Time Capsule: 1982 Mazda RX-7
The 1st generation Mazda RX-7 (SA/FB) was a lightweight sports coupe built in Japan and sold around the world starting in 1978. The RX-7 eschewed the bobbing pistons of a conventional engine and instead used Felix Wankel’s spinning rotary voodoo machine that produces the power of a V6, torque of an inline-4 with the fuel consumption of a V8. Find this 1982 Mazda RX-7 offered for $9,000 in Sunnyvale, CA via craigslist. Tip from Kaibeezy.
This is one of the nicer 1st gen RX-7s you’ll find for sale, it has only 45k miles on the odometer, looks nice in the pictures and if it isn’t a cheap restoration, it could be worth every penny of the asking price. Stay away if it is a recent paint job, but original condition cars from 33 years ago are hard to find.
Under the hood is a 1.1 liter Mazda 12A rotary engine that pumps 100 horsepower into a
5-speed manual gearbox. The 2300 lb lightweight will hit 60mph in about
10 seconds, nothing to brag about, but the 50:50 weight distribution
and 7000 rpm redline is a wonderful thing on a back road.
See a nicer preserved classic for less? tips@dailyturismo.com
I wouldn't necessarily stay away from it just because it had a recent paint job – as long as the prep was good and done to an acceptable standard.
It would be good however to see what is under the Gorst the Friendly Furple seat covers.
Great find, I wish I had the space…
Here's Gorst the Friendly Furple:
[img] i.imgur.com/2GISq8L.jpg?1[/img]
Here's one that's equally preserved… and for $5 less.
sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/5165726467.html
More miles, but still low. Plus it's injected.
Noice
NOOO! Not Fozzie Bear! Why oh why did they have to kill and skin my favorite Muppet?
Oh wait, whew. The color match is closer to Rowlf the Dog. Maybe Fozzie escaped the poachers after all.
[img] img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100320214031/muppet/images/7/79/Rowlf2.jpg[/img]
"…the power of a V6, torque of an inline-4 with the fuel consumption of a V8…"
…and the redline of a race engine!
Well, not really. More like a motorcycle. But still fun.
youtube.com/watch?v=TXHn8mYBV3I
Check out the sound of Rod Millen's 4WD Pro Rally Rx-7 at about 1:00 in. There was nothing like the sound of that 13B in the woods.
youtube.com/watch?v=GZLEXjPzNVU
Its not so much the lousy gas mileage as it is the commenters familiarity with furry hand puppets that distresses me.