This 1993 Mazda RX7 represents a triumph for the Japanese manufacturer. It is an extremely comfortable and competent Japanese sports car, but we could apply that same description to many sports offerings from other manufacturers of the era. However, its revolutionary Wankel engine makes the RX7 a unique vehicle. In its early development phase, it is an engine that caused the company significant problems. Mazda had developed the rotary into a smooth, reliable, and powerful unit by the time our feature car rolled off the production line. This 1993 RX7 presents superbly and has a genuine 27,000 miles showing on its odometer. It is a turnkey classic that needs a new owner. If you seek a genuine Japanese classic, you will find this RX7 located in Rustburg, Virginia, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $34,200, but this remains short of the reserve.

JDM classics have a strong following in today’s market. In many cases, they represent an opportunity for buyers to secure vehicles (or versions) that manufacturers never offered in the domestic market. The Third Generation RX7 was offered in the American market, but examples were still privately imported from Japan. This RX7 is a JDM import, and it has cleared all of the relevant customs and other regulatory authorities. It presents beautifully in its original Silver Stone shade, with no evidence of any significant flaws or problems. The panels are laser straight, and there are no signs that this RX7 has ever suffered any accident damage. These little Mazdas are not renowned for their rust problems, which is true of our feature vehicle. It looks spotlessly clean and would suit somebody seeking a car in as-new condition. The plastic trim has survived well over the last twenty-eight years, while the glass and factory alloy wheels are spotless. It wouldn’t be stretching things to state that this RX7 looks like it has recently rolled off a showroom floor.

The Wankel rotary motor would probably be the most revolutionary internal combustion engine ever developed. It was an engineering triumph and offered surprising amounts of power in an extraordinarily smooth package. It was also a motor that caused more than a few headaches during its development phase. It was partly responsible for sending the mighty NSU brand into bankruptcy and caused Mazda early financial issues. However, the company was nothing if not persistent, and by the time our feature car rolled off the line, the Wankel rotary had developed into something pretty special. The Rotary in this RX7 is a triumph of engineering. It features fuel injection and sequential turbocharging, allowing it to produce 255hp. If I am disappointed about anything with this classic, it is that it features a four-speed automatic transmission. The nature of the Wankel motor and its lack of torque means that this car would perform at its best if it featured a manual transmission. However, all is not lost. Despite its transmission, the little RX7 should be capable of blitzing the ¼ mile in 14.5 seconds. With 27,000 genuine miles on the clock, the Mazda should potentially offer its next owner years of faithful service. I will qualify that statement by saying that this is dependent on the motor being correctly maintained and serviced. It appears that it has been to this point, and if that trend continues, it should present no real problems. The owner says that this RX7 runs and drives well and is a turnkey proposition for its new owner.

The seller describes this Mazda’s interior as being in as-new condition. That is a fair call because it does look like it has just rolled off a showroom floor. It is upholstered in black leather, which appears perfect. There is no evidence of wear on the outer edges of the heavily-bolstered bucket seats. They can be prone to this problem, but this RX7 appears to be an exception to that rule. The remaining trim is perfect, while there are no signs of UV damage on the plastic. The dash and gauge cluster are excellent, and this RX7 is loaded with safety and comfort features. These include a driver’s airbag, air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, cruise control, an adjustable wheel, and a premium AM/FM radio and cassette player.

The defining characteristic of this 1993 Mazda RX7 is undoubtedly its engine. This unit endows the RX7 with class-leading performance in a package that is eerily smooth. Correctly maintained, these engines can be long-lived. Our feature car presents superbly and seems to need nothing. I believe that the bidding is probably drawing close to the reserve, so if you have your heart set on a Japanese classic with spritely performance and excellent long-distance cruising abilities, this auction might be worth watching.