HIGHLIGHTS
- Current MOT
- Recently had its annual service
- Genuine 38462 miles
- 5 stamps in the service book
- Wankel rotary engine with turbo
- Stylish convertible
THE APPEAL
The second-generation RX-7 (code name ‘FC’) was introduced in 1986 and featured a complete restyling which was reminiscent of the Porsche 924, 944 and the Toyota Celica.
This convertible version was introduced in 1988 and was a hit with buyers, especially in the USA. The more potent turbocharged version, such as this stunning example were offered in the UK to critical acclaim as some reviews stated the car was superior to its rivals in many ways.
The vendor tells us that this RX7 drives like a go cart and feels as though it’s on rails when cornering. He also tells us that it's light and nippy giving a very firm and reassuring ride.
The Mazda RX7 is growing in popularity mainly because of the spellbinding smoothness and power from the twin-turbo 13B rotary Wankel engine. It is also a very familiar car in the gaming world, where the more recent model is used in at least 27 arcade type games.
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
- Owners' manual and spare key.
- 3 previous owners, current owner 17 years, very little mileage in that time
- Full-service history up to 22174 miles
- 5 stamps in the book up until the current owner who has it professionally serviced every year for the MOT
- All past MOT certificates present confirms the mileage of 38464
- Always garaged
- V5 and original brown logbook present
The service book has 5 stamps in it up to 22174 miles. The current owner carried on the servicing for the annual MOT check but in those 10,000 or so miles didn’t get the book stamped. We are assured all the annual work was carried out to a high standard and there were no MOT advisories.
There are some details in the back of the service book of work being done in 2005 at 35000 miles. This included wheel arch replacement and wheel refurbishment, which were done extremely well.
The booklets are with the car which cover radio codes, and general Mazda information.
THE INTERIOR
- Original 2-seater model
- Glass rear window with demister
- Original Cats soundsystem
- Black leather seats
- Door cards clean and mark fee
- Press onto the centre console immobilizer
- Electric windows work well
The black leather seats feel sporty and hold you securely in place. They are in excellent condition as you would expect with such low mileage and only need a bit of colour to bring back to new. The vendor tells us that all the dials and switches are original and in place and all work well, again with very little signs of wear.
The five close ratio gears and reverse all work smoothly.
The interior is well built with high quality materials and aging beautifully. The trim around the steering wheel will need securing in place as it was a bit wobbly.
Mazda were the first to incorporate the integral wind blocker, a rigid panel that folded up from behind the passenger seats to block unwanted drafts from reaching the passengers. They found that this extended the driving season for the car with the top down.
THE EXTERIOR
- Pop up lights work well and are fast to rise
- Rigid chassis reduces body roll
- Refurbished alloys
- New hood fabric fitted to a very high standard by the previous owner
- Electrically operated roof
- 4 x Firestone tyre in excellent condition
- Crawford Motor Sales sticker in rear window
The paint and bodywork are exceptional for the age of the car and have only a few areas that might need attention in the future. There is a small ding in the driver’s door and one tiny line of paint that has lifted where the window surround meets the soft top on the passenger side. Apart from that the bodywork is in really good shape and a testament to the care lavished on the car by the current and previous owners.
This convertible features a removable rigid section over the passengers and a folding fabric rear section with heated rear glass window. The roof is electrically operated and extremely easy to put down.
The car was undersealed from new and redone with Ziebart. This was recently commissioned by the current owner and done professionally.
The lines of the car are straight and true. The Turbo II stickers are bright and the air intake on the bonnet is in place to differentiate it from the naturally aspirated models.
THE MECHANICALS
- 13B Intercooled Wankel turbo engine twin rotor
- 1.3 engine equivalent to 2354cc
- Rasping tone to the exhaust
- No modifications, original specifications with factory intercooler
- Independent rear suspension
- 4 x disc brakes for stopping power
The second generation RX7 we have here has improved handling compared to the MK1. There is also less oversteer and the rear end design is improved from the SA22's live rear axle to a more modern, independent rear suspension. Steering is precise, with rack and pinion steering replacing the old recirculating-ball steering.
The revised independent rear suspension incorporates special toe control hubs which introduces a limited degree of passive rear steering under cornering loads.
Another feature of this model is the Auto Adjusting Suspension (AAS). The system changes damping characteristics according to the road and driving conditions, making the ride an exhilarating experience according to the vendor.
This Turbo II model uses a turbocharger with a twin scroll design. The smaller primary chamber is engineered to cancel the turbo lag at low engine speeds.
The vendor tells us everything mechanical is tight and totally fit for purpose and ready for the next owner to enjoy. The only job you will need to do is source a spare space saver wheel which is somehow no longer in the boot.
SUMMARY
The Mazda RX7 is certainly growing in popularity. Only about 22,000 convertibles were built making this example quite rare and extraordinary in this condition.
This RX-7 MK11 is a beautiful piece of design which totally encapsulates the time period.
It brings together good looks, performance, handling, cult status and fun whether the roof is up or down.
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