Mazda Parkway first generation

The first-generation Mazda Parkway, coded AE and VE, was built from 1972 until the second generation arrived in January 1982, as a minibus on the Mazda Titan truck platform. It was a favourite in public transport in southern Japan, in places such as Hiroshima and Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture, and competed with the Toyota Coaster, Nissan Civilian, Isuzu Journey and Mitsubishi Fuso Rosa. Engines were the 2000 cc VA petrol and the 2522 cc XA diesel, with a sub-transmission and a fluid coupling to cope with load carrying and to prevent engine stalling. In July 1974 Mazda introduced the Parkway Rotary 26 with the 13B rotary engine and room for 26 passengers; it weighed 2,835 kg and reached 120 km/h, but low torque and high fuel consumption hampered it, it was dropped in 1977 and only 44 were built.