Once Upon a Time Mazda Assembled the 121 Goldy

Mazda is renowned for producing affordable and reliable cars that provide an excellent driving experience. However, not many people are aware of the collaboration between the carmaker and the gummy bear industrial complex in the early ’90s, which led to the creation of the Mazda 121 Goldy.

The Goldy edition was a limited release, with only 1,000 units produced for the European market. The car had a theme based on the famous Haribo Goldbears candy and was painted in Pop Yellow. It also featured a set of Haribo bear wheel covers, similar to the well-known Ronal Urs design. The Momo sports steering wheel had a Haribo mascot on the horn button, and the car had a rear window shade with a gummi bear design.

In addition to the Goldy’s unique features, owners were also gifted a Haribo teddy bear and 100 bags of Haribo gummies to enjoy with their car. The Goldy edition was a canvas top model, allowing drivers to enjoy the sun on warm and sunny days. According to CocheVS.es, the car was equipped with the 16-valve version of Mazda’s B3 engine, which produced 72 horsepower. This engine is closely related to the B6 engine that gained fame in the original Mazda Miata.

The Mazda 121 is a model that was never sold in the United States, which is why it might be unfamiliar to some people. The car was mainly sold in Japan, Australia, and Europe, and was also known as the Autozam Revue in its home market. In its second generation, Mazda opted to build a tiny sedan instead of a hatchback. Due to its rounded and blobby design, it quickly became known as the “Bubble” car. The car was designed to be an affordable mode of transportation without many frills and had acceptable acceleration thanks to its feather-light curb weight of just 1,800 pounds.

The Goldy cars were prepared by Hofele Design, a tuning company that is more well-known for its work on German luxury cars. According to Hofele’s history documents, the cars were promoted by German media personality Thomas Gottschalk, who had starred in numerous Haribo advertisements over the years. Today, Mazda retains one of the Goldy cars at the Mazda Classic Automobile Museum Frey in Augsburg, Germany. The car was donated by a couple from North Rhine-Westphalia in 2022.

Given the limited production, the Mazda 121 Goldy is a relatively rare car today. Although it might not be the most sought-after car among collectors due to its economy car status, it is certainly a unique and flavorful piece of Mazda’s history.

Photo Source: Mazda USA News