OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

320
engine was the first four-stroke to be used by a car in this micro-class,
meaning better fuel economy than the two-strokes. It used a number of
magnesium alloy parts for weight-saving. The gearbox was a four-speed
with an unheard-of optional automatic transmission. In fact, it was the
first car ever produced in the country with a torque converter. The styling
was superb, a jaunty, stylish mix of form and function. Proportions are
extremely well handled for such a small car, with a subtle tilt-back of the
coupe section giving it a somewhat perky attitude.
It was so highly regarded that a week before its launch there were
orders for 4,500 cars in hand, and as a result, the R-360 would be in
production for six years. Its advanced design and careful attention to
refinement and detail provided a solid base for all of Mazda’s future car
production and pointed the way for the entire Japanese auto industry.