POP Race Mazda 787B Renown

Some racing cars become famous because they win. Others become legends because of how they win.

The Mazda 787B is firmly in the second category. With its unmistakable orange-and-green Renown livery, a screaming rotary engine, and a place in history as the first Japanese car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 787B has become one of the most recognizable endurance racing cars ever built.

For June 2026, our Model of the Month is the POP Race Mazda 787B Renown #55, a brand-new tooling that gives collectors a chance to experience this Le Mans legend in remarkable 1:64 scale detail.

Mazda's Journey to Le Mans

Mazda's relationship with the 24 Hours of Le Mans didn't begin with the 787B.

The company had been competing at Le Mans since the 1970s, gradually developing its rotary-powered racing technology and gaining valuable experience against some of the biggest names in endurance racing.

That journey eventually led to the Mazda 787 and, in 1991, its evolution: the 787B.

Mazda entered the 1991 race with three cars, including the now-famous #55. While manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar were expected to fight for victory, Mazda's rotary-powered prototype proved incredibly competitive.

After 24 hours of racing, the #55 crossed the finish line first.

Mazda had done something no Japanese manufacturer had done before: win the 24 Hours of Le Mans overall.

And they did it with a car powered by an engine technology unlike anything else on the grid.

The Rotary That Made History

At the heart of the 787B was Mazda's legendary R26B four-rotor naturally aspirated rotary engine.

Instead of conventional pistons moving up and down inside cylinders, the rotary engine uses rotating triangular-shaped rotors. Compact, lightweight, and capable of revving extremely high, it produced a sound that became just as famous as the car itself.

The R26B delivered around 700 horsepower, but outright power wasn't the only advantage. Its compact dimensions and relatively low weight helped Mazda create a prototype that could maintain a strong pace while managing the demands of a 24-hour race.

The combination of the rotary engine, excellent aerodynamics, reliability, and fuel strategy proved to be the perfect recipe for Le Mans.

The result was one of the most memorable victories in endurance racing history.

The Renown Livery

And then there is the livery.

Even if you don't know much about endurance racing, chances are you've seen the unmistakable orange-and-green Renown Mazda.

The bold color combination was originally associated with Renown, a Japanese textile company, and became inseparable from Mazda's racing identity.

The #55 787B turned that livery into an icon.

Today, the orange-and-green design is instantly recognizable around the world, making the 787B one of those rare race cars where the livery is almost as famous as the machine underneath it.

The Model: POP Race Mazda 787B Renown #55

POP Race has created a brand-new tooling for the 787B, and the result is exactly what you'd want from a modern premium 1:64 interpretation of such an important racing car.

The model is packed with details, but some of the most impressive features become visible when you start opening it up.

Open It Up

Both the front hood and rear engine cover are removable, and they are held in place magnetically. This allows the model to remain clean and seamless when displayed closed while giving collectors access to the incredible engineering underneath.

Remove the rear cover and you can see the legendary rotary engine in detail, together with:

• Detailed engine components
• Correctly positioned radiators and cooling systems
• Rear suspension components
• A detailed racing interior
• The unmistakable roll cage

It's an excellent example of how opening features can actually add something meaningful to a 1:64 model rather than simply being a gimmick.

Details That Make the Difference

There is plenty more to discover around the exterior.

The model features different wheel designs front and rear, just like the real 787B, with realistic Dunlop branding printed on the rubber tires.

Other details include:

• Acrylic headlight inserts
• Riveted windows

• A single central windshield wiper
• Detailed side mirrors

• Authentic #55 race number
• The iconic Renown orange-and-green livery
• Extremely fine race-car detailing throughout the bodywork

At this scale, it's the small details that make the difference—and POP Race has packed plenty of them into this new tooling.

Why This Model Won

The POP Race Mazda 787B Renown #55 earned our June Model of the Month for more than just looking incredible on a shelf.

It represents a pivotal moment in motorsport history: Mazda becoming the first Japanese manufacturer to win Le Mans, doing so with an unconventional rotary engine and one of the most recognizable liveries in racing.

And POP Race has given collectors a fitting 1:64 representation of that achievement.

The new tooling, removable magnetic hoods, detailed rotary engine, roll cage, suspension, cooling systems, different wheels, Dunlop tires, and exceptional Renown graphics make this much more than a miniature version of a famous race car.

It's a piece of Le Mans history.

A Legend in 1:64

More than three decades after its historic victory, the Mazda 787B remains one of the most celebrated cars in endurance racing.

It won Le Mans once—but that was enough to secure its place in history.

Now, the POP Race Mazda 787B Renown #55 brings that history to our collections in 1:64 scale.

And that's exactly why it is our Model of the Month for June 2026.