For Sale: Mazda Hen's Tooth..err, Cosmo
click on the pic to see more of Chuck's shots
Autoblog addict Chuck Goolsbee was out in his E-Type last weekend and naturally wanted to avoid the freeway in such a delightful car. Pulling a Clark Griswold, Chuck got lost on an Indian reservation. Rather than have the neighborhood assist in stripping excess mass from his swoopy kitty, Chuck noticed the sun glinting off a vaguely familiar shape off in the distance. The front bumper wrapped tightly around a low nose, and chrome-ringed headlamps were tucked safely behind plexiglass lenses. "Wow," Chuck thought, "another E-Type!" Car people are social creatures, so Chuck's plans changed in an instant. Passenger footwell clogged with grocery bags, ice cream turning into warm milk, he pulled up to the curb and suddenly realized he was in the presence of something even more special than an E-Type.
[Source: Chuck Goolsbee]
Gallery: 1971 Mazda Cosmo Sport
What he'd stumbled upon turned out to be a 1971 Mazda Cosmo Sport. The Mazda Cosmo bears a strong resemblance to a Jaguar E-type when viewed from the front. From certain angles, it's a dead ringer for a Series III E. The long trunk is more '65 Olds than anything from England, but the overall effect is nowhere near as disjointed as that might sound. In fact, this little white coupe has a tightly drawn form and looks smashing with a tasteful set of Minilites in the fenders. Not only is it pretty, it's one of three in the country. You and Jay Leno could hang out at club meets and compare your rare Wankel-powered coupes if you have the $36,000 the seller is asking. If this car is as nice in person as it looks in these shots, its rarity and eye-catching form make the price seem relatively reasonable. Trying to buy something equally scarce is usually a lot more expensive, and restoration costs for typically rusty 1960s coupes can easily surpass $36,000. We don't know if its sold yet, but Chuck's got your hookup if you want to make an offer.
Thanks for finding the car and taking the awesome pix, Chuck!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Clarence 12:26PM (7/12/2007)
Okay if I had just won the lottery, I would go buy this thing. It's a wonderful hybrid, in the old sense of the word, of Japanese American styling and it has a nice look. The retro concept that came out a year or two ago might even be more desirable if they would only produce it. I want a Cosmo.
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bmoredlj 12:29PM (7/12/2007)
This car is absolutely gorgeous in photos and probably more so in person. I wish there was a straight profile shot. It's a good price for something rarer today than a Veyron, McLaren, or FXX. But I wouldn't drive this on the freeway, either.
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Nick 1:15PM (7/12/2007)
Jay Leno has one of these, which was shown in a segment on My Classic Car. Quite a cool little vehicle it must be said.
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DJ 1:21PM (7/12/2007)
What's with the "Rather than have the neighborhood assist in stripping excess mass from his swoopy kitty" comment? I'm at a loss ...
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Dan Roth 1:32PM (7/12/2007)
Ever seen National Lampoon's Vacation?
chuck goolsbee 1:35PM (7/12/2007)
I heard from the car's caretaker yesterday, I guess he was wrong on the number of them in the US. There are apparently 8 of them on this side of the Pacific, not 3. That is still a pretty exclusive club though if you ask me!
He also sent me a bunch more photos, which I just posted here:
http://chuck.forest.net/jag/MazdaCosmo/
--chuck
BTW: I'm not an addict, I'm in denial. ;)
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Derek Kreindler 1:48PM (7/12/2007)
LIVER AND KIDNEYS FOR SALE INQUIRE WITHIN! NO REASONABLE OFFER REFUSED! ALSO WILLING TO PERFORM FAVORS(SEXUAL OR OTHERWISE).
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Zacarious 2:58PM (7/12/2007)
i know where an unrestored cosomo is on the east coast … once offered a couple grand for it, shop owner refused, flash forward 10 years and its still sitting there, sad to see such a beautufl and important car melt away
All American Dude XX 3:27PM (7/12/2007)
i actually saw one of these in a socal junkyard a few years back. such a tragedy since the body seemed perfectly intact and the interior was in good shape. unfortunately i was a young poor college student with no funds =( at the time.
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JimmyTheMonkey 3:55PM (7/12/2007)
Mazda North American Operations just purchased a Cosmo in Arizona to use for shows. North American Cosmo owners are a pretty elite group
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Sean Cahill 4:30PM (7/12/2007)
"Rather than have the neighborhood assist in stripping excess mass from his swoopy kitty, Chuck noticed the sun glinting off a vaguely familiar shape off in the distance."
I know this is referring to the scene where Clark stops in St. Louis for directions, but I'll be darned if this doesn't sound a bit racist towards Native Americans.
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Phoebe 4:39PM (7/12/2007)
"I know this is referring to the scene where Clark stops in St. Louis for directions, but I'll be darned if this doesn't sound a bit racist towards Native Americans."
I second that. And from the photos, it looks like a very nice neighborhood, so what gives?
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Dan Roth 4:56PM (7/12/2007)
Are you looking to be offended? All I was doing was referencing a scene in a movie. The neighborhood indeed looks quite nice, and the fact that he got lost on an Indian reservation has nothing to do with the quip about having the car stripped.
All I was trying to do was stitch a little story together with a movie reference stuck in there.
Jonathan Fung 5:26PM (7/12/2007)
Wait...that's what Indian Reservations look like nowadays? Because that's one really nice place.
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HyperLemon 5:58PM (7/12/2007)
I've had the honor and was a passenger in a Cosmo once (in Japan), and it was simply mind blowing. If I could afford having one, I'd try and get one.
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Gerard 6:20PM (7/12/2007)
I would take the XKE over it, I'm sorry. I am an E loyalist. The Cosmo Sport and 2000 GT were fine sports cars, but my love is for the Brits and Italians.
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