Down On The East L.A. Street: Really Rare Mazda Edition

"Jonee" (Jonee) 06/10/2015 at 13:23 • Filed to: Mazda 1200 pickup, Mazda Familia, Down on the Street

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Man, this really blew my britches off. I was being a second set of eyes while a friend of mine took a Honda Element for a test drive when this little pickup caught my attention. I couldn’t believe it when I saw “MAZDA” on the tailgate. This is one of about 2500 Mazda 1200 pickups imported into the U.S. in 1970 and ‘71. It was actually, at $1750, the cheapest car Mazda ever sold in America. And, it’s absolutely adorable. It really ticks every box on my checklist. Small, weird, truck, completely ignored by buyers. I knew what it was as soon as I saw it from the front, but I really had no idea they had been imported to us. I guess these were a placeholder before the B1600/Ford Courier was released in 1972. And, now I have something new on the “I must own one of these someday” list. At least I know where one is.

In its home country, it was the Mazda Familia Truck and was the only Familia, a big success in Japan and a really cool car, exported to North America.

Apparently 50 of the trucks also made their way to Canada.

They’re actually relatively common in Australia where they were a popular mini-ute.

Googling leads me to believe only a handful, maybe 10, American 1200 trucks have survived which makes this battered, but clearly still in service, little guy something of a miracle. The owner wasn’t around, but there were several Studebakers parked on the opposite side of the street which I imagine belong to the same person.

Those really are some of the best taillights Mazda ever installed on a vehicle. It’s powered by a 64 horsepower 1.2 liter pushrod that must be pretty sturdy based on all the work this thing appears to have completed. Long may you roam little truck.

thebigbossyboss > Jonee 06/10/2015 at 13:26

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That’s awesome. Parts must be impossible.

Jonee > thebigbossyboss 06/10/2015 at 13:28

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You can get stuff from Australia, apparently. Or, Japan. The mechanicals were used in other cars just not any that were sold in America.

Berang > Jonee 06/10/2015 at 13:33

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I’m wondering what the rubber bumpers on either side of the tailgate were intended for. I’m guessing so it could be backed all the way up to a loading dock or something... the rear bumper is obviously not the original.

KnowsAboutCars > Jonee 06/10/2015 at 13:40

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Those taillights kinda remind me of ‘54 Chevy lights. Nice find!

There seems to be a 2-door Datsun 120Y parked on the other side of the street too.

Jonee > Berang 06/10/2015 at 13:41

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I think those rubber pads were all it originally had as a rear bumper.

Jonee > KnowsAboutCars 06/10/2015 at 13:54

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You’re right, they are 54 Chevy-esque.

Yeah, whoever the owner is, he’s a good Jalop who must annoy the heck out of his neighbors.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Jonee 06/11/2015 at 05:59

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well spotted.

Jobjoris > Jonee 06/11/2015 at 07:32

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Long may you roam little truck.

Long and prosperous. In your hands!

I’ve seen this picture before ;-) But nice to have a little story to come along with it, thanks for sharing!

Spridget > Jonee 06/13/2015 at 17:11

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It’s owner is an enthusiast, as it was briefly mentioned on JNC .

Jonee > Spridget 06/13/2015 at 23:55

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Cool. I forget to check JNC for stretches. There's a 1200 sedan on EBay now that looks like will fetch good money.

RKP > Jonee 10/09/2015 at 12:20

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I’m a little late to the party on this Mazda 1200 pickup discussion, but I recently acquired one of these with only 26,000 miles. I’m in the process of resolving some engine issues, but it’s completely original. Still has plastic on the door panels and sun visors. Belonged to a friend that was the original Mazda dealer where I live.

Jonee > RKP 10/09/2015 at 13:05

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That’s awesome. It looks like a nice truck. Where do you live? Had it been sitting for a long time?

RKP > Jonee 10/09/2015 at 13:58

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I live in Wichita Falls, Texas. I recall him once saying that he got approximately 20 for the dealership and kept one for himself. I was six years old at that time. He and I were in it in 1982 when the head gasket started leaking and it’s sat in a building since. He said they called it a “miniature truck” at all the Mazda dealer meetings in those days. When it’s outside in the heat, it still has that new Mazda smell inside I remember from the 1970s. Looking forward to getting it roadworthy in the next couple of months.

