It has the engine that goes Hmmm. But this 1989 Mazda RX-7, owing to its GTUs trim, goes Hmmm with some bite. It is one of only 1,100 produced so this RX-7 is a rare bird with an impressive set of features. It’s located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is available here on craigslist for $13,500. Thanks to Kenneth A for this tip!
The GTUs was a commemorative model that marked Mazda’s success with the RX-7 in the IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) racing series and it featured a lightweight body, turbo model suspension, crank windows, no rear window wiper, four-piston front brakes, ventilated rear brake rotors, speed-sensing power steering, a front chin spoiler, 16-inch wheels and a 4.30:1 limited-slip differential among other features.
Once again, I have found an interesting car that is minus an engine image but we know that power is provided by a 202 160 net HP, 1.3-liter rotary engine, pushings its power through a five-speed manual transmission that is connected to the rear wheels. The seller doesn’t detail this RX-7’s operating aspects but with only 2,800 lbs. of weight and that steep final drive ratio, this Mazda should more out sharply.
The exterior, described by the seller as a “clean car“, looks great! Its 82K miles would appear to have been gently applied and it’s a safe bet that a garage was involved. Red is frequently subject to fade but none is noted and it has nice depth. And there is no evidence of road-rash or a trace of a bumper nick, common issues with soft-bumper cars. The lace alloy wheels really tie the exterior visual together – they appear to be in fine shape with no pitting or other maladies caused by brake dust.
The interior is a way-back trip with its retractable seatbelts – I often wondered what happened when they malfunction, and something like that design will do exactly that at some point. Nevertheless, once you are ensconced in the safety grip of the shoulder belts, you’re treated to a typical ’80s Japanese auto interior, a style, and design, that I must admit, I have always enjoyed. The upholstery pattern is a bit busy but there’s nothing wrong with its condition; ditto the carpet, dash, instrument panel, and center console – it needs nothing.
Conceptcarz verifies the 1,100 total GTUs build volume; 1,000 offered for the model year 1989 and, in 1970 Shelby Mustang fashion, 100 more leftovers being available as restamped 1990 models. Considering there were about 26K RX-7s produced in ’89 and ’90, the GTUs equipped version registers only 4.2% of total output – so yes, it’s rare and probably a blast to drive. I’m finding myself more and more drawn to two-seat sports cars these days, and I don’t mean new ones – there is such a variety from the past to consider. Might this ’89 RX-7 GTUs fit the bill?
What a little rotary Radwood gem!
I had one in the day and they were great cars. When explaining the car to others I use to say think the Turbo without the Turbo. It had all the performance goodies except for guess what
Have owned 5 rx-7’s and my favorite was the 2nd gen, had all three. Just a great driving car. Never had those auto retractable seatbelts in the ones I owned and I am sure they fail eventually.and there can’t be too many parts around anymore. Sure is a sweet looking car, 3rd gen bring the big bucks 2nd not so much. Though many were trashed by kids ( fast and furious) and trying to drift them. Ran across one in pick a parts few months ago with a small block Chevy.
Where does the 202 horsepower claim come from? The GTUs had the same 146 horsepower 13B that other naturally-aspirated FC3S’s had in the US. Perhaps the turbo models touched 200 horsepower in 1989, but the GTUs was a naturally aspirated trim package.
Actually, the ‘89-92 FC RX-7 made 160 horsepower in NA form.
The GTUs also did not have a “lightweight body.” It had the same body as all other FCs. It should have an aluminum hood, like all convertibles and Turbo IIs.
I read the wrong line from my RX-7 spec sheet and picked up the rating for the turbo version – it’s 160.
JO
Two thoughts for potential buyers – driving style preferences (high revs, always) and repairs (who, where and if).
I had the same RX7 and one had to rev the mess out of the engine just to get anything close to useable acceleration. Yes, it revs easily and revs very high, but my mind always struggled (pained) as I routinely went to 6 or 7,000 rpm.
Though I kept my for only a few years (no repairs), it is understanding (YouTube) that it is hard to find mechanics willing to work on rotaries.
So, I won’t be buying this or another RX7, just be prepared if you are in the market.
