I’m Afraid I Have To Bust A Myth About The Cutest Wheels Ever Seen On A Mazda

Sometimes things are just too good to be true. I wish this aphorism was itself untrue, but, sadly, it tends to have a pretty good track record. Such is the case with a small car we never got here in America, and a set of wheels that may be the only marsupial-themed wheels ever put into production. The car is the Mazda 121, and the wheels are koala-bear themed. These wheels are frequently mentioned online as being an official option from Mazda for the 121 (third-generation, from 1991-1998), but I wanted more proof. So, I reached out to Mazda to find out the truth, and in a way I’m sorry I did.

I don’t really know where or how the rumor was started, but it seems that most outlets or forums that write about these wheels – which are officially known as Intra Koala wheels –  suggest that these koala wheels were an official Mazda 121 (also known as the Autozam Revue) factory (or at least dealer) option.

Of course, I wanted this to be true so very much, because what a wonderfully bonkers world that would be, where a major automaker like Mazda would offer wheels cast to look like oddly naturalistic koala bears, clinging onto a tree, as an option for one of their mass-market city cars! It would show a true commitment to joy and irrationality so rarely seen in the modern world, and I suspect it’s not unreasonable to think that the same company that still will sell you a Miata could be the one to offer something like this.

Even with the support of all the articles saying these were an official option, I wanted proof. I combed the internet for any sort of catalog or brochure or accessory guide or price list or anything from Mazda that would show the koala wheel option. But I came up blank. Sure, there were plenty of fun Mazda 121 brochures, and it is an appealing little car, but nothing that showed any koala-themed wheels.

The 121/Revue really was pretty cool; Mazda called it a “2.5 box” sedan, suggesting it was more compact than a full three-box design, and it offered a full-length canvas sunroof, which gave it a certain amount of Gallic flair and open-air fun.

Seriously, that was a well-designed canvas roof; it looks like it could be opened from either the front or rear or both, which is quite novel for any sunroof design. The back seat passengers could decide just to open their part, it looks like! That’s amazing.

Back to the koala wheels, though. I had to know the truth, so I reached out to Mazda themselves, and was delighted to find the PR person there was very willing to help, reaching out to her counterpart over at Mazda Europe, who gave me the lowdown:

The Mazda 121 was never factory-equipped with Intra Koala wheels.

These wheels were aftermarket accessories, either offered by dealers or retrofitted by private individuals. Mazda did not include them as standard equipment.

However, that doesn’t mean they’re rare: In the 1990s, Intra Koala wheels were quite popular on small cars like the Mazda 121, VW Polo, or Opel Corsa.

Their distinctive design and suitable size (usually 13 inches, 4×100 bolt pattern) made them a sought-after tuning element.

So, if you see a Mazda 121 with these wheels, it’s a piece of automotive history — but not an original factory condition.

There you go. These wheels, while fun, were not officially sold or endorsed or distributed by Mazda in any way. I also like describing these wheels as a “tuning” element, as though having wheels made to look like mammals might improve handling. I will say, though, that of all the small cars of the era that could have worn these wheels, I think the 121/Revue likely fit them the best, and I mean that as a sincere compliment.

Oh well. Myth busted.

Top photo: https://en.mazdaclub.cz