Mazda officially entered the Canadian automobile market in 1968 and made a cautious debut in the United States in April of 1970. This brochure is likely part the final marketing push. They secured a few dealers in Oregon and Washington and followed up in Florida and Texas. The initial US line was all piston-engined: Familia 1200, Mazda 1800, and the B1600 pickup. The rotary engine R100 arrived on American shores in July.
This catalog includes the R130 coupe, which was not sold in the US. It was Mazda's only front wheel drive rotary and is very rare. The R130 was derived from the Mazda 1500/1800/Luce that we can also see here. The Mazda 1800 was unpopular and only sold in the US 1971-1972. Both were strikingly good looking cars, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro for Bertone.
The booklet states that the R100 was named Motor Trend Magazine's 'Car of the Year'. That is untrue and impossible for several reasons. Further evidence that the graphics department back in Japan had 'enhanced' imaginations.
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