Jim…. Kind of sort of the right info but not quite. This isn’t your fault, the fault solely lies at the feet of a few unscrupulous GTUs owners and fakers trying to make “their” cars into something they aren’t. Most of tour technical info is correct. Essentially this is a stripped down NA rx7 with the suspension and ground effects of the Turbo model. This was to create a performance version that could be used in racing. This is why things like tilt, ABS upgraded radios weren’t available in this model. Some dealers did add those things but they weren’t spec for the model. The GTU as presented in 88 was in honor of the rx7s continued success in IMSA GTU. Ironically they failed to win the 88 GTU championship. Mazda corporate for years has maintained that since the GTUs doesn’t have a unique VIN identifier they do not know how many were made in total or in any specific color(as some claim). Because they cancelled the model early in 1990 they do know they only made 100. They main argument made is that the GTUs model info is widely found on the internet and while this is true that information didn’t originally come from Mazda……. Does this take away from the value….. Not really this is still a very unique model and when complete and original valuable to a collector. There aren’t many left as most were actually used as race cars. Fair warning make sure you know what you are looking at because this car can be faked easily all you need is the right chassis to start with(non turbo non sunroof non abs). There is one other way that I and a few other Mazda collectors can verify this model. It isn’t near me but I am happy to confirm them reach out to a known collector they will.
There was only 100 GTUs models made between 1989 and 1990.
Only 40 have ever been claimed and only about 20 are confirmed at the time of this posting! Here are the rarest rx7 FC3S models:
1500 10AE Turbo models
1400 infini
1000 winning limited
150 final edition convertible
100 GTUs…
out of that 100:
83 red on black
10 black on black
7 white on blue
There was only 100 GTUs models created between 1989 and 1991.
If you own one of these rare models sign your car up to the registry list here on any of the rotary forums!
There are rumors about a restamped GTUs model…
The entire origins GTUs owners thread on the rx7club was modified, icemarks claims deleted, registry list changed to have a confirmed section and the mods agree there are not enough GTUs models to have the restamped.
If you want the full story behind the restamped models:
https://www.mazdaforum.com/forum/mazda-rx-7-33/restamped-mazda-rx7-45926/
https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-non-technical-pictures-198/restamped-mazda-rx7-1148475/
If you have a real GTUs you can register it here:
https://www.mazdaforum.com/forum/mazda-rx-7-33/official-mazda-rx7-gtus-owners-club-thread-44477/
https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-gen-general-discussion-323/mazda-rx7-gtus-1148562/
https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-gen-general-discussion-323/official-2020-mazda-rx7-gtus-owners-club-thread-1144342/
Picture thread:
https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-non-technical-pictures-198/mazda-rx7-gtus-pictures-1160864/
I have always liked the RX7 cars I wouldn’t know a GTU from a regular one I have just never bitten the bullet to get one I have enough cars to get a ticket in I don’t need another.
Depending on what source you read the engine only produced 146 to 160 HP. Not 202 HP.
Joe; I believe the factory-advertised h.p for the 1989 GTU was 160 h.p. The 202 h.p. number seems to be a mistake or misprint that one or more RX-t sites have posted. Also, 202 h.p. seems unrealistic for a normally-asperated RX-7, in 1982. I had a 1987 RX-7 Turbo 2i and it had an advertised rating of only 182 h.p. . Maybe 202 h.p. came from a country that has smaller and weaker horses. :-) :-)
Beautiful Mazda, but I cannot get over how much fun the 4.30:1 limited-slip differential would be.
I used to work next door to musician Colin James’s practice studio in the late 80’s and remember when he picked up a red GTU convertible…very stylin. Not sure how many of those unicorns came to Canada, but have never seen another.
Having owned Mazda rotary, I want to clear up a couple of misconceptions. First, most problems with the rotary engine are due to owners that do not know what they are doing. A rotary engine has seals at each apex. The seals have to be oiled so they stay pliable and seal. There are oil injectors to solve this problem. So, a rotary engine BY DESIGN uses oil. So, you have to check the oil and top it off between oil changes, unlike most Jap cars. If you came from a Celica where you never had check the oil, you have to totally change your thinking. Get gas – check the oil. Every time. Don’t check your oil – engine go boom. Also, many buyers of these RX7s and RX8s do not use them as primary transportation and they sit without being run. Big mistake. The rotary needs to be ran to keep those seals lubricated. The reward for taking care of it was a car thar would go 0-60 with the first shift coming at 60. The power band was so high on each gear that I could drive it hard and only go 2nd to 3rd to 2nd to 3rd. And drifting – OMG I could throw that car into a corner sideways and pull right out of it like a master. Without a doubt it was the funnest car I ever owned.
