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White Mazda Cosmo Sport on display at the Mazda Museum in Hiroshima.

Manufacturers / MAZDA

Mazda

マツダマツダ株式会社

Cosmo Sport (110S) — Aos.1905 / CC BY 4.0

01 — History

Founded
1920
Founded 30 January 1920 in Hiroshima as Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd.; formally adopted the Mazda name in 1984.
Headquarters
3-1 Shinchi, Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
Founder
Jujiro Matsuda

The rotary engine, the Roadster and a Le Mans win — a maker defined by its own path.

  1. 1931

    Mazda began vehicle production with the Mazda-Go auto rickshaw.

    Source: Mazda — Wikipedia (English)
  2. 1960

    The Mazda R360 was introduced.

    Source: Mazda — Wikipedia (English)
  3. 1967

    The Cosmo Sport launched Mazda's production Wankel rotary engine.

    Source: Mazda — Wikipedia (English)
  4. 1984

    The company formally adopted the Mazda name.

    Source: Mazda — Wikipedia (English)
  5. 1989

    The Roadster (MX-5) was introduced.

    Source: Mazda — Wikipedia (English)
  6. 1991

    Mazda won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the rotary-powered 787B.

    Source: Mazda — Wikipedia (English)

02 — Timeline

Timeline.

  1. 1931Mazda began vehicle production with the Mazda-Go auto rickshaw.
  2. 1960The Mazda R360 was introduced.
  3. 1967The Cosmo Sport launched Mazda's production Wankel rotary engine.
  4. 1967Mazda Cosmo Sport (110S) L10A
  5. 1978Mazda RX-7 (first generation) SA22C
  6. 1984The company formally adopted the Mazda name.
  7. 1989The Roadster (MX-5) was introduced.
  8. 1989Mazda MX-5 (NA) / Eunos Roadster NA
  9. 1991Mazda won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the rotary-powered 787B.
  10. 1991Mazda RX-7 (third generation) FD3S
  11. 1991Mazda 787B 787B Group C prototype (1991)
  12. 2003Mazda RX-8 SE3P

03 — Machines in the archive

Iconiccars.

04 — Technology

05 — Motorsport

  1. In 1968 Mazda entered the Cosmo in the 84-hour Marathon de la Route at the Nürburgring, with engines limited to 130 PS for durability; it was the Cosmo's only racing outing.

    Source: Mazda Cosmo — Wikipedia (English)

  2. Mazda's 1989 GTUs limited edition commemorated the RX-7's eight straight IMSA GTU class wins from 1980 to 1987.

    Source: Mazda RX-7 — Wikipedia (English)

  3. A 787B driven by Johnny Herbert, Volker Weidler and Bertrand Gachot won the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans.

    Source: Mazda 787B — Wikipedia (English)

  4. It was the first Le Mans win by a Japanese manufacturer (the only one until Toyota in 2018) and remains the only win by a car without a reciprocating engine.

    Source: Mazda 787B — Wikipedia (English)

  5. The 787B debuted at the 1991 430 km of Suzuka.

    Source: Mazda 787B — Wikipedia (English)

06 — Design & gallery

White Mazda Cosmo Sport on display at the Mazda Museum in Hiroshima.
Aos.1905 / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Green 1978 Mazda Savanna RX-7 (SA22C) on museum display.
TTTNIS / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons
British Racing Green 1996 Mazda MX-5 (NA) 1.8, front three-quarter view.
Vauxford / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Teal Mazda RX-7 (FD) with carbon bonnet, head-on at the 2024 Cleveland Auto Show.
Erik Drost / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Mazda 787B, 1991 Le Mans overall winner, on display at the Mazda Museum with its R26B rotary engine.
victor miyakawa / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Silver 2008 Mazda RX-8, front three-quarter view on gravel.
Calreyn88 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

07 — Sources

  1. 01Mazda – WikipediaWikipedia · reference · accessed 2026-09-26
  2. 02マツダ – Wikipedia (ja)Wikipedia · reference · accessed 2026-09-26

08 — Photo credits

  • White Mazda Cosmo Sport on display at the Mazda Museum in Hiroshima.

    Mazda Cosmo Sport (110S)

    White Mazda Cosmo Sport on display at the Mazda Museum in Hiroshima.

    ByAos.1905

    CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

  • Green 1978 Mazda Savanna RX-7 (SA22C) on museum display.

    Mazda RX-7 (first generation)

    Green 1978 Mazda Savanna RX-7 (SA22C) on museum display.

    ByTTTNIS

    CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

  • British Racing Green 1996 Mazda MX-5 (NA) 1.8, front three-quarter view.

    Mazda MX-5 (NA) / Eunos Roadster

    British Racing Green 1996 Mazda MX-5 (NA) 1.8, front three-quarter view.

    ByVauxford

    CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

  • Teal Mazda RX-7 (FD) with carbon bonnet, head-on at the 2024 Cleveland Auto Show.

    Mazda RX-7 (third generation)

    Teal Mazda RX-7 (FD) with carbon bonnet, head-on at the 2024 Cleveland Auto Show.

    ByErik Drost

    CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

  • Mazda 787B, 1991 Le Mans overall winner, on display at the Mazda Museum with its R26B rotary engine.

    Mazda 787B

    Mazda 787B, 1991 Le Mans overall winner, on display at the Mazda Museum with its R26B rotary engine.

    Byvictor miyakawa

    CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

  • Silver 2008 Mazda RX-8, front three-quarter view on gravel.

    Mazda RX-8

    Silver 2008 Mazda RX-8, front three-quarter view on gravel.

    ByCalreyn88

    CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons