Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd. located in Hiroshima, Japan was founded in 1920. In 1921, Jujiro Matsuda took over management and concentrated on the manufacture of machine tools. In 1927, the company was renamed Toyo Kogyo Co. Ltd. The first vehicle the company produced was the Mazdago in 1931. It was a three wheel motorcycle with a small truck bed.
During WWII Toyo Kogyo production shifted to military weapons until the destruction of Hiroshima by the atomic bombing in 1945. After the war Toyo Kogyo was the driving force behind rebuilding the city’s economy.
The company’s first true car was the R360 which came out in 1960. It was a very small car powered by a 16 hp V-twin engine. Although most of the engines the company has produced are piston designs the name Mazda in the United States is most associated with the Wankel rotary which Mazda first used in the Cosmo Sport and proved a market success with the RX-7.
Although the name Mazda has been used on all of their vehicles it wasn’t until 1984 that the company name was actually changed to Mazda Motor Corporation.
MAZDA MX-5 MIATA in red PRINTS AVAILABLE
MAZDA MX-5 MIATA in green PRINTS AVAILABLE
Avenue Art Motorcar Gallery 