Mazda 1000/1300 (1974-1977): Do you remember?

The small saloons were among the first Mazda models in Germany

Mazda 1300 Four-door (1975)

Photo by: Mazda

By: Roland Hildebrandt

Published by: Brian Potter

Dec 27, 2024 at 4:46am ET

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You know them, and somehow you don't. We're not talking about our own neighbours, but about cars that remained so inconspicuous that only die-hard fans still know them today. Such models were not necessarily flops, but they fell under the radar of the average car buyer.

Mazda officially started selling its cars in Germany at the beginning of 1973. To date, Mazda has sold three million vehicles in Germany, almost 900,000 of which are currently on German roads. Mazda presented its first models to the German public at the IAA in Frankfurt in 1969, but it was another three years before the brand came to Germany.

Gallery: Mazda 1000/1300 (1973-1977)

Mazda 1000 four-door (1975)

Mazda 1000 and 1300 commercial (1974) Mazda 1300 four-door (1975) Mazda 1000 commercial (1974) Mazda 1300 four-door (1976)

Source: Mazda

However, it took time for German customers to warm to the exotic brand from the Far East: The small model range, thin dealer network and the looming oil crisis meant that the over-confident sales targets were initially missed. Instead of the targeted 3,500 units, only just under 500 were sold in the first year.

From spring 1974, 50 years ago, the Mazda 1300 was to boost sales. Initially, the 66 PS car was only available as a two-door saloon and was sold through 160 dealers. The engine proved to be robust but noisy, and the rigid rear axle on leaf springs was rather low-tech.

From June, there was also a four-door model and an optional automatic transmission. The Mazda 1000 followed in September of the same year, its model designation referring to its smaller displacement: Only 985 instead of 1,272 cubic centimetres of displacement and just 45 PS from 7,290 marks.

Mazda 1300 Viertürer (1976)

Mazda 1300 4-door (1976)

Photo by: Mazda

Mazda 1300 Viertürer (1975)

Mazda 1300 4-door (1975)

Photo by: Mazda

Mazda 1000 and 1300 advert (1974)

Mazda

Mazda 1300 Viertürer (1975)

Mazda 1300 4-door (1975)

Photo by: Mazda

The good standard equipment speaks in favour of the duo, and a one-year or 20,000 km warranty was a pretty strong deal five decades ago. The 1000 could reach a top speed of 130 km/h (80 mph) with four gears and a choke on board. The 1000 weighed 845 kilograms and was 3.85 metres short, 1.54 metres wide and 1.38 metres high. Wheelbase? 2.26 metres.

The 1300 was a little quicker: 145 km/h (90 mph) top speed, but also 9.4 litres (30 mpg) of fuel consumption instead of the 1000's 8.5 (33 mpg). From today's perspective, the standard colours available are fantastically colourful: Sunny Yellow, Sage Red, Helios Green (our cover picture), Azure Blue and Sea Blue. Prices in Germany in 1976: DM 7,490 (1000), DM 7,790 (1300), four doors cost an extra DM 400. For comparison: the cheapest VW Polo with lean equipment was priced at almost exactly DM 8,000 at the time.