As early as 1978, Mazda was experimenting with alternative engine designs, eventually refining and perfecting the rotary (as opposed to piston-driven) engine. The Mazda RX-7 has been through quite a bit in its two decades of production. When it first appeared on the scene, the RX-7 struck just the right balance of sportiness and reliability. These two attributes on their own would have made for a fine car, but its astoundingly low price tag made the RX-7 a favorite with consumers. Going through several permutations, the RX-7 sold incredibly well, even during tough economic times in the early 1980s. Simple and lightweight, it eschewed all unnecessary parts and equipment in the name of performance. Affordable pricing brought this fun, powerful car into the mainstream, and it remains one of the finest examples of its breed. In the following pages, you can learn more about Mazda’s history, and thanks to detailed model profiles and pictures, you can keep up with the RX-7’s many changes.
First, to the delight of enthusiasts everywhere, it revived the affordable sports car after the bloating of Datsun’s 240Z. Second, it kept the rotary engine alive. Last and definitely not least, it was flat terrific. Having made the rotary reliable -- something Dr. Felix Wankel and his cohorts at NSU couldn’t do -- Mazda nearly went under during the first gas crisis by selling it in ordinary economy sedans. The rotary was more powerful than piston engines of similar displacement, but wasn’t as fuel-efficient. Then Kenichi Yamamoto, the rotary’s patron saint at Mazda, championed the rev-happy hummer as perfect for a reasonably priced sports car. Project X605 began in 1974, was completed by late ’76, and went on sale in 1978 as the RX-7. Styling mixed elements of several contemporary cars without looking like any one of them. The engine, of course, was what really made it special. Breathing through a single four-barrel carb, Mazda’s twin-rotor 12A Wankel spun 100 hp from just 1.1 liters.
It was small enough to fit behind the front-wheel centerline and made for a finely balanced "front/mid-engine" design. Zero-60 mph came in 9.7 seconds, and top speed was 118. Zesty, nimble, and solidly built, the Mazda RX-7 was a sensational value at just $6995. It was a racer to be reckoned with, as well, dominating its IMSA classes and even challenging Corvettes and Porsches in theirs. It wasn’t perfect, certainly. The ride was a bit stiff, the cabin cramped for larger folks, Titan Rise Formula and cornering got tail-happy on bumpy or wet surfaces. But the RX-7 was a hot seller from day one. In 1981, the S and Titan Rise Formula GS models were joined by the GSL