79 Mazda Luce'

LUCE' · 02-14-2011, 01:09 AM

Greetings Rotary buffs. I'm not much of one with exception of a much needed right hand drive I found that has grown on us after being a back up mail delivery vehicle. My wife and I are rural mail carriers and when my Saturn and Subaru both took a dive last fall, I had to pull My Mazda out of the weeds and pick the wasp nests out from behind the mirrors and see if she still had it in her. As usual, my Luce' continues to battle on 5 days a week delivering mail to 750+ mail boxes and only the transmission is whining just a bit. Two more weeks and she gets another rest, but when that time comes, I'm going to get serious about putting her under cover and eventually garaging her for a future project. Parts are near impossible with exception of the 13B motor and possibly the auto trans if it is indeed similar to the RX's of th time. I'll dig into specs a little more and perhaps some of you can entertain a few of my questions about how to keep a rotary alive and well.

I've attached a few pics. Thanks!

fbRXse7en · 02-14-2011, 01:41 AM

I'm lovin' it. R13?? What the heck?

djmtsu · 02-14-2011, 08:39 AM

It has a 13B. I believe the Luce's in 1979 had 12a's in them from the factory.

I didn't know there were any in the states. How did it get here, since it is not on the DMV or NHTSA approved vehicles?

Of course, neither is a JC Cosmo, but there are several in the states.

LUCE' · 02-17-2011, 11:29 PM

I think two owners back had a military move and was allowed to do the mods to make it DOT approved. Kind of like the Benz from Germany we use to send stateside back in the 80's. Perhaps they don't allow that as easy anymore. It's a real piece of work finding parts.

LUCE' · 02-17-2011, 11:31 PM

Oh, by the way, insurance was a real gem as well. State Farm was the first to insure it at a premium price, but eventually I got GMAC to put it on the policy with my other 6 cars and somehow they made it work.

LUCE' · 02-17-2011, 11:32 PM

Don't know where the R13 came from...and I'm not even sure if it's a 12B either. I'll have to do some looking.

NoDOHC · 02-25-2011, 08:16 PM

Cool car!

Just about as one-of-a-kind here in the states as you can get.

Welcome to the club, glad to hear that she still runs!

Viperx7 · 02-25-2011, 09:14 PM

Welcome to the Club. Cool car.

02-14-2011, 08:39 AM	#3
djmtsu My minds tellin' me no... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 4,043 Rep Power: 22	It has a 13B. I believe the Luce's in 1979 had 12a's in them from the factory. I didn't know there were any in the states. How did it get here, since it is not on the DMV or NHTSA approved vehicles? Of course, neither is a JC Cosmo, but there are several in the states. __________________ 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 2003 Toyota Tundra TRD 2015 Toyota 4Runner SR5

02-25-2011, 08:16 PM	#7
NoDOHC The quest for more torque Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sheboygan, Wisconsin Posts: 855 Rep Power: 17	Cool car! Just about as one-of-a-kind here in the states as you can get. Welcome to the club, glad to hear that she still runs! __________________ 1986 GXL ('87 4-port NA - Haltech E8, LS2 Coils. Defined Autoworks Headers, Dual 2.5" Exhaust (Dual Superflow, dBX mufflers) 1991 Coupe (KYB AGX Shocks, Eibach lowering springs, RB exhaust, Stock and Automatic)

02-25-2011, 09:14 PM	#8
Viperx7 Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Richmond, KY Posts: 322 Rep Power: 18	Welcome to the Club. Cool car. __________________ Mike Chrisman 83 Rx7 Turbo 85 Rx7 GS 89 Rx7 GTU http://www.cardomain.com/ride/409797 "Don't apoligize for being Patriotic, F**k 'em. TK"

02-14-2011, 01:41 AM	#2
fbRXse7en The Newbie Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 19 Rep Power: 0	I'm lovin' it. R13?? What the heck?

02-17-2011, 11:29 PM	#4
LUCE' The Newbie Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	I think two owners back had a military move and was allowed to do the mods to make it DOT approved. Kind of like the Benz from Germany we use to send stateside back in the 80's. Perhaps they don't allow that as easy anymore. It's a real piece of work finding parts.

02-17-2011, 11:31 PM	#5
LUCE' The Newbie Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	Oh, by the way, insurance was a real gem as well. State Farm was the first to insure it at a premium price, but eventually I got GMAC to put it on the policy with my other 6 cars and somehow they made it work.

02-17-2011, 11:32 PM	#6
LUCE' The Newbie Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	Don't know where the R13 came from...and I'm not even sure if it's a 12B either. I'll have to do some looking.