Mazda B series
The Mazda B series is a series of pickup trucks that was manufactured by Mazda. Produced across five generations from 1961 to 2006, the model line began life primarily as a commercial vehicle, slotted above a kei truck in size. Through its production, Mazda used engine displacement to determine model designations; a B1500 was fitted with a 1.5 L engine and a B2600, a 2.6 L engine.
In Japan, the B-series was referred to as the Mazda Proceed for much of its production, with several other names adopted by the model line. In Australia and New Zealand, the B-Series was named the Mazda Bravo and Mazda Bounty, respectively; South Africa used the Mazda Drifter name. Thailand used the Mazda Magnum, Thunder, and Fighter names. Through its association with Ford, Mazda produced the B-Series as the Ford Courier and the Ford Ranger. Conversely, the Ford Ranger was sold in North America as a Mazda B series from 1994 until 2010.
In 2006, the Mazda B-Series was replaced by the Mazda BT-50.
Historic trucks
Mazda's first vehicles were three-wheeled trucks, also known as auto rickshaws, starting with the 1931 Mazda-Go and followed by the Mazda K360 in 1959, the, and finally the larger. One of Mazda's first four-wheeled trucks was the 1958 D1100, briefly called the, with a 1105 cc air-cooled in-line two cylinder engine installed under the seat. That engine was replaced by a water-cooled unit in 1959 and joined by the larger capacity D1500. In 1962, passenger car size requirements no longer applied to commercial vehicles and the truck grew longer, with a two-liter D2000 model becoming available while the smallest D1100 was discontinued. The D1500 and D2000 remained in production until the June 1965 introduction of the Mazda Kraft.First generation (1961–1965)
The Mazda B-series pickup truck was introduced in Japan in August 1961 as the B1500. This model was the only Japanese market model to be badged under the B-series naming scheme, i.e. B1500. The BUD61 that followed was the first model of the long-running "Proceed" series sold in Japan. It had a 1,484 cc OHV water-cooled engine with wet sleeve cylinders which produced, and a one-ton payload. This model also had a torsion bar front/leaf spring rear suspension, which was advanced for its time, giving it a relatively smooth ride. The B1500 was remodeled between late 1962 and September 1963; it received a new chassis code, BUB61. The BUB61 was more spacious; its cabin was extended by and it had a stretched body and wheelbase. The BUB61 had a new, upside-down, trapezoidal grille instead of the earlier full-width unit, with thirteen bars rather than nine, turn signals on the fenders, and more chrome trim—including a decor strip on the side.In addition to the standard two-door "styleside" pickup truck body there were also a double-cab truck, and a similar double-cab version called the "pickup." The "pickup" had a fully integrated coupé utility body rather than the separate bed of the truck version, as it was based on the somewhat passenger-oriented light van. This model was a two-door, fully glazed van with a fold-down tailgate and an electrically powered window, which was rare in the Japanese market at the time. The light van was introduced in September 1962, and the two double-cab models followed shortly after. These three models were built on the shorter wheelbase chassis; when the longer chassis was introduced it was not deemed worthwhile to create new bodywork. These models were produced for only a few months. The B1500 was sleeker and considerably more powerful than its competitors in the Japanese market, but it was also markedly more expensive and it failed to sell in the expected quantities.
Second generation (1965–1977)
The 1966 B1500/Proceed presented in October 1965 used the same 1484 cc OHV I4 engine as its predecessor, with minor changes to the cylinder head and valves and the use of a downdraft carburetor instead of the sidedraft unit used on the models sold between 1961 and 1965. The UA engine now produced at 5200 rpm. The chassis was now called the "BUD61"; it was longer than its predecessor and received new bodywork of a squarer design, and four headlights. In January 1971, a 1600 cc model with the chassis code BNA61 was introduced. This had 95 PS SAE in global markets; US brochures did not specify its power output and European importers claimed. In Japan, was claimed; the model was advertised in Japan as the "GT-Truck".In March 1972, the Proceed 1300, with a smaller 1.3-liter engine, was released and remained available in Japan until 1975. It had in SAE gross. The B1500 was the first Japanese pickup truck to be assembled in New Zealand from CKD kits. Assembly started in 1967 at Steel's Motor Assemblies after a government order for 672 units; Steel's also built the Toyota Corona and later became Toyota New Zealand's Christchurch plant. The model remained in local assembly at various plants for several generations.
The B series was introduced to the United States with the 1972 B1600. In 1974, the similar rotary-powered Rotary Pickup was released in the US. The engine was enlarged to 1.8-liters for 1975's B1800, a model that had been available to Canadian customers since around 1970. It was known in the Japanese market as the "Proceed", where it was also sold as the Ford Courier. Its strong sales in the US market—mostly with Ford badging—relieved Mazda's pressing cash flow troubles in the period following the 1970s energy crisis.
