1972 Mazda Rotary Dragster – “Project Rotary” by Dana Corporation

A rare and historic piece of drag racing history! This custom-built 1972 Mazda Rotary Dragster was commissioned by the Dana Corporation's Perfect Circle ring division and constructed by Dave Tuttle's California Chassis Engineering of Chatsworth, California. Dubbed "Project Rotary," this unique prototype was used by Dana at shows across the country to showcase their performance rings.

In 1975, the car was donated to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, where it was displayed during the U.S. Nationals. It remains in largely original condition, still wearing its iconic period-correct yellow, orange, and red livery. While there are some cracks in the paint and a small missing spot on the nose, it still presents well for display.

This dragster is powered by a 70 cubic inch Mazda 12A rotary engine, with power sent through a Volkswagen T2 four-speed manual transmission. It rides on Inoue 2.25x17 front bias ply tires and tubes, which were replaced in 2021, while the rear features 15"x8.5" Filter Dynamics slotted aluminum wheels wrapped in Goodyear Blue Streak Dragway Special racing slicks.

A true one-of-a-kind prototype, this car was built to promote Dana Corporation's performance rings and stands as a fantastic piece of motorsports history. Whether added to a vintage drag racing collection or displayed in a museum, this is a truly remarkable and rare automotive artifact.