1976 Mazda GLC

The GLC was Mazda's first sales success in North America. GLC stood for 'Great Little Car.' It had a four-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel drive layout, and a weight of just under 1,800 lbs. Engine options ranged in size from 1.0 to 1.4 liters, producing between 44 and 85 horsepower, depending on the market. The sportier models would have to wait for later generations with the 323 GTX, Mazdaspeed Protege, and Mazdaspeed3, as the GLC was a precursor for what was to come.

For Mazda, the GLC represented peace of mind to consumers at a time of high gas prices and financial turmoil in the United States. It was the right car at the right time and a stalwart of Japanese reliability, paving the way for millions of 'great' Mazdas to follow in the coming years.