This 1978 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 is the successor to the famous rotary-powered Cosmo of the late 60s and early 70s. Whereas earlier cars carry price tags well north of the $100k mark these days, these second generation cars are worth relatively nothing despite being very nearly as scarce. Find this one here on Craigslist in Olympia, Washington for $4k. Special thanks to BaT reader Joby J. for this submission.

Though nowhere near as attractive or sporting as first generation cars, we still appreciate this generation for its oddball styling and drivetrain. While it might easily be mistaken for a Malaise Detroit coupe at a glance, its more reasonable proportions and distinctive taillight treatment helps it stand out. As we understand it, the pillar “opera” windows also roll down, which is a neat and unusual feature.

The inside is classic Disco Era luxury, which is always a divisive characteristic. Regardless, it does appear to be in good condition overall. Unfortunately, the dash is cracked beneath that cover–good luck finding another one.

The 13B rotary looks clean enough, and the seller claims an impressive 176,700 miles. That’s high mileage for a Wankel, and while they are capable of such figures with proper care, it is nonetheless unusual to find one with so much use. The seller doesn’t state whether or not the engine is original to the car, but it is something to think about.

Nope, it’s not as pretty as the first generation, nor is it as shapely as an RX-3 or RX-4, but at this price it’s a cool and unusual piece of J-tin history that’s likely to be pretty collectible in the near future.