This 1987 Mazda RX-7 is a bone-stock example that is increasingly hard to find in this second-generation platform of Mazda’s iconic sports car. It is a naturally-aspirated model which is generally less desirable than the turbocharged examples, but you’re also more likely to find a non-turbo car in stock condition. The seller claims the 250,000 miles on the clock were racked up by a longtime female owner who apparently used this as her commuter car. The Mazda still presents well and is said to run and drive just fine with no apparent concerns. This one is offered with no reserve here on eBay where bidding has just clicked over $5,000.
Kudos to the little old lady who logged some serious miles behind the wheel of Mazda’s rotary-powered coupe. Check out the old-school “sunset”-style license plates – these plates have become increasingly collectible, and they look right at home on an 80s icon like this RX-7. Even in non-turbo form, the coupe still got dual exhaust and racy looks, but if you’re OK with an NA powertrain, it makes more sense to look for a later car as they received a nice bump in power to around 160 b.h.p. in the final editions of the FC chassis design. Like all Japanese cars of a certain vintage, rust is a concern, but this RX-7 appears to have no such issues.
The interior is in surprisingly nice shape for a car approaching 300,000 miles, and the only damage we can see is the wear-and-tear to the driver’s-side seat bolster. The dash doesn’t appear to be cracked and there’s no evidence of extensive sun fade which would seemingly suggest this Mazda was garaged for much of its life. The paint looks a little bare in places, but it also sounds like the seller did very little to the car before flicking it onto eBay after buying it from the original owner. The Mazda is a simple machine inside, with crank windows and the preferred manual gearbox. Still, unlike the seller, you’ll want to perform some preventative maintenance if you bring it home to address the belts, fluids, and any leaking seals. The seller reports the A/C turns on but doesn’t blow cold. He did install some new tires.
Truth be told, these actually make some sense as a commuter car if you’re living in California in 1987 and want to drive a sports coupe that looks perfect against a Pacific coast sunset. The RX-7 is one of the “raddest” cars from the era, with its pop-up headlights and color-coordinated interior. In the case of this car, a few things work against it: the miles are high, the color scheme is far from the most desirable, and it’s not a turbo. That said, even with the lack of records, driving an RX-7 of this vintage to this kind of mileage almost guarantees it was looked after, as opposed to a garage queen with under 20K on the clock. Bidders seem to agree, as it’s not exactly going cheap at the moment.
That 13B has just about reached the end of it’s life. Apex seals should be ready to give up, rest of the car presents well for an 87 that has that kind of usage. These were everywhere for quite a while, then kids tore them up. Fast and furious and drifting.
Had the exact same model literally same year and exterior/interior color in 91. Was a new soldier in the Army and toar all over the place in it till I totaled it. I was that typical 21 year old that had to push everything to limits and this car took it all obviously until it hit the back of a utility truck stopped in traffic on the highway. ;)
You can find many Wankel specialists in the web, I had a 1987 NA 13B, purchased in a NC salvage, rebuilt and tuned by Kevin Landers, Rotary Resurrection, for a reasonable cost.
The 13B NA has a higher CR than the twin turbo version, it may not accept a turbo, but there is a technology I guess no one tested in a Mazda Wankel, of little use today, don’t know why: the variable geometry turbo, that starts blowing at low rpm. Blessings +
I doubt you’ll see this, but I’m actually the kid that bought this car. I’ve put well over 25 thousand miles on the engine since I bought it and have had no issues other than my water pump. Its not stock anymore but what I’d call tastefully modded, not a drift missle. I’ve been going for OEM+ and doing a nice street build, that represents what would’ve been done to the car in the 80’s Japanese Street scene. But still, the engine pushes like its got lots of more life in it. 300k next
LOL, “four-cylinder rotary engine”
Yes, it is more literally a ‘6 cylinder’ rotary because each rotor has 3 lobes that create 3 distinct (6 overall) compression chambers. Unlike the piston engine with stationary cylinder chambers, the rotary’s chambers are what moves within the engine block (if you can call it a block). I believe that the series 3 engines had 3 rotors (or perhaps it was the racing engines that had 3) and twin turbos.
This car has the 13B engine that was introduced in the series 1 LE versions. My own 84 has the 12A with the 4 barrel Nikki carb. If you follow the forums, the Nikki can be modified to give outstanding performance in that little engine. I’ve done a few things to mine but I have not yet rejetted it as some recommend. I’ve made the secondary mechanical and enhanced the power piston to give a bigger squirt. Now the secondaries open up sooner and make an interesting roar. Standard exhaust system, sort of, with a Racing Beat engine pipe. I’ve also gotten rid of the bird’s nest of solenoids and tied off the flapper valve. Gives it a lot more pop. 185K and going strong with pristine body and almost pristine leather interior.
Mazda never sold a 3-rotor car in the U.S. The 3-rotor was JDM-only and wasn’t in an Rx-7.
Common mistake to someone not familiar with the Wankel as there are 4 spark plugs on the 2 rotor motor.
Quote: “makes more sense to look for a later car as the four-cylinder rotary engine got a nice bump”
Four-cylinder rotary engine? Uh, no.
And that’s a problem with these. The engines remain a mystery to many in terms of what they are and how they work. And these days few shops still work on them. Admittedly, they are fairly simple cars (though not as simple as the first gens) and if you can wrench you can do the basic maintenance. But not everyone wants to do that and some issues need an experienced tech. There is good support on online forums if you can do your own wrenching.
SOLD for $5,300.
The good approach for Mazda Wankel I guess would be a Peripheral Port Intake, V-Force Reed Valve controlled RX-8 Renesis engine, with the Side Intake Ports clogged to avoid interferences, keeping the Side Exhaust Ports.
Wankel have less load on internal gears with an automatic transmission.
If you don’t need a lot of power, all parts for a Single Rotor RX-8 engine are available from Atkins Rotary and other. + Blessings