Jonee > RKP 10/09/2015 at 14:16

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That’s great. 20 seems like a pretty big order considering how few were brought over. I wonder if any of the others survived. That’s pretty cool that you’ve known it forever. Good luck with it. It might be the most original one around. It really is a miniature truck.I didn’t realize they came with the fender mirrors still. The only other Japanese car I can think of that was sold in America with those is the Subaru 360.

RKP > Jonee 10/09/2015 at 15:28

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Well, might have been 10 which sounds a little more correct. Not sure how many dealerships were in the U.S. in 1971 when he opened his. He also started the original VW dealership here in 1957. Overall, the pickup is in really good condition. Here’s a couple of inside shots, plastic still on visors and door panels. The rusty colored stuff around the door seal is the old glue. I’ve never seen another one and plan to keep it.

Jonee > RKP 10/09/2015 at 18:10

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There can’t have been many people selling Mazdas in ‘71, no. They didn’t have that many models to offer. The way that thing is preserved it amazing. Enjoy and take good care of it! The only one I’ve ever seen is that red one. Have you posted anything about it on any Mazda sites? I’m sure there are some Mazda fans who would be excited by it.

RKP > Jonee 10/10/2015 at 00:30

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I posted a few shots of it on Mazda247, but that’s the only site. I’m familiar with that one and Japanese Nostalgic Car. Might tell me about others. I need to get some detail shots and post them. It does have one bad spot in the bed where a pesticide container spilled and didn’t get cleaned up for a long time because nobody saw it. Also has a few light rusty areas around the front of the bed, plus a few little dings here and there, but it’s still in great shape. I always thought it was a neat little truck, but didn’t realize that it was imported to the U.S. in such small numbers. Not sure if he had those custom bumpers made for all of the ones he sold, but it looked like it was made for it. What amazes me is how thin the metal is on it. Have to be careful even washing it or you’ll bend something!

Jonee > RKP 10/10/2015 at 16:31

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That is a nice bumper. Often on those old Japanese trucks they stuck on gigantic metal bumpers, but you’re right, that one is the right proportion. It’s funny that they originally came with just those rubber nubs. Japanese Nostalgic Car did a post on the red one I saw, so they’d probably be into yours since it’s in such good shape. I know what you mean about the thin metal. I’ve had a few early cars from Japan and they’re all that way. You can’t even lean on them. I really love that they painted the Mazda wordmark blue. Is that original?

RKP > Jonee 10/10/2015 at 20:06

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Yes, everything is original on it, including the paint which still shines. I also like that Mazda blue on the lettering. I gave it a wash and wiped some of it down, but haven’t had time to do it all yet. Still have the original owner’s manual in a plastic folder plus a tin of touch-up paint which was never opened, so still good. Floor mats are also original and super thin! I do notice that the wheels are a little different from the brochure but these came with it so are original Mazda mag type wheels with no hub caps. The spare has the type of wheel like the one in the brochure. I’ll get it cleaned up and do a little photo shoot and post photos on Japanese Nostalgic Car.

Jonee > RKP 10/11/2015 at 14:56

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Have you tried sourcing the engine parts you need, yet? I would imagine you’d have to look to Japan. You’re right about the wheels. All other photos of them show the hubcaps. The ones you have look good. I’ll keep my eyes open for the JNC post. And, if you ever run across any of the other 10 or 20 trucks, let me know. There’s got to be a few more of these hiding somewhere.

RKP > Jonee 10/12/2015 at 21:42

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I have a friend doing the engine rebuild so he’s on the search on that end of things. After the head gasket leak the owner bought a spare engine in pieces which I have in boxes. Hopefully, we can make one good engine out of the two! The wheels are somewhat of a mystery because they’ve been on it from day one. He disliked hub caps so could have put them on right when he got it from another Mazda possibly. I have a NOS spare one with a tag on it so need to check that out. I hear Australia is the place for parts on these but haven’t looked yet.