Mention the name Mazda and the first thing that comes to mind to most people is it’s iconic RX7 and RX8 sports cars which are powered by a unique type of engine – the rotary engine. A rotary engine works differently from piston engines – it uses one or more rotors to produce power instead of pistons.
Mazda put rotary engines in more cars than just the RX7, but did you know Mazda used to sell a pick-up truck powered by a rotary engine?
Mazda marketed the Mazda Rotary Pick-Up, or Mazda REPU with the slogan “the pickup with pickup”. The Mazda REPU was a light truck powered by a 1.3 litre 2-rotor rotary engine, similiar to the one in the RX7, however it did not have a turbo. The 2-rotor engine was a carburetted unit, using a 2-stage carburettor. The single cab truck had a 6-feet long bed at the back for loads of up to 635kg. It came with either a 4-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmission, without any overdrive gears.
Unfortunately, poor sales of just about 15,000 units in it’s entire 3-year lifespan of between 1974 to 1977 made Mazda decide to discontinue it.
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
a rotaty pickup? unique indeed!
What a classic
Don't expect it to make lots of power though… plus high FC!
Nowadays, people are putting 13Bs into old Toyota vehicles for drifting purposes. Saw a couple being converted at Subang Bestari recently…
I tot only back wheel mazda old cars ppl convert the Mazda rotary engine inside… Coz the 13B engine only 1.3L so they can easy pass the JPJ.. but what i heard a lot is the FC is really sucks.. like driving a V6 2.6 engine.. But the new RX-8 FC are more better, maybe the new renesis N/A rotary engine system or even the 6-speed manual helping to reduce the FC compare to the old turbo rotary engine.. But i like weird engine, such like rotary and boxer engine… Make me wonder how these things work so well..
probally at the age fo old mazda 808, or earlier,
i love that old body,
flat bench seat, turn hard into corner, i ll be slide to the pasanger side
Rotary-Engined Pick-Up Truck = REPUT haha
ekekekekekk.. REPUT
hehehe… indeed.Mazda REPU: Rotary-engined Pick-up Truck = REPUT. hehehe…
Didn't know that there's a rotary truck. I do know that there's a rotary powered bike though, the Suzuki RE5.
oh man rotary pickup the world only one ….. but at 1974 already have it .. but i suprise that 3 speed automatic already have since 1974 …. but it is the wira 1.5 AT 3speed still using now ???
interesting pickup truck…
ya, how come wira auto only three speed ya? i was shocked wen i heard frm my friend when he told me his wira was three speed…
I have two of this little speedsters 1976 perfect conditions if somebody is intrested on theme please send email to make an offer
By any chance do you still have either of the trucks you had way back when you posted to this site? If so how much are you asking for it and do you have pictures of it? Thanks for your time.