We purchased this 1974 Mazda Rotary Pickup on November 28, 2021, and what followed was a no‑expense‑spared, 3½‑year cab‑off restoration that we completed in 2025. This wasn’t a quick refresh — it turned into a full‑scale mission. In total, we sourced four Rotary Pickups to make this one as complete, correct, and true to factory as possible.
The truck received rust repair, a full repaint in a Mazda‑correct sky‑blue tone, and complete interior and suspension overhauls. It’s powered by a factory Hitachi reverse‑flow–carbureted 1.3L 13B rotary engine — the first mass‑produced 13B offered to the public. This design reverses the primary and secondary intake runners on the lower manifold and carburetor, giving it noticeably stronger low‑end torque. The engine also retains its factory old‑school “big letter” Mazda rotor housings, making it one of the most desirable 13B configurations ever produced.
Power is sent through a four‑speed manual transmission. The truck features a RetroSound stereo, a bedliner, factory OEM blue‑painted 14” steel wheels with original trim rings and hubcaps, front disc and rear drum brakes, and a custom exhaust (all donor‑truck exhaust systems were beyond saving). The bench seat was taken down to bare metal — sandblasted, restored, coated in Chassis Saver, and then reupholstered. The interior also retains its factory faux‑woodgrain trim.
This REPU has already made its mark: it won Best Mazda Old School – First Place at the Japanese Classic Car Show in Long Beach on October 12, 2024, and also received an award at the San Luis Obispo Park Palooza show, where The Expendables performed live.
Rotary Pickups were distinguished by their unique grille, flared arches, round taillights, and “Rotary Power” tailgate lettering. This example was refinished in blue and white during the restoration and brought back to a museum‑quality standard.
After everything that went into this build — the hunt for parts, the setbacks, the victories, and the determination — this truck has a story of its own. It’s finally complete, fully sorted, and ready for someone who appreciates what it is: one of the cleanest, rarest, and most correct REPUs left.
Our investment in this restoration far exceeds the asking price, but we’re ready to pass it on to the next caretaker. Clean California title in hand.
