It’s late winter in the nation’s capital and The Carlective team are gathered in pouring rain. Cameras are out, lights are in action and some crew brave an end of season head cold and flu to work together in getting another great story to print.

The former John Curtin School of Medical Research (superseded in 2003) is located on Balmain Crescent on the Acton Peninsula, part of the sprawling Australian National University campus. The area holds a unique moment in time where the modern meets the past, as buildings of the 1950’s collide with newer variants that, at the time, had to accept change around the 1970’s to compete with the world’s best and brightest.

It’s a change of optimism and innovation that Mazda can surely relate. Following the successful introduction of the Mazda R100 into the Australian car market in 1970, the power of the rotary put down firm roots on roads and in hearts that developed into the iconic culture we know today. But if the R100 was the appetizer, then the RX series that followed was a main course delivered every night of the week with a love and passion identified here in Jason’s 1974 Mazda Series II RX3 sedan.

“I admire Mazda for having the balls back in the day to try the rotary motor. That’s why I love them. They’re the only manufacturer that went into full production with rotary motor cars. You have the odd one here and there, with other brands, but no one’s like Mazda”

Arriving late in the piece, Jason has been into rotaries since teenagerhood in the 1990’s. He was bred on fast fours as a child with a Dad who undertook nut and bolt restorations from scratch, always tinkering where time applied. If generational change was on the horizon in Jason’s family, it was no more present then in the garage.

“Dad initially wasn’t a fan, because he didn’t really know much about rotary motors. He’s more of a Ford V8 type person. But I took him for a spin in it, when I had the last motor in and yeah, he shouted! He couldn’t believe it. That something so small capacity made so much power”

In his own journey, Jason became a man of the Datsun 1600. But watching the RX platform increase in value and following the heartstrings of his youth, he undertook a year’s worth of searching to land on the pride and joy we see here today. Forty thousand dollars and a transfer from Sydney to Canberra later, he entered into the world of the Mazda rotary enthusiast.

Over ten years of ownership, much has occurred to the car. There have been upgrades to the front and rear suspension and the drivetrain. It’s on its third motor, a genuine 12A. Every nut and bolt has been pulled apart and put back together. Currently it’s not running a boost option with a rev limit of 5,000, but in a thousand kilometers time it will return to Sydney to correct this and add back some sweetener to an already packed journey. We note the gorgeous gunmetal grey shell, which Jason suspects isn’t original.

“I actually came across some photographs of it. It was sitting on the back of a tow truck with Queen Street stickers up the side because it’s the same color as when I bought it. If you pull it apart in the rear, under the back seat, it’s all white. I assume it was actually white from the factory and it looks like it was the first coat ever put down. I’ve seen hints of green and red, too. Currently it’s like a gunmetal grey, called graphite. I myself haven’t done the anything to the paint – that was all the previous owner and it’s been painted that color for 20 years”

Mystery repainting aside, Jason is an optimist when it comes to any further work. Aiming for plausible expectations, he is seeking 400 horsepower at the rear wheels and a good tune before just enjoying the RX3 as a weekender around the nation’s capital. He explains that he doesn’t wish to get carried away in a drag car that you never drive around the streets; leaving the drag strips, tracks and numbers games to others.

“When I was a teenager, you’d hear rotary motors and you didn’t really understand them and know much about them – they just sounded so different. Then once you actually understand it and you get a boosted one and go for a drive, you’re like, holy shit. It scares the bejesus out of you at times! I shake like a leaf when I start the car up sometimes, when on boost. You immediately know what you’re in for”

As the years tick forward, Jason is well aware of the exhilarating feel a rotary ownership brings behind the wheel. He ironically compares the rarity of a once common Australian vehicle to that of a Hyundai Excel, once prevalent any day of the week but now rare and still favoured by niche groups. Another loss that is perhaps more widely felt is in the design itself, with a comparison to new vehicles lacking any kind of classic detail once found in the RX series. It’s a design that is unlikely to ever make a return in the world of streamlined ideologies.