Engines:
- 1972–1975 – 1.3 L TC I4
- 1965–1971 – 1.5 L UA OHV I4
- 1971–1976 – 1.6 L NA I4, SAE at 6000 rpm
- 1970–1977 – 1.8 L VB I4, SAE at 5500 rpm
- 1974–1977 – 1.3 L ''13B''
Rotary Engine Pickup
In the first model year, 1974, 14,366 were sold in North America Most were made for the 1974 model year, but the effect of the energy crisis on sales caused Mazda to restamp many of the 1974 models with a prefix "S", designating them as 1975 models;. Sales dropped, with 632 units sold in the 1976 model year, when the four-speed manual transmission was upgraded to a five-speed. Mazda invested in a moderate redesign for the 1977 model, updating its electrical systems and adding a cab stretch for increased comfort. Sales never recovered with 1,161 sold in 1977, after which the REPU was discontinued.
Road & Track magazine was impressed with its "smooth, quiet power" and "nice" interior. The vehicle retailed for about ; its observed fuel economy was. Most of the trucks are found on the West Coast of the US; they continue to be sought out by enthusiasts. Like many Mazda rotary vehicles, the REPU was raced. It took third place in the 1976 SCCA Mojave 24 Hour Rally driven by Malcolm Smith and Jack Sreenan.
Ford Courier
The first generation Ford Courier was introduced for the 1972 model year and sold for a little over when introduced—close to the price of a Ford F-100. The Courier was manufactured by Toyo Kogyo, and imported and sold by Ford Motor Company as a response to the unforeseen popularity of the small Toyota and Nissan pickups among young buyers in the Western states. Like the other mini-pickups of the time, it featured a sub-2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine, a four-speed manual transmission, rear wheel drive, a load capability of, and was fairly inexpensive compared to full-size pickups of the time. To circumvent the 25 percent chicken tax on light trucks, Couriers, like Chevrolet LUVs, were imported in "cab chassis" configurations, which included the entire light truck without the cargo box or truck bed, and were only subject to a 4 percent tariff. Subsequently, a truck bed would be attached to the chassis and the vehicle could be sold as a light truck.The body styling was effectively that of the related Mazda B series, but its frontal treatment was unique; its grille was designed to emulate that of the larger Ford F series and large, single headlights were fitted instead of the B series's smaller twin units. When the Courier was introduced, it was supplied with a 1.8-liter overhead cam engine that produced at 5,070 rpm and at 3,500 rpm. A four-speed manual transmission was standard; a three-speed automatic option was also offered. A five-speed manual option was added in 1976.
Badging was changed several times in the first generation of the series. In 1972, the tailgate read "Ford Courier" in large, raised letters; there was a small "Courier" badge on the front of the hood. From 1973 until 1976, the hood badging read "Ford". In 1973, the tailgate read "Courier" in large letters, with a small "Ford" badge on the upper left. In 1974, it read "Ford" in large letters, with a small "Courier" badge on the lower right. In 1976, the cab was lengthened by and extra trim was added to the grille.
Third generation (PE/UC/UD; 1977–1985)
The model's third generation was introduced in April 1977 as the PE chassis for the Proceed 1600. The Japanese model had a claimed and a top speed of. The new model was more comfortable than the previous; it had a woodgrain dashboard and other luxuries. Outside Japan it was sold as the B1600 and later as the B1800, which was originally sold only in North America. In the US for the 1980 model year, it was sold as the B2000, which used a 2.0-liter F/MA engine, replacing the B1800. The diesel 2.2-liter B2200 was sold from 1981 with the chassis code UD. In the US, the 1984 B2000 continued to be sold through 1985; the next generation only appeared as a "1986". The 2.0-liter version was called PE2M6/M7 until 1981—"6" for the short wheelbase, "7" for the long bed—after which it had the chassis code UC. In Japan, this truck was discontinued in October 1979 because commercial customers preferred vans over the less space-efficient, bonneted trucks.The B2000 was also available in a long-bed version with a longer wheelbase and rear overhang, which was given the model name Sundowner in some markets—a reference to nomadic Australian herders who would make camp wherever they were at sundown. The regular model code UC11 was changed to UC21 when it was fitted with a long bed. The chassis coding system was used for the US market in 1981 when a standardized VIN code was introduced. This change led to a second coding system, complicating the identification and grouping of these trucks. The B series was reskinned during 1982, with new sheetmetal below the belt line, and was replaced in January 1985. By this time, 1.8 million Mazda B-series trucks had been built since 1961.
In Australia and New Zealand, the Courier was a compact pickup truck built for Ford by Mazda in Japan. It was first offered on the Australian market in 1979. Both Mazda and Ford versions for New Zealand were assembled locally. Gulf Auto Restorations in New Zealand also built a run of double-cab Ford Couriers in 1979, long before Mazda themselves developed such a model.
Engines:
- 1977–19?? – 1.6 L NA I4, JIS at 5700 rpm
- 1977–1978 – 1.8 L VC I4, at 5000 rpm
- 1977–1979 – 1.8 L VB
- 1979–1984 – 2.0 L MA I4,
- 1982–1984 – diesel 2.2 L S2 I4,