.
Nasir
Karachi, Pakistan.
I had an 1976 808 as my very first car too. I loved that car. It was the 1300cc model, great car, nothing like a rear wheel drive in the wet. I owned it for 5years. Got in a few crashes with it, but always managed to bang it back into shape. Had a bit of rust in the bottom of the doors, nothing a bit of body filler couldn't fix though. In it's latter years I transplanted a 2L 626 engine into it... went real well then, burnouts in second gear were no problem at all. After it ran out of rego I used it as a paddock basher for a while -- heaps of fun. I still see the occaisonal one on the road, and when I do I go all misty eyed. I reckon if I saw one for sale in good condition tomorrow I'd buy it as a second car, even though I don't need a second car. Why did the Japanese stop making cheap rear wheel drive cars???
I had a RX3 4 my first car I had it for about 6to7 months.I went about 120km/h on top speed. I use to drive it to school and purposely parked on the gravel pit every time and every time after school I would be show off and spin or if I'm lucky id drift it on the corner. I strongly recommend it as a toy car, but will be a problem time to time.
HABIB.
I'm owner of a Mazda 808 coupe 1979. In my city Tegucigalpa, Honduras, there are many like this. But make repairs is very hard: parts with hight cost, handbooks not available. I want your help with technicals books, manuals and other can help me to rebuild my 808 '79 coupe: rpinto@terra.com.
Well, what can I say... I have been driving a 1978 808 (1600) Wagon for the last 18 months, and it has been a brilliant car. Cheap to maintain, and a pleasure to drive. As for shooting your mouth off about the 1300 (Which I also own one of) being a Ford Laser engine, this is very untrue. The TC series 1300 engine is a rear wheel drive only engine and was only used in 1970's Mazda's.
808's are brilliant little cars, and I am in the middle of rebuilding the 1300 wagon at the moment. I am planning to drop in an 1800 out of a 929, or a 2L out of a 626 or E series van. Any comments or help wit this would be greatly appreciated, please email me at:
speedddoesntkill@ hotmail.com
Thanks all,
Kendrick, Tasmania, Australia.
This guy kane that I work with owns an 808 station wagon I think it by far the phatest car I've ever seen. Hes added a RX3 nose cone and a 12a rotary engine not to mention the pollished up modgies and a roll cage I think that kanes just the man and any mazda is the greatest.
My first car is a mazda 808 and it had $3000 spent on the motor before I bought it for $1000 off a close Girlfriend
It had a cam, exhaustm, and a nice weber and red lined at 9000rpm and make 200kph with the standard fourspeed it had fat swaybars 205 size tyres on 13inch rims it yellow and is still currently registed on the road nothig comes close to its handling.
I think this person is a fool the 1300 motor is not a Ford motor he shouldn't insult Mazda like that.808 should be restored as I have one which I have saved from the grave. I bought it for $200 with 6 months rego (the best buy I have ever had) I cut all the rust out and repainted it then I put wood grain interior in. Then BOOM a show car was made it had been in a few car shows and although it only had a 1300 motor in it people would flock around it. Now I have it off the road again to put a 13B engine in and re spray it. Any one interested in 808 1300 parts from engines through to diffs email me at dstrawbs@hotmail.com.
I have a 73 mazda 1300 4 dr. It has a series 5 13b turbo engine with a turbo port, rx7 series 5 turbo transmission, upgraded brakes 3" mandrel bent exhaust, 9" diff, microtech MTX8 computer, recaro seats, corsa leather steering wheel, monsta tacho, dual stage boost controller, supersonic blow off valve, pre pump, high prseasure fuel pump and surge tank. dynoed at 150kw at rear wheels on 6 psi. 220kw on 12psi at wheels, and FR17" simmons rims 205 tyres. Number plates are SCARY1. hasn't yet been down the quater mile, but will expect mid 11's. If anybody wants to talk rotors contact me at kurtco52@hotmail.com Remember Munch Munch Pistons For lunch.
Why not post some photos of your 1300? Sounds like you did some nice work.
My very first car was a 1972 Mazda 808. it was red with a
huge white pin stripe. I bought it for $600.00, it still had plastic on the white interior. I bought it in 1994!
Get this- it only had 60,000 miles on it!!! now that I am older (26) and wiser, I realize what a find that was. my friends made fun of it, they called it the "speed racer"..
It definitely was! I talk about that car all the time. my husband will have to look one up on the internet just to see what I used to drive. seriously- they are nonexistent!i have never seen one since...: (
My very first car was a 1972 Mazda 808. it was red with a
huge white pin stripe. I bought it for $600.00, it still had plastic on the white interior. I bought it in 1994!
Get this- it only had 60,000 miles on it!!! now that I am older (26) and wiser, I realize what a find that was. my friends made fun of it, they called it the "speed racer"..
It definitely was! I talk about that car all the time. my husband will have to look one up on the internet just to see what I used to drive. seriously- they are nonexistent!I have never seen one since...: (