As the weather eases, Jason is back behind the wheel and equipment pack up is underway. The iconic brap of the RX3’s rotary is alive and it’s a soggy drive home on to the outer suburbs, not that Jason is complaining. When approached about whether his partner is often a co-pilot, he points out that it’s dependent on whether the car is boosted or not. A lack of radio and air con doesn’t help the situation, but perhaps its being one with the car that instills some solo appreciation – though we note they both share a common love of horsepower.

“She appreciates it because we grew up together, since we were teenagers. She knows what they have, but she’s just not a huge fan of them. She’s into horses, so a different kind of horsepower, obviously. She’s got one horsepower… and I’ve got 400!”

We can’t argue with that.

Photographed at the Australian National University by Tyler Parrott of Tylerp.media featuring Jason and the 1974 Mazda Series II RX3 sedan. Article hosted by Kevin Ha at StreetScene. Words, research and story by Justin Bush for MazdACT Stories, August 2024.

For more great content, photography and related articles make sure to check out:

Tyler P. Media

Instagram 

Facebook 

StreetScene 

Instagram 

Facebook 

MazdACT 

Instagram 

Facebook 

Lachlan is at home with the piano.  

A musical vessel not easily mastered; his hands find solace in the exploration of the keys as they attune to jazz pieces such as Misty or Autumn Leaves. We learn that Deference for Darkness, a gorgeous film noir inspired track from the Xbox game Halo 3: ODST, is on his radar and only if to satisfy a stroke of luck in speaking with the game’s composer last year. 

“It’s a big part of my life. Music’s always been a huge part of my life. I play piano. There’s a certain type of clarity that you feel when you play. You feel like one with the piano” 

The same can be said of Mazda’s recent innovation in design thinking with the Kodo methodology; that the driver is one with the car in everything from the body to the mind. Where music may course through the hands of Lachlan’s creative spirit in an outlet of relaxation and peace, so too does the knowledge of being in control of his 2018 Mazda 3 SP25 GT. 

Lachlan is one of those genuine people some are lucky to call a mate. Ever sincere and always humble, he’s currently in study as an Officer for the Royal Australian Air Force in Canberra. Far from his original home, his childhood and youth was spent in the Rockingham region south of Perth, Western Australia. Growing up with a love of musical theatre and dancing (and the piano), his journey into car ownership was one of maturing and that first step to adulthood. 

“As a teenager, when you get your license and you start looking for cars, it’s all you really start thinking about. There were two sides to my friends driving. One was driving his Mum’s Mazda CX-5 and there was a mate with a straight-piped Hyundai Tiburon. There was not really an average – it was just kind of two sides of a spectrum”

Striving to find that middle ground, Lachlan and his parents visited a John Hughes dealership in Perth. Looking at several cars that weekend, there were some considerations toward a Hyundai Veloster, Subaru BRZ and Lexus IS250. But at the back of the lot shining in the late model deep blue crystal colour scheme was the Mazda 3 SP25, offered for a fair price and capturing his attention in the knowledge that Mazda had applied all the modern touches a first car owner could want. Minus some gutter rash on the shadow chrome 18-inch rims from the former owner, the car was perfect. 

Lachlan’s first driving experience was delayed by his return to school to sit his ATAR exams. His Mum and Grandad would drive the car back south from Perth, where they quickly learned of the then new I-stop feature; the battery of the car shuts off when stationary at traffic lights to conserve power and has since gone on to cause mixed feelings for owners. 

“I remember my Grandad saying he thought the car had broken because they were sitting at the traffic lights, and he’s used to older cars mind you, and the car cut out and he went, shit! We bought a lemon!” 

Far from a Lemon, the journey with the vehicle has been in leaps and bounds. The interior has seen the steering wheel wrapped with real leather, some gauges and minor carbon fibre overlays. The exterior carries the popular aftermarket MPS-style rear wing, but it’s under the bonnet where something not common to this series of vehicle has occurred.  

Not that there is an official count, but Lachlan is the ninth person in Australia to supercharge their Mazda 3 SP25. A small twin-screw supercharger, an increase in displacement from 2.5 to 3.5 litres has seen a dyno result of about 210 kilowatts at the wheels. The addition of forced induction was assisted by forum supporters, followed by the oil catch can and cooler for the supercharger. The colder spark plugs are the same as those from an R35 Nissan Skyline. These are supplemented by an upgraded fuel pump and stickier tyres to match the power and handling of his modifications. 

