RR of the Day: 1993 Mazda RX-7
We sure do love us some FDs. Yes, the turbo rotary is a ticking time bomb, just waiting for the slightest hint of ping to send shards of that wonderful Wankel through the hood, and yes, the engine has to be rebuilt every 40-60k miles, but if you had to pick a vehicle from the 90s (hell, even today) to attack a road course or autocross, the RX-7 is it.
Thankfully, there are a few intelligent individuals that understand the volatility of the turbo'd RX-7 and they tend to keep the modifications to a minimum. One of these smart chaps is ebaine1, the owner of this red 1993 example.
Make the jump for a few more details, pics and directions on how to submit your own ride to our Flickr pool.
He stuffed a new 13B-TT into his FD about 6,000 miles back and began making a few choice additions to get the most of his RX. A new intake manifold, downpipe and catback exhaust takes care of the breathing duties, but with the extra flow, eblaine realized that some serious management of the AFR was in order. When he installed a new aluminum radiator, he opted to bypass the stock ECU and instead, rely on an Apex'I PowerFC, one of the best aftermarket 'puters available.
Mr. Blaine admits that RX-7s are a scarce commodity where he lives in Kansas and considering that he's only put about 1,000 miles on his whip since last April, it's a rare treat for his neighbors every time he takes it out of the garage.
How to submit to RR of the Day:
Create a Flickr account if you don't already have one. Search for and join the group called 'Autoblog RR of the Day'. Upload up to three photos of your ride to your own account at a size no larger than 450 pixels wide if possible and include as much information about it and yourself as you can. Click on each photo and just above the picture it will say "Send to group". Click that and select the Autoblog group. You're done, that's it! We love seeing what YOU drive, so please keep those submissions coming!
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
The other Bob 11:04AM (2/16/2007)
This is the best looking Japanese car ever designed, and one of the best looking modern cars in the world.
Let's face it, beautiful design, good proportion and classic looks are not characteristics normally associated with Japanese car makers. They excel in other areas. This RX-7 is a stand out.
It's just a shame that the RX-8 couldn't look half as good.
Reply
Tim UF 10:26AM (2/16/2007)
this car comes from the peak of japanese styling for the USDM market. The 300zx, Supra, MR2, RX-7, MX-5, all are better looking than their contemporary counter parts (ok, maybe not the 300zx, but the 280z is). where are all those designers now??
Reply
jordan 11:51AM (2/16/2007)
Had to be rebuilt every 40-60k? This must've been a turbo/FD-only related issue, as my buddy had his 81 rx7 until he was in a wreck with it a couple years ago, and it had 200k miles on it and i was still jealous he had it.
i think the only real engine maintenance he might've done would've been apex seal replacement at one time, but heck, with the 12a/13b, 2 people can pick up that motor and set it on a 5gal bucket for an engine stand and work on it ;)
Reply
enumerated 11:31AM (2/16/2007)
The R1 can pulled .99 G's on the skidpad on tires from '93...
A lot of "sports cars" today are still in the high .80's.
MHO - The best true sports car ever produced and second being the elise/exige
Reply
Jeff 11:01AM (2/16/2007)
Great car! It really is amazing how well these have aged. It looks like a modern design, with the exception of the pop-up headlights.
> Thankfully, there are a few intelligent individuals
> that understand the volatility of the turbo'd RX-7
> and they tend to keep the modifications to a minimum.
Actually, they tend to install V8s in them. At least that's the current trend.
I can understand the appeal of the rotary, but I'd definitely put an LS1 in there when those apex seals finally blow. :)
Reply
Thomas 11:39AM (2/16/2007)
As a knowledgeable member of the rx7 community, I would like to point out that rotary engines (including the turbo engines) DO NOT need to be rebuild every 40-60k miles. I know very many people with turbocharged rx7s with over 100k miles on the engine with no interior engine problems (but lots of exterior engine problems!) A rotary will need to be rebuilt after 40-60k miles if you: run rediculous amounts of boost without a stud kit, don't build the engine properly; these are problem that also occur with piston engines.
Reply
Tool 11:40AM (2/16/2007)
I owned a 95 Rx-7 and it was an amazing vehicle. Loved the twin-turbo when each one kicked in . . . it was such a cool feeling.
