Vehicle Description
1972 Mazda Rotary Dragster - "Project Rotary" by Dana
Corporation
A rare and historic piece of drag racing history! This custom-built
1972 Mazda Rotary Dragster was commissioned by the Dana
Corporation's Perfect Circle ring division and constructed by Dave
Tuttle's California Chassis Engineering of Chatsworth, California.
Dubbed "Project Rotary," this unique prototype was used by Dana at
shows across the country to showcase their performance rings.
In 1975, the car was donated to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Museum, where it was displayed during the U.S. Nationals. It
remains in largely original condition, still wearing its iconic
period-correct yellow, orange, and red livery. While there are some
cracks in the paint and a small missing spot on the nose, it still
presents well for display.
This dragster is powered by a 70 cubic inch Mazda 12A rotary
engine, with power sent through a Volkswagen T2 four-speed manual
transmission. It rides on Inoue 2.25x17 front bias ply tires and
tubes, which were replaced in 2021, while the rear features
15"x8.5" Filter Dynamics slotted aluminum wheels wrapped in
Goodyear Blue Streak Dragway Special racing slicks.
A true one-of-a-kind prototype, this car was built to promote Dana
Corporation's performance rings and stands as a fantastic piece of
motorsports history. Whether added to a vintage drag racing
collection or displayed in a museum, this is a truly remarkable and
rare automotive artifact.