“You see so many Mazda 3’s on the road, whether it’s the older generations or the newer variants. I thought, why not make it more unique? I’ve always wanted to stand out. So, I thought, why not make this car different? You see so many of them. When someone sees this one, they’re going to remember it” 

At the time of writing, there are some remaining adjustments he wishes to make. Lachlan has purchased lowering springs to gain a small drop for the car which will be complemented by BC Racing coil overs featuring a custom spring rate of 5 kilograms in the front and 7 kilograms in the rear. He’s also ordered solid slot rotors and braided brake lines from HEL, coupled with EBC brake pads from America and new end links and rear sway-bar. These will be useful for when he takes the vehicle to the track, as he did with the MazdACT Day Out at Pheasant Wood Circuit in 2024. 

The mechanical component is but one sign of growth for the boy from Rockingham. The car has seen Lachlan’s first big step into adulthood and independent decisions related to income and life choices. His freedom has come with a firm direction in career and a reminder that the values and teachings of his parents are very much with him in his journey. 

“There are things where it’s a representation of me maturing, me growing up. The car and I are from WA and now I live here. I kind of think of it as the main thing that I have from home. It’s my connection both to Canberra, because of all my memories that I’ve made with it are here, and the excitement and build-up and connection to home. I haven’t forgotten the help from my parents and grandparents to obviously purchase the car with no finance or anything” 

While the SP25 GT is his embodiment of the Kodo way, Lachlan’s appreciation of the brand extends beyond his vehicle to a larger piece of the car culture puzzle. Since childhood and playing racing game emulators such as Forza Horizon, watching his favorite YouTubers buy and repair their dream cars; Mazda always stuck out. Now a regular in the local car scene, he is living the dream of having a nice car, being able to craft it to his delight, have fun and meet like-minded people with whom he can share his passion and how much it means to him. It’s his escape from work and his studies when required. 

“When you look at the car community looking in on Mazda, people respect Mazda. I think there’s certainly a reason for that, and I’m a part of that” 

In closing the parallels between piano and car collide; be it the keys of musical reward or the supercharged rhythm of the engine, Lachlan gains the same feeling from both. Whether he’s just on the road in a regular driving pose or focused intently with a helmet affixed on the track, there’s a sense of peace. He uses the phrase man and machine; that you feel connected to something external to yourself.  

“It’s a magical thing…” 

Photographed at the Kingston Foreshore by Tyler Parrott of Tyler P Media featuring Lachlan Goffage and the 2018 Mazda 3 SP25 GT. Article hosted by Kevin Ha at StreetScene. Words, research and story by Justin Bush for MazdACT Stories, July 2024. 

Squirrelled away on a rural property, far from prying eyes is the world of a mechanical wizard tinkering and revitalising rotary magic in an unsuspecting garage. His energy and enthusiasm may well be a metaphor for the rotary engine itself, spinning a series of revolutions that inspires even the most hardened rev head to achieve their dreams.

Jeremy has returned to MazdACT Stories off the back of an earlier feature on his RX4 Coupe; itself a speed weapon of beauty and careful precision. Today we’re instead casting our gaze across the workshop to another creation, a beautiful green 1970 Mazda Series II R100. As we sit down for this interview, he immediately cements his knowledge by noting that the original R100 came out with a hundred and ten horsepower, but it’s what technology was allowed to do with the power of the rotary that spurred his obsession today.

A mechanic by trade, Jeremy’s skills were built on four-stroke piston engines. As he points out, in a four-stroke piston engine the piston goes up and down four times to make one power stroke, whereas a rotary has three power strokes in one cycle so that every time the rotor turns around once, the vehicle has had three power strokes. Far from a guarded passion, we further learn that he loves to share this knowledge and love with the community by way of what he terms are his ‘Rotary Therapy Nights’;

“Every Tuesday night here is rotary therapy night. I don’t normally work on other people’s cars. But if I work on someone’s car, it’s Tuesday night’s rotary therapy night for me. I set that night aside, and we’ll work till whatever it takes to get the job done, whatever it may be”

Evidently, a true rotary enthusiast.

