Highlights

• Early-model FDS3 RX-7
• Imported to the UK in 2007
• On-the-button, reportedly in excellent health

The Appeal

History/Paperwork

• V5 Registered keepers document, showing 4 former UK keepers
• First registered in the UK on 08 October 2007
• Originally painted in Bright Red (Code NU) the car was re-sprayed at some point during its history in the current shade of Maroon/Mauve, which the vendor tells us is a Mazda OE colour, but not one that was offered on the RX-7
• Purchased by the current owner in August 2020, the previous keeper was reported to maintain the car well including regular servicing, though the work was done by a family friend, so there is no documentation to substantiate this
• In the current ownership, the rear suspension bushings have been replaced, and the electric mirror adjustment switch
• During its current ownership tenure, the car has been garaged
• The history is all contained in a neat, organised document folder - always a good sign of fastidious ownership in our experience!

The Interior

• The overall condition of the cabin is commensurate with the vehicles age and mileage, with some typical usage wear visible on high-traffic areas
• The centre console ashtray cover is missing, and the driver’s door card tray cover is broken but included with the vehicle
• The passenger door card handle/pull is snapped at the bottom, but remains affixed to the door card
• A brace of additional gauges have been installed on the dash top, monitoring boost pressure, air/fuel ratio and oil temperature
• The original leather front seats have been replaced with ‘carbon look’ half-cloth seats, whilst the rear leather seats remain in place. There is typical bolster wear to the outer edges of the front seats, whilst the rear seat backs are ‘puckered’ with a small rip in the rear nearside seat base
• The speedometer face has been replaced with an MPH face for UK roads (despite still saying KM/H) though the odometer still reads in KM
• Up above, the headliner remains taut and clean throughout
• In the rear, the spare wheel is present, and the underside of the boot shows the original bright red paintwork colour
• The original parcel shelf is present-and-correct, which is a rare sight on these vehicles
• The vendor is not aware of any electrical faults with any of the systems, switches or gauges in the cabin

The Exterior

• Originally out-shopped in Bright Red (NU) this example was re-sprayed at some point during its history. Whilst the overall finish is good, there are some areas that aren’t quite up to the same standard, such as the upper edge of the spoiler, around the spoiler base, and the inner jambs of the doors. 
• Up above, the roof appears to exhibit several ripples/dents.
• The front bumper shows some cracking along the splitter, visible most prominently within the front wheel wells
• The nearside door mirror rattles slightly when out on the road, though it simply needs tightening according to the vendor
• High-traffic areas such as the door handles exhibit some commensurate usage patina
• All four wheels are in very good condition, whilst the tyres are also in good shape with no cracking or low tread.

The Mechanicals

• 2.6-litre 13B tri-rotor, twin-turbocharged engine
• Numerous upgrades have been fitted to the engine, including a pod air intake, large-bore exhaust back box, and other supporting upgrades
• Hand-written notes indicate that the engine was rebuilt in 2017, including fitment of an upgraded ECU, 7,000rpm limit and a ‘street port’ conversion on the engine
• In its current ownership, the car has covered less than 2,000 miles
• Coil-over suspension has also been fitted, enhancing the drive and handling of the car without being spine-breakingly stiff
• During our photo shoot, the car idled well, and started with ease from cold and hot, with no evidence of smoking or untoward behaviours exhibited
• The most recent MoT exam took place on 27 July 2022, showing a clean first-time pass with no advisory items

Summary