Mazda just won’t give up. In 1967, they started selling the first Wankel rotary engine, having spent several years on developing the version they’d licensed from NSU. In 1970, due to low emissions, and in spite of high fuel and oil consumption, they brought the rotary engine to the United States. In the early half of the decade, Mazda’s rotary-powered lineup grew to several cars and a North-America-only pickup truck. However, the oil crisis put a stop to that, and Mazda reverted to regular piston-engined cars. However, they stuck with the idea, and in 1978, they unveiled the RX-7 sports car, which survived in three generations through 1995, followed by the 2003-2012 RX-8. Find this second-coming car, a 1979 Mazda RX-7 for sale for $2500, in Tacoma, WA.
Did you know Mazda’s 13B rotary engine even showed up in a bus? The Parkway Rotary 26 came with 135hp and a top cruising speed of 120km/h. When new, this RX-7 had 105hp to motivate its 2500 lbs., which made it competitive, but not faster, than its contemporaries. While oxidized, the yellow paint works really well on this car and could maybe be rejuvenated with some elbow grease. Where have you seen those wheels before? On a Fiat Spider? The most attractive option on these early cars are the Italian-looking alloys. Oh, and ask the owner if he doesn’t mind you tossing that silly bra in the garbage before you leave.
What can you smell in here? A bit of burnt oil? Decades-old vinyl, with just a touch of gasoline on the nose? It’s nice to see a fairly intact interior, even the passenger seat appears to have no tears. Since the driver’s seat is covered, you can expect to get creative with a suitable replacement. Perhaps the best route is to put the original seat in storage and pick up a retro-style sports seat from someone like the Sports Seat Group?
Here’s what the early tail of these cars looked like. Later models have a tail light strip going across the entire rear end, which was definitely more modern, but also more bland. Check out the pinstriping, which suggests this is the original paint on the car. The sunroof suggests this car didn’t start out as a base model, so perhaps there are a couple of other options on this car. Hopefully the over-rev buzzer is disconnected so you can zing this thing up to the redline starting with the first test drive!
Rusty But Trusty 
April 16, 2014 at 6:55 pm |
Beautiful car. Owned one in 79, raced it at Limerock, CT. Most fun car I ever owned….and have been looking for another one. It’s even the right color! You’re just too far away though. I’m in MA. Good luck! Glad I had the chance to look!
May 4, 2015 at 9:01 am |
Is your car still available? I am RX-7less and I am suffering from withdrawals. Your car looks like the one I bought in 1979. I loved that car. Oh well, if it is still for sale I would like to keep it in the Pacific Northwest. My name is Larry.