The history of the R100 takes us back to the 1967 Tokyo Motor Show. Badged then as the RX-85 (Rotary experimental) and showcased alongside the L10 Cosmo, it was based on a 1200 coupe that had been on roads for close to a year prior. In place of the four-cylinder engine was a revised 10A rotary engine, which surprised an Australian public later in 1970 who were expecting an ordinary car at first glance. The quick performance and agility of the little Japanese coupe led to intense media attention at the time, reviewers raving of rotary magic and cementing Mazda Australia in marketing history.

In 1971 the R100 was dropped from local sales lists in light of competing examples from the Familia family such as the Mazda RX2, RX3 and RX4. Its purpose achieved, Mazda had gained the export reputation they wanted without the cost of an originally designed rotary model (1). Ironically, this was the same year that Jeremy entered the world, though it wasn’t until 1988 that the two would meet and forge a partnership that he now feels is a special heirloom in the family.

“When I was about maybe 17 or 18, a friend of mine said there was one for sale for $3,000, so that’s the one I bought. I took the opportunity while it was there, not knowing what they were for today, and the present day makes the changes”

Jeremy wasted no time on pursuing the idea of his perfect R100. Starting at the bottom of the vehicle and working upward, efforts were first applied to a deep clean and degreasing. Inside he would spend almost 400 hours refurbishing the cabin with passion and effort applied to every nut and bolt. Struggling to locate original R100 seat material, he originally decided to turn them green and black to match the colour of the paintwork before then happening across six metres of material. Restoration luck would carry on with repairs to the vehicle’s rare vinyl roof, once sold at the discretion of dealerships rather than factory. A repaint in the gorgeous green finish gave new life to the body.

 

“You’ve got to love your Mazda’s to have the passion and if you haven’t got the passion, your heart’s not in it. It doesn’t kind of come out the same. It’s a labor of love and it’s one of those things that has picked up value now. This was done quite a while ago before the prices went ridiculous on vintage Mazda’s”

The 10A motor was rebuilt by a gentleman in Melbourne called Lino with a five-speed box behind it aimed at an original R100 differential. Upgraded hopper stopper brakes were applied on the front with original drums on the rear. Jeremy notes no existing issues with the car today and having worked flawlessly for a number of years. For this reason, and with the restoration of a 1968 R100 on the horizon, Jeremy’s content with the end product after endless investment and care.

“There’s no need to go any further. I’m not going to race it; I just keep it in the condition that it’s in at the end of the day. It’s a weekend cruiser, a neat little car, and I’m fortunate enough to have other cars that I can run around in”

One may feel like Jeremy’s conciseness and eye for accuracy have drawn the story to a close early. But it’s when he’s approached on the reason for his rotary passion with Mazda that our narrative takes a sudden turn into an explanation that is best left to his own words to describe.

“Why all this? What does rotary mean to me, and why? I think rotaries, they give you a feeling. I think that you need to be a rotary owner to understand, or at least experience being in a rotary; that whether it goes fast, whether it’s a sound, whether it’s a smell; it’s this unique culture that Mazda probably inadvertently created, a culture around the rotary”

It’s worth noting at this point that Mazda used the R100 (or Familia Rotary Coupe) in motorsports. Unsurprisingly it won its debut at the Grand Prix of Singapore in April 1969. It would compete in several endurance events across the world before placing fifth at the Marathon de la Route at the Nürburgring. At the Suzuka All-Japan Grand Cup, it easily outpaced the rest of the field. Not bad for a car with a 10A twin-rotor free-revving Wankel motor that carried the car to 100 km/h in 10.8 seconds and a top speed of around 177 kph (2). As Jeremy further explains;

“The feeling that driving a rotary, being in a rotary, gives you is something that is nearly an addiction. Once you experience being in that zone, in a rotary, whether it’s a race car, a road car, whatever it may be – you can’t replicate that feeling in any other way. Especially when you’re going pretty quick in a car and it’s continuously pulling. It’s the wind noise, the sound, just the RPM and only three moving components in an engine, the MSU design and what Wankel and Mazda continued with into production”

Powerful words. We glimpse some of this magic as we move outside for some final photography on the greens of Jeremy’s property. Hearing the R100 leap into action is something to savour; the sound transporting us to another time where sports coupes and daily drivers were new and exciting to an Australian public not used to the Mazda. The car positioned; Jeremy can’t resist also firing up his RX4 for a twin photo set.