It had so much power for such a small vehicle, I almost killed myself several times.
Wish I still owned it.
Reply
Den in IN 11:54AM (2/16/2007)
I worked with a guy who had one of these and knew what to do with it. Wow.
There is a V8 powered RX-7 running around Indy. I've seen it several times light off from a stop...gonno It sounds like the Brickyard just hit town. Sweet.
Reply
incognito 1:03PM (2/16/2007)
I am proud that I helped rescue one of these. An idiot uncle had one deteriorating in his backyard for years, the car was owned by some other guy and he was supposed to work on it. It needed an engine rebuild and restoration, but neither one of them was remotely competent to do such a thing, and the uncle is notoriously cheap so he wasn't going to spend money to have a pro do it right.
I started a "stealth" campaign on various Mazda forums, basically posting messages that said "please rescue this car", and told them the location of it, and that they can almost always catch him home, so just drive up, inquire, and make an offer. Within a couple months one of the guys who found out about it through my postings bought it and is/was restoring it.
3-time Mazda owner (but not RX-7)
Reply
epp_b 12:22PM (2/16/2007)
What a fantastic car; the third-generation looked absolutely perfect.
Reply
Felix 12:21PM (2/16/2007)
This is one of the coolest cars of all time. The designers really had their priorities straight when they built the RX-7. Fast, light, good looking..it was even relatively cheap compared to the 300ZX turbos and Supras of the day. God i love these cars.
Reply
Chris Taylor 3:12PM (2/16/2007)
i agree with no. 5 thomas. the engines do not need to be rebuilt every 40-60k as long as they are maintained properly. a family member had a 93 rx-7 TT with 91,000 miles on it with zero problems. it was the most well balanced car i have ever driven. it is also proof that 255 HP is all you need in a well designed car.
Reply
cxvargas 2:47PM (2/16/2007)
That is one great car.
Reply
arcsine 5:16PM (2/16/2007)
A remarkable vehicle no doubt, still puts the RX8 to shame. Though if I had to pick any vehicle to hit an autocross on, I'd be going with an R34 GT-R or a 911 GT2 before the RX7.
Reply
Mat 2:05PM (2/16/2007)
I'm going to chime in and agree: Tese are beautiful cars and I wish that styling of this ilk was still around :(
Reply
why not the LS2/LS7? 2:33PM (2/16/2007)
Those who question comments about this engine's reliability and rebuild schedule, check the following link:
http://www.rx7guru.com/rx7hoses.htm
(or http://www.autosportracetech.com/RX-7/vacuum.jpg if that doesn't work)
This is the Gen 3 vacuum hose diagram. And as you can see, it's a mess. Don't forget to check your "double throttle" valve and hose routing.
This was a great car, but sadly, the engine was designed before direct solenoid control became the norm. It's kind of like a Porsche with mechanical fuel injection. It's an astounding piece of engineering, but there are huge caveats to making it your own.
Reply
Andy 12:22AM (2/17/2007)
The late-model RX-7 was Mazda's finest sports car. It had a smooth shape, soft contours, and a turbo rotary engine. The risks of customization have been ignored too often. Most RX-7s have been ruined with body kits and worse stuff under the hood. The RX-7's styling was an influence on the 1997 Corvette. The RX legacy has had a mixed reception with the RX-8. Personally, I like the RX-8. But the price and reliability issues have hurt the car. The owner of this car deserves praise.
Reply
Jeff Banks 5:27PM (2/16/2007)
My grandpa owned one of these back in the day. They could sell this now and it wouldn't look dated or out of place. I remember the day he sold it I cried (I was 4 I think)
Reply
John hender 8:12PM (2/16/2007)
i have never owned a japanese sports car but if i did this would be the one they are so nice when you find a unmolested example
Reply
Aetius 9:02PM (2/16/2007)
I agree, Chris. And the current-gen Mazdas also promote that principle. The RX-8, Mazda3 and the MX-5 are all about perfectly tuned-chassis, fantastic braking feel, steering feel all mated to a perfectly matched engine. Only the Mazdaspeed3 is the exception to the rule with more HP than it's competitors.
HP and size isin't what make a car. A concept lost on most North American consumers.
Reply