Lord Of The Road

[Luceboy]

With a production total of 976 units between 1969 - 1971, the Luce Rotary Coupe (RX87) is the Silvia CSP311 of Mazdas. Based on the same Giugiaro (Bertone) design which was used for the piston engine Luce/1500/1800 sedans, this pillarless coupe is recognized for being the only FWD rotary vehicle Mazda produced and the only vehicle fitted with the 13A twin rotor engine.

Marketed as a refined touring car with a price tag of 1.75 Million Yen, the Luce (RX87) was the most expensive offering in Mazdas lineup of the time with the Super Deluxe version featuring; Air Cooler, Power Windows, 8-Track AM/FM Stereo, Rear Window Defroster, Intermittent Wipers, Power Steering, Disc/Drum Servo Assisted Brakes, Independent Front and Rear Suspension, and a 4 speed synchronized manual transmission.

Internet sources suggest that the high price tag combined with reports of overheating issues and lack of replacement parts support led to sluggish sales and a early halt to production. Sold only on the domestic market of Japan, all units were built with right hand drive although a photo of a prototype car with left hand drive does exist. It is unknown how many still remain.