And suddenly, everything old is new again…

Photographed in New South Wales by Tyler Parrott of Tylerp.media featuring Jeremy and the 1970 Mazda Series II R100. Article hosted by Kevin Ha at StreetScene. Credit to (1) Mazda R100 from Down Under by David Morris and (2) 1970 Mazda R100 by conceptcarz. Words, research and story by Justin Bush for MazdACT Stories, June 2024.

For more great content, photography and related articles make sure to check out:

Tyler P. Media

• Instagram 

• Facebook 

StreetScene 

• Instagram 

• Facebook 

MazdACT 

• Instagram 

• Facebook 

Winter has returned to the capital region for another year. Though it’s only May, the temps have begun to dip into overnight lows in the minuses. An early morning fog and frost greet the Carlective as a story of family and generational vehicle ownership takes the crew to a property near Springrange, New South Wales.

Down an unsealed lane and through rolling hills of sheep and cattle, framed by ancient gums and tall grass is the home of Frank Barbaro. His generosity and friendly nature are on show with fresh coffee, snacks and the joyfulness of pet kelpie Maverick bounding about the scene. 

Frank presides over the ute with pride and invested love such as that given to a family member. Understandable when one comes to learn that this is the second time the 1000 ute has called the Barbaro family home. Our story begins with Tony Barbaro, Frank’s father. 

In 1977, John Palmer Motors in the industrial suburb of Fyshwick is the home of Mazda in Canberra. Tony has owned and driven some big cars and is now on the hunt for a smaller vehicle that can assist his growing family, located in Flynn on Belconnen’s western fringe. He finds his match in a brand new Mazda 1000 ute and departs a happy man. 

The ute enjoys a busy and fulfilling life with the Barbaros. Frank’s mother takes her four children to school and back on the single cabin bench seat. It also becomes integrated into the family’s sporting passions with a ‘Wests are Best’ (Canberra Football Club) sticker and more as Frank recounts; 

“I think there’s two things that I was fond of and one of them was the fact that my whole family grew up driving the ute. Each of us kids drove it. One of the others is that Dad used to drive around the football team in the back of the ute and there were like 8 or 9 kids – he’d take us all to training and games!” 

As each of the Barbaro children grow into young adults, they are united in experiencing the ute as they enter teenagehood. As all learn to drive on Canberra’s roads in the vehicle, Frank’s brother adds to the tray by building a metal canopy for times traversing the South Coast. It comes complete with a dodgy speaker in the rear so music can be played back while inside. They later discover the canopy is heavier than the car! 

This will turn out to be far from the only experience the ute will find itself in, as Frank’s brother discovers during his years at Melba’s Copland College; 

“My brother drove the ute to college and would sometimes come out for lunch or to head home and find it placed between two trees. His mates would pick it up in his absence and put it between things so he couldn’t get out. The only way he could get in was to have his mates pick it back up and move it!” 

As the end of the 1980’s nears, the original motor blows up. Tony wastes no time in sourcing and inserting a reconditioned engine but it, too, becomes a source of frustration. A Mazda 1400 Capela motor takes its place with an upgrade to the front brakes and discs soon following. This work is carried out by a young Jon Waterhouse. 

The Barbaros come to nickname the ute the ‘Matchbox’, for obvious reasons. 

At the turn of the millennium, Tony decides he requires a bigger vehicle and reluctantly puts the ute up for sale. A local buyer takes possession of the vehicle but, in perhaps one of the worst outcomes one can imagine for their beloved pride and joy, it becomes plinthed in the front yard of a suburban Canberra home. 

Strangely, this owner keeps the vehicle registered as if almost baiting history. The Barbaros attempt to re-purchase the ute on multiple occasions but all efforts are futile. In late 2022 fate finally strikes when, with the passing of the owner, the estate gives the ute back to the Barbaros at last. 

