Mazda Familia

Lore & Background

The first generation Familia appeared in October 1963, styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro while at Carrozzeria Bertone. Initially only a commercial two-door wagon, it was joined by a plusher wagon, a four-door saloon, and a two-door saloon. The 'flat deck' design of the saloons was reportedly inspired by the Chevrolet Corvair. The car used a 782 cc aluminum straight-four engine, later joined by 985 cc and 987 cc units. Around 400,000 first-generation Familias were built, with about 10,000 exported, mainly to Australia and Oceania.

The second generation arrived in November 1967 with a 987 cc pushrod engine. In July 1968, a rotary-engined version (R100) was introduced, powered by a 982 cc 10A Wankel engine, offered as a two-door coupé and four-door saloon. The Familia Presto nameplate was added from April 1970, and a 1.3-litre TC engine appeared. The pickup models were built until 1991 for markets such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the Philippines, and in Thailand until the late 1990s as the Familia Super Cab and Maxi Cab.

Reader's Guide

The Mazda Familia was a cornerstone of Mazda's growth strategy, beginning as an affordable car that expanded alongside the Japanese economy. Its first generation, introduced in time for the 1964 Summer Olympics, established the model's presence. The second generation brought the notable rotary-engined R100, which was sold internationally as the Mazda R100, and the Familia Presto variant. The model was extensively badge-engineered, appearing as the Ford Laser, Ford Meteor, Ford Escort, and Mercury Tracer in various markets, and as the Mazda Familia Wagon/Van, a rebadged Nissan AD wagon and later Toyota Probox. Manufacturing occurred at the Hiroshima Plant and via knock-down kits in multiple countries, with some plants continuing production long after the model was discontinued in Japan. The Familia's long production run and numerous nameplates made it a widely recognized small family car globally.

Did You Know?

• The first generation Familia was styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro while working at Carrozzeria Bertone.
• The Familia name means 'family' in Latin.
• A rotary-engined version, the R100, was introduced in July 1968.
• The pickup version was built until 1991 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the Philippines.