You do not need to check the oil at every fill up. Yes they use oil, but a quart per 1500 miles on older models and a quart per 2500 miles on RX-8. Yes they did die before 50k in the 70’s due to sorting out a new engine design. Yes the 2004 and 2005 RX-8 often died before 60K also, due to it’s design and lack of oil injected. The 2009 to 2012 Series II Rx-8 had 6 oil injectors instead of 4, which the 13B, like this one has. It greatly improved the engine life. You are lucky to get 200 miles on a tank of gas. On a RX-8 there is a 2 quart margin from the top of the dip stick to the low oil level. You should never let it get more than a quart low, but it also hold 7 quarts with the oil coolers. You should never overfill them also as you can get a oil burp. I have owned 2 RX-3s , one RX-4 and 2 RX-8, do your oil every 2500 miles and you will be fine. It is not a quarter mile car, you will get beat by many cars that can go 0 to 60 in six seconds, but a RX-8 will leave them behind on back roads. This GTU is very, very nice. I hope it brings all the money
I was much better at checking the oil at every fill up than at every third fill up. “Hmm. Is this the second or third fill up? Maybe I’ll wait…” My point about 0-60 wasn’t that you would beat other cars, but what fun it was shifting a car from 1st to 2nd at 60mph (first shift). That thing would rev like no other. A friend with another RX8 described it a an electric drill. Smooth power all the way to 9000 rpm. Nothing like it.
If you can’t remember when the last time you checked then you shouldn’t own a rotary. They are not that hard to properly maintain. On the RX-8 change coil packs every 20 to 30k, change plugs and wires every 15K, use tier 1 fuel, 91 octane or better and don’t run it hard and then just shut it off, coolant seals will not like it.
I had a 79 RX-7 that was a much better handling car than the 86 I bought years later. The 86 would go up on 2 wheels very easily, especially with Pirrelli tires on it. I would much rather have a 1st gen, Only because I can’t fit my 6’5″ self in a 3rd gen and I tried. LMAO. Even a GTUs will not overcome the trailing rear steering wheels of that era model. Still cool looking and in great shape.
Had one of these in black. Loved it and should have never sold it. Shocked to see these have not popped in value considering the rarity. Beautiful car.
I had a ‘90 Black Convertible…. With License Plate “RX HVN42” not knowing at the time that “RX” stood for something totally different until Officer Friendly Pointed it out during a quota fulfilling stop… I pulled out my British License (large A4 piece of paper w/ o picture) and admitted to the fact that my velocity may have exceeded the limit as I was doing all I could trying to convert mph to mph, shifting with the wrong hand, looking in the wrong spot for my rear view mirror, etc. at which point he said, “Just slow down and stay in the right hand lane Son!”….. my mate in the passenger seat could hardly contain himself and was ready to piss his pants laughing……I still have the Plate (amongst others) hanging on my garage wall!
There was only 100 GTUs models made between 1989 and 1990.
Only 40 have ever been claimed and only about 20 are confirmed at the time of this posting! Here are the rarest rx7 FC3S models:
1500 10AE Turbo models
1400 infini
1000 winning limited
150 final edition convertible
100 GTUs…
out of that 100:
83 red on black
10 black on black
7 white on blue
There was only 100 GTUs models created between 1989 and 1991.
If you own one of these rare models sign your car up to the registry list here on any of the rotary forums!
There are rumors about a restamped GTUs model…
The entire origins GTUs owners thread on the rx7club was modified, icemarks claims deleted, registry list changed to have a confirmed section and the mods agree there are not enough GTUs models to have the restamped.
If you want the full story behind the restamped models:
https://www.mazdaforum.com/forum/mazda-rx-7-33/restamped-mazda-rx7-45926/
https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-non-technical-pictures-198/restamped-mazda-rx7-1148475/
If you have a real GTUs you can register it here:
https://www.mazdaforum.com/forum/mazda-rx-7-33/official-mazda-rx7-gtus-owners-club-thread-44477/
https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-gen-general-discussion-323/mazda-rx7-gtus-1148562/
https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-gen-general-discussion-323/official-2020-mazda-rx7-gtus-owners-club-thread-1144342/
Picture thread:
https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-non-technical-pictures-198/mazda-rx7-gtus-pictures-1160864/
I have an ’89 GTUs that I purchased used in Jan. of ’93. I’ve checked the VIN and info. on the driver’s door post to confirm that it is, in fact, a true GTUs. It has a dealer installed sun roof, not unknown with the GTUs that came to the U.S. I installed a (rare) RX7 back seat several years ago when my daughters were small enough to fit, but still have the original storage boxes, etc. that came on the car. Otherwise the car is completely original – engine, paint, wheels, interior, radio; and it has 61K original miles. Since I have other vehicles and have gotten older, I don’t drive the GTUs much, but still take it out weekly (for those pesky apex seals) and just to enjoy the car. There is one aspect of all RX7s that hasn’t been mentioned and that is the “short start” flooding and difficulty starting that can occur sometimes if the car is started and run very briefly, like to just move it out of the way. This is something to keep in mind as an RX7 owner. Other than that, it is a great car. I drove it on my honeymoon years age and I intend to keep it.