If you have had the opportunity to hear a rotary powered RX-series stalking you, you would definitely know it. The motors have a distinct low throaty exhaust note coupled with a high revving scream. Highly ported engines will also have lumpy idles that enthusiasts refer to as the distinct “brap brap brap”.

As one of the first few Mazda’s to make it to the States, the RX-2 was highly differentiated by the Wankel rotary 12A engine. A startling fact is that on the other side of the Pacific, the RX-2 was originally offered as the rotary option to the Mazda Capella, more commonly known to us Americans as the Mazda 6-series. It was not until the car made it to this side of the Pacific that it was sold as the RX-series.

As unbelievable as it may it seem now, during it’s debut the RX-2 was actually considered a mid-size car rather than a sport compact. By today’s standards, if it were sitting next to a Honda Fit, you would be hard pressed to argue that it was not a sub-compact car. In fact, side by side, the Honda Fit would be the unattractive, younger friend being a few inches wider and having a smaller trunk.

The 12A engine displaced a little more than 1.1-liters but made about 120hp and 115ft/lb of torque. In it’s day automotive sources compared it favorably against straight-6’s due to the smooth power range and impressive response. Unfortunately, that same engine was also notoriously plagued with reliability issues. Failed seals, o-rings and worn out rotor tips caused many of the vehicles to be scrapped before they really had a chance. But don’t tell that to Andy who’s had his RX-2 comfortably cruising the roads since 1972.

Andy’s RX-2 is all original from chrome bumper to chrome bumper and he has begun his full restoration, beginning with the exterior of the car. Even after 35 years, the original paint still radiates after a quick buff and shine. The chrome trim pieces were in all the right places and the only modification thus far is the Puerto Rican flag flown proudly on his dashboard.

For the feature, we met him near the warehouse district of the city and after some light sprinkling from the mixture of clouds looming overhead, we headed down to the riverside of the Minneapolis / St. Paul border for a quick run through the curves. Although start-up on these old rotaries are can be a little bit rough especially in such a quick change in weather, the little RX-2 breathed quite well through the carburetors after a good warm-up.

The RX-2 had no problems quickly dancing through each bend with it’s continual smooth purring through all each of the four gears. Unfortunately the fun had to come to an end as the rain started really pouring and Andy became concerned that more harsh weather was on it’s way. (To give him credit, our photography equipment was also a concern.)

In that quick run through the city, we had a chance to feel how exhilarating it must have been to be on the forefront of a revolution in engine technology. As the first platform for the Wankel rotary engines to be widely raced, the RX-2 was the bridge between the first mass-produced Wankel-powered Cosmo Sport and the highly successful, smaller and sportier, RX-3. Back in the early 1970’s, the RX-2 lead some heavy battles against the Skyline GT-R and the 12A engine went on to enable the RX-3 to prevent the GT-R from winning 50 consecutive Japanese Grand Prix races.

On the international front, Mazda has also proven rotary technology to be highly successful being the first team from Japan to have finished the entire 24-hours of the Le Mans 24-hour endurance race in 1974. Almost twenty years later, in 1991, Mazda further ingrained their rotary technology as reliable and fast as it took the 787B 2.6-liter (rated 4.7-liters by the FIA formula) to claim victory, overtaking Mercedes within the final three hours of the race. To date, Mazda still holds the dual title of the only non-piston powered race car and first and only Japanese manufacturer to ever win Le Mans. The following year, the rules were changed to effectively ban Mazda from entering Le Mans with rotary technology.

Although RX-2’s are quite rare to find these days, it is still possible to get rotary-power in the latest rendition of the RX-series. Mazda continues to be the only car manufacturer that mass-produces vehicles with the Wankel rotary engine. State-side, it all started with the Capella RX-2.

Rumors are floating around that Mazda is looking to introduce a new RX-series in 2010. Will it really happen? No one knows for sure yet… But from what we have heard, keep your eyes on the Tokyo Auto Salon 2010.

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