The Mazda 787B: Engine, HP, Features, and Complete Overview

The iconic Mazda 787B, Le Mans champ of ’91, with a quad-rotor engine, international team, and specs that defined endurance racing.

Summary

• Mazda 787B: Le Mans 1991 champion, first Japanese car to win.
• Powered by a quad-rotor engine, 654cc x 4, 4,708.8cc equivalent.
• Lightweight carbon monocoque, precise suspension, carbon brakes.
• International team evolved from Japanese roots to a diverse 120-strong unit.

Imagine a roaring beast, a masterpiece of engineering, speeding through the night at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991.

Painted in vibrant orange and green, bearing the name 787B-002 and the number 55, this car was destined to rewrite history. What’s the secret behind its legendary status? It’s all about the Mazda 787B.

What made 787B so extraordinary was what lay beneath its sleek exterior – a powerful quad-rotor engine that could give even the most seasoned racing aficionado’s Goosebumps.

But the 787B  Mazda wasn’t just about raw power; it was about teamwork, innovation, and a diverse group of individuals from Japan, France, and England who came together to make history.

Note: All information and data in this post was obtained from the Mazda Official website and other sources for features and specs.

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Mazda 787B Overview

Model	Mazda 787B
Year	1991
Notable Race	24 Hours of Le Mans (Winner)
Engine	Quad-rotor R26B, 654cc x 4
Power Output	Equivalent to 4,708.8cc, Exceptional HP
Chassis	Carbon Composite Monocoque
Suspension	Pull Rod Front, Rocker Arm Rear
Brakes	Carbon Discs, Brembo Calipers
Wheels	RAYS, Front 12×18, Rear 14.75×18
Tires	Dunlop F300-640-R18, R355-710-R18
Transmission	Mazda-Porsche 5-Speed + Reverse
Clutch	Borg & Beck Triple Plate
Legendary Win	1991 Le Mans, First Japanese Car to Win

What’s New In the787B Mazda?

Friends, there are many Mazda cars gaining significant popularity nowadays, some such as the Mazda CX-70, Mazda 3, Mazda CX-5 and many others.

The 787B Mazda was a historic race car for its time, and many of its features and innovations were ahead of its time.

But by today’s standards, it would not have the technology or performance of today’s race cars.

Here are some of the notable features and innovations that were available in the Mazda 787-B:

Rotary Engine Technology: The most notable feature of the Mazda 787-B is its R26B rotary engine. It was a 4-rotor, 654cc x 4 engines, producing about 700 horsepower. While underground rotary engines were available, they are no longer used in modern racing due to fuel consumption and emissions.

Carbon composite monocoque: The 787B had a carbon composite monocoque, a lightweight and strong chassis material. Modern race cars continue to use carbon fiber and composites for their chassis.

Suspension and Dampers: The 787B had a sophisticated suspension system with a pull rod front suspension and rocker arm rear suspension. Bilstein dampers were used to control the handling. While this technology was advanced in their day, modern race cars have advanced suspension systems with electronic controls.

Brakes: Carbon disc and Brembo calipers are used in the braking system of this car. Carbon disc brakes were considered high-tech at the time, providing excellent stopping power. Modern race cars use carbon ceramic brakes that are also highly efficient and heat resistant.

Transmission: The 787B had a Mazda-Porsche 5-speed manual transmission with reverse gear. Modern race cars often use sequential paddle-shift transmissions for faster gear changes.

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Mazda 787b Engine and Transmission

Here are the key details about the engine and transmission of the Mazda 787-B:

Engine (R26B 4-rotor):

The heart of the Mazda 787-B was its R26B engine, a four-rotor rotary engine.

Each rotor had a displacement of 654 cc, and there were four rotors in total, making the engine’s total displacement approximately 2,616 cc (though the FISA reciprocating equivalent was listed as 4,708.8 cc).

In the 787B, this engine produced approximately 700 horsepower, which was a remarkable figure for its time.

Transmission:

The transmission used in the Mazda 787-B was a Mazda-Porsche 5-speed manual gearbox with a reverse gear.

This was a conventional manual transmission with a sequential shifter to allow the driver to change gears.

While this transmission was not comparable to modern sequential paddle-shift transmissions, it was suitable for slow racing and gave the driver control of gear changes. The gear ratios were carefully chosen to suit the characteristics of the rotary engine.

Mazda 787b Hot Wheels

Hot Wheels, the popular die-cast toy car manufacturer, has produced a 1:64 scale replica of the Mazda 787-B.

These Mazda 787b Hot Wheels cars often feature various paint schemes and designs, including iconic racing liveries.

Collectors and fans of the Mazda 787-B can look for these Hot Wheels models to add to their collections.

Mazda 787b For Sale

The 787B Mazda is an extremely rare and historic race car. Original Mazda 787-Bs for sale are exceptionally rare, and when they are produced, they usually sell for a lot of money in the high-end classic car market Prices can vary widely depending on the car’s condition, racing history and provenance on.

If you are interested in buying one, it is important to work with classic car dealers and classic car houses.

Mazda 787b Top Speed

The top speed of the Mazda 787B race car would have depended on various factors, including the specific setup for a given race, track conditions, and aerodynamics.

However, it’s estimated that the 787B could achieve speeds of around 220-230 miles per hour (354-370 kilometers per hour) on the long straights of the Circuit de la Sarthe during the Le Mans 24 Hours race.

Mazda 787b Sound

The Mazda 787-B was known for its distinctive and unique sound due to its rotary engine. Rotary engines have a different exhaust note compared to traditional piston engines.

Mazda 787b Price and Trims

When talking about the Mazda 787-B price and trim, it’s important to note that the 787B was a purpose-built race car, and was not sold to the public as a production car, so it doesn’t have the traditional trims or benefits for consumers.

Instead, Mazda turned to competitions such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and these race cars were produced in very small numbers.

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Features of Mazda 787b

Model	Mazda 787B
Year	1991
Classification	Sports Prototype (Group C)
Engine	R26B 4-rotor rotary engine (approximately 700 HP)
Transmission	5-speed manual with reverse
Chassis	Carbon composite monocoque
Suspension	Pull rod front, rocker arm rear
Dampers	Bilstein
Brakes	Carbon discs with Brembo calipers
Wheels	RAYS – Front: 12×18, Rear: 14.75×18
Tires	Dunlop – Front: F300-640-R18, Rear: R355-710-R18
Weight	Over 839 kg
Top Speed	Approximately 220-230 mph (354-370 km/h)
Racing Achievements	Winner of the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans
Distinctive Sound	High-pitched rotary engine sound
Racing Livery	Various iconic liveries in racing competitions
Historical Significance	First Japanese car to win Le Mans overall

Check Out Promo of 787B Mazda

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FAQs (Most Asked Questions)

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Conclusion

So guys in this post we briefly discussed the all info about the Mazda 787B in the market, emphasizing that it is a highly sought-after classic race car that occasionally appears in high-end auctions for collectors.

While the 787B Mazda doesn’t have a conventional price or trim structure as a race car, we explored its estimated value when it becomes available for purchase, which can vary significantly based on its racing history and condition.

The unique and unmistakable sound of the Mazda 787-B’s rotary engine was highlighted, with its high-pitched and distinctive exhaust note.