Mazda Cosmo: Meeting in Augsburg

After 36 years, finally reach 200km/h - driven in Germany

19.08.2009, 11:13

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1. Cosmonaute
2. Europa Even the former Cosmo developers came to Europe
3. After 36 years, finally reach 200km/h - driven in Germany

By Stefan Grundhoff

A global car meeting with only 19 participants? However, the Cosmo-Treff in Gersthofen one of the most exclusive classic car events in Europe.
Cosmo-Treff in Augsburg Mazda Grossbild

Long journey: 35 Cosmo-Japanese fans came with their cars to the meeting in Augsburg. (Photo: Press Inform)

Car dealer Walter Frey has lost his heart for more than 30 years to the Mazda brand. With the sale of new CX-7, Mazda3 or used 626 but it is not done long ago.The senior and his two sons, Joachim and Marcus are considered the largest specialist Wankel technology in Europe. Collectors qualities of the 65-year company founder has long since spread into the Japanese headquarters of Mazda Motors.

There, the Augsburg car dealer is known as a spotted dog. His car collection with over 160 cars includes more than 100 rare Mazda models, including 50 Wankler. The unusual Mazda's expertise allows Walter Frey as the only Europeans to be included in the elite "Cosmo Owners Club". Reason enough, that took place this year, the first international meeting in Cosmo Gersthofen near Augsburg.

"The idea was born in the New Year's reception last year, when I was with my son Mark in Japan," says Frey. At the Mazda Owners Club, he came upon the idea that the Japanese fans of the legendary Mazda Cosmo Sport 110 S but also time to come to Bavaria.

Frey himself has two Cosmo - and so it was more inviting than a jolly mood, the Japanese friends for a return visit. "The first was just an idea, but then became more concrete," says Frey. "Time and again, to write and ask. Only one said yes, then two and then it became more and more."

Ultimately decided to Cosmo about 35 fans to travel to Europe. "14 vehicles were sent by ship in late May on a trip from Hiroshima to Antwerp," says Frey. "From there, they were then taken from two vans to Augsburg."

With such a great meeting and Mr. Kuby, Cosmo-Pope did not fail. The worked until two years ago as developers and the Mazda Cosmo knows like no other. ""I started in 1963 with Mazda and had to do the same with the development of Cosmo," says the now retired Japanese. "Initially we had very many problems with the car. The first we have to get a grip, when the 60 first prototype took to the streets."From 1967 to 1973 were produced by the Mazda Cosmo Sport 110 S nearly 1,200 vehicles.

"About 300 vehicles are expected to be still on the road in Japan. In Europe and the U.S. are almost nonexistent," said Kuby. So sind beim Treffen denn auch nicht nur die 14 Fahrzeuge aus Japan vertreten, sondern auch eine Handvoll Modelle aus England, Griechenland, Österreich und der Schweiz. Thus, at the meeting for not only the 14 vehicles from Japan represented, but also a handful of models from England, Greece, Austria and Switzerland.

One of the two Cosmo by Walter Frey is also included. If he takes out his business card to the Mazda Owners Club, just make many big eyes. Because then it is less about the name and address, but the current production number of his Cosmo. One of the two models Frey has the number 100,005 - which means: He's from the official production vehicles, the current production number five.

Cosmo-Star Parade is the Mazda Cosmo by Senji Hoshino. Der ist nicht nur einer der wenigen Japan-Sportler in der seltenen Farbe rotmetallic, sondern auch ein Fahrzeug aus erster Hand. He is not only one of the few Japan-athletes in the rare color rotmetallic, but also a vehicle first hand.

"I have purchased the Cosma 1973 produced as the final model for 1.58 million yen," said Hoshino, who lives about two hours north of Tokyo. "Since then I've driven 190,000 kilometers with him. All original and restored in 2002 from the ground up. I use it next to my normal Mazda Premacy in everyday life."
It took nearly 36 years until his Senji red flash could now go with a speed of 200 km / h - on the German autobahn. . Japan lies in the speed limit at 100 km / h.