The Cosmo was, along with the NSU Ro80, one of the first production cars to feature a 2-rotor Wankel engine. A prototype was presented at the 1964 Tokyo Motor Show, one month before the introduction of the NSU Spider Wankel. Full production began in May 1967. A 2nd series was produced from 1968 till 1972. They were built by hand at a rate of about one per day, for a total of 1,176 (343 Series I and 833 Series II cars). In 1968, two Cosmos participated in one of the most gruelling races, to prove the reliability of the rotary engine: the 84-hour “Marathon de la Route” at the Nürburgring. One retired with axle damage in the 82nd hour. The other car, driven by the Belgians JP. Ackermans, Y. Deprez and L. Last, completed the race in fourth overall.