Wankel engines first saw use in production cars as early as 1964 -- and not even in a Mazda, but rather in an NSU. That ...

Mazda's Wankel rotary engine has always been unique in the automotive landscape as a mass-produced internal combustion engine that eschews such unsightly items as pistons, valves and camshafts.

The mere fact that this engine starts and runs is a testament to the mechanical know-how of these guys. For comparison's sake, Mazda's own Le Mans-winning 787 prototype utilized a four-rotor Wankel.

The only cars in recent times to utilise a Wankel rotary engine have been Mazdas – the RX-8 being the most recent. But the revolutionary engine has made an appearance in plenty of other vehicles ...