“I picked it up and took it out to our property to show Dad and the look on his face when he saw it was fantastic. Although he did say ‘what are you going to do with it? Will you dump it on the farm?’ I responded ‘no Dad! We’re going to fix it up’”

We move to Frank as his journey with the ute begins. The first port of call is Gus in Mitchell for a roadworthy certificate and an attempt at a mechanical restart. Frank credits his cousins Dominic, Joe and Tony for their assistance at this time and on numerous occasions to get the project off the ground. 

(Images supplied via Frank Barbaro)

The ute is stripped to the bones. A repaint from the chassis up gets underway and the motor is pulled out and flushed of two decades of gunk. A new tub is ordered as the original has rusted and it joins several other parts that make the journey from Phils Rotarys in Brisbane.  Phil becomes a source of knowledge for the Barbaros as progress continues. 

The interior is reupholstered by Steve’s Upholstery, with a patient Steve applying the final door cards a year after first completion. Franks wishes to keep the bench seat but redesigns them so they now look like bucket seats. With final reassembly approaching, the ute is sent away to PSR Racing Solution who complete the electrical wiring and upgrade the exhaust system. 

Capital Steering and Suspension perform their own modifications. Frank’s cousin and business owner, Tony, brings the platform back to operability by way of full suspension bushings and ball joints replacement, custom lowered front coil springs, fabricated positive mounted rear springs blocks, custom rear leaf spring shackles and obsolete bushes, Koni adjustable shocks front and rear, rebuilt brakes hoses and lines, dual circuit brake master cylinder, column bearings, tuned carburetor and vacuum advance diagram to suit factory style distributor. 

The final application toward completion is the wheels, and while the stalwart of the rotary world is thrown around by mention of Simmons rims, Frank desires something bigger with a more original look. As Southside Kustoms paint the tyres with white walls, Frank visits old friends Nick and Jim at Bentleigh Garage in Melbourne to see if something might be available in the shop from another time.  Frank strikes gold when, guided to the rear of the business, he is shown a set of original metal hub caps that have been on the wall for 30 years. 

Frank buffs the hubcaps and puts them on.  The application of Mazda decal stickers takes the car to completion and suddenly, there it is. The family icon, a world of joy and despair and of hard work and committed love is back where it belongs in the Barbaro family. As Frank points out; 

“I think I’ve got it to a point where I want it. I don’t think there’s anything I’d change. It turned out better than I ever expected. It’s not like a 100 percent a show car and I never want it to be that. The fact that my cousin and I tried our best to get it where it is is good enough and I think we’ve done a pretty good job”

Tony joins the team at the property as the shoot wraps up. He’s a man who’s seen a fulfilling life and one can’t help but feel the connection he has to the vehicle as, with a hand placed on its bonnet, he poses for our portrait with the ute and Frank.

While both have entertained other vehicles through the years, including a Torana and Camaro; it’s the ute that brings them back to not only a source of longing pride; but a physical representation of the Barbaro family journey. 

The pair jump in and we head along a dirt roadway toward the Barton Highway; itself a story of frustration, setbacks and progress over multiple decades as duplication approaches. It’s fitting to watch Frank and Tony converse in the little cabin of a Mazda with all the escapism of a father and son bond that has traversed time and hardship.  

The ute faces a last challenge; one day falling to one of the many Barbaro children. But that’s a story for another time. 

Photographed at Springrange, New South Wales, by Tyler Parrott of Cutbackcbr featuring Frank Barbaro and Tony Barbaro. Cinematography and article hosted by Kevin Ha at StreetScene. Session assisted by Gabriel Bryant. Words, research and story by Justin Bush for MazdACT Stories, May 2024. 

Archival images supplied by the Barbaro Family. Mellis Motors image supplied by Mark Rowland via The Canberra Page.

For more great content, photography and related articles make sure to check out: 

Tyler P. Media 

• Instagram 
• Facebook 

StreetScene 

• Instagram 
• Facebook 

MazdACT 

• Instagram 
• Facebook