Mazda Savanna Coupe GSII
Japan knew this compact rotary coupe as the Mazda Savanna. Export buyers often saw the RX-3 name, but the September 1971 Japanese GSII paired a light five-seat body with Mazda's compact 10A two-rotor engine and a four-speed manual gearbox.
Mazda RX3 Savanna Coupe (33516118324).jpg · FotoSleuth · CC BY 2.0
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
Mazda launched Savanna sedans and coupes in September 1971, selling 5,406 in the first month. A Savanna scored its first racing victory that December. Mazda fitted the larger 12A engine and a five-speed gearbox to the later 1972 GT, so those well-known specifications do not belong to this launch-series 10A GSII. By May 1976, Savanna racers had delivered Mazda's 100th domestic motorsport win.
Look a little closer.
The Japanese name “Savanna” suggested the speed and toughness of animals crossing open grassland; RX-3 was the better-known name in many export markets.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Savanna in Japan, RX-3 abroad
Names are part of a vehicle's identity. Calling this Japanese-market car simply an RX-3 hides the badge its first buyers actually saw. Joyride can mention RX-3 as the export identity while keeping “Savanna Coupe GSII” as the precise 1971 Japanese variant.
Source: Mazda Great Cars — Savanna ↗The famous GT was a later step
The launch coupe used the 10A and four forward gears. Mazda added the 12A-powered, five-speed Savanna GT in September 1972. Separating those versions prevents the later car's bigger engine and gearbox from being accidentally attached to a 1971 GSII.
Source: GAZOO — Mazda Savanna model history ↗Where these facts come from
- Mazda Great Cars — Savanna
- Mazda 100th Anniversary — Savanna
- GAZOO — Mazda Savanna model history
- Jikayosha — 1971 Savanna Coupe GSII technical profile
- Miki Press — Mazda Savanna reference PDF
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed 2026-10-01.