Auto ID #171 Finished

[otherunicorn]

Remember, don't post any hints or answers here. PM me (NOT Harry!!) with year, make, and model.

This one is hard. If you think it is easy, you have the wrong car.

Depending on where you look, it is either a 1975-1977, or a 1975-1979 Mazda Roadpacer AP. Essentially, it was an exported Australian Holden Premier rebadged and factory fitted with Mazda's 13B rotary engine. It was a very poor marriage of technology, resulting sluggish performance and poor fuel economy as the 13B struggled to drag around the Holden's mass.

http://hooniverse.com/2012/03/16/australo-japanese-luxobarge-1975-79-mazda-roadpacer/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_Roadpacer_AP

 

Edited August 22, 2015 by otherunicorn

[Ace-Garageguy]

it is definitely an oddball, and first impressions may be misleading, but it's an easy one if you've spent much time in its homeland.

[bobthehobbyguy]

Definitely an odd ball. Was surprizing what is was but did find it.

[otherunicorn]

A few people have found the wrong car now. Some even said it was easy to find...

[warra48]

I think I've cracked it.

It's not what it appears to be at first thought!

[TimJ]

It was harder to find than I expected but I think I've got it.

[otherunicorn]

Those who got it right:

bobthehobbyguy
dw1603
Badluck 13
wisdonm
Ace-Garageguy
GeeBee
Matt Bacon
sjordan2
bbsbase
Earl Marischal
DRIPTROIT 71
maltsr
warra48
Foxer
TimJ

Well done.

[chunkypeanutbutter]

First, I thought it was a Mazda, then Bill's "homeland" remark made me go Australian. So I said Holden Premier, as well... strange, it still says Premier on the side.

[otherunicorn]

First, I thought it was a Mazda, then Bill's "homeland" remark made me go Australian. So I said Holden Premier, as well... strange, it still says Premier on the side.

Edited August 22, 2015 by otherunicorn

[chunkypeanutbutter]

Amazing you could pick that out of the original picture!

[otherunicorn]

Amazing you could pick that out of the original picture!

Haha - I've got mad skilz. Especially considering that badge is on the other side of a different car!

[B_rad88]

I was kinda close with the Isuzu statesman, both cars are now rare and hard to find

[otherunicorn]

I was kinda close with the Isuzu statesman, both cars are now rare and hard to find

There certainly aren't as may cars making the trip across the pond in that direction. Isuzu are often sold as Holden, but a Holden sold as a Mazda? That's just plain weird.

[B_rad88]

Lol yes that would be weird, but then again Subaru's are sold as Toyota and vise versa, lol

I ment the brz/FRS/gt86/ect.

Edited August 22, 2015 by B_rad88

[GeeBee]

Lol yes that would be weird, but then again Subaru's are sold as Toyota and vise versa, lol

I ment the brz/FRS/gt86/ect.

The Parent company of Subaru is Fuji Heavy Industries, and Toyota have a 16% share in their parent company ....

[Ace-Garageguy]

First, I thought it was a Mazda, then Bill's "homeland" remark made me go Australian. So I said Holden Premier, as well... strange, it still says Premier on the side.

I recognized it as "Holden" right off, but the Japanese-market wing mirrors are the giveaway.

[Harry P.]

The forward mounted outside rear view mirrors is a dead giveaway that the car is Japanese. Only the Japanese, as far as I know, mounted the mirrors way up front like that.

Aside from the goofy mirrors, it's not a bad looking car at all. It looks vaguely "AMC-ish" to me... Ambassador, maybe.

[B_rad88]

The Parent company of Subaru is Fuji Heavy Industries, and Toyota have a 16% share in their parent company ....

yes I know, but its still odd.

The forward mounted outside rear view mirrors is a dead giveaway that the car is Japanese. Only the Japanese, as far as I know, mounted the mirrors way up front like that.

Aside from the goofy mirrors, it's not a bad looking car at all. It looks vaguely "AMC-ish" to me... Ambassador, maybe.

from my understanding they used those mirrors to help see around the tight blind corners, you think those are odd, check out the big vans they have a mirror hanging off the back aimed down at the bumper...

[otherunicorn]

yes I know, but its still odd.

from my understanding they used those mirrors to help see around the tight blind corners, you think those are odd, check out the big vans they have a mirror hanging off the back aimed down at the bumper...

Reversing mirrors? Vans in Australia have them too. Good idea.

[RHB785]

I used to drive a Toyota Coaster bus for a day care centre back in the late 1990s and it had an extra mirror under the LHS external mirror so you could see the front of the vehicle (front bumper) when in tight situations.

Regards,

RHB.

[dw1603]

The forward mounted outside rear view mirrors is a dead giveaway that the car is Japanese. Only the Japanese, as far as I know, mounted the mirrors way up front like that.

 

We used to do that in the UK too, up until the early 70's as I remember. You still hear them referred to as wing mirrors* today, even though they have been door mounted for the last 40 years.

*fender or guard depending on which of the former colonies you hail from ?

Edited September 4, 2015 by dw1603
Layout improved