FROM THE CLASSIFIEDS: Mazda RX-7 1994 FD Series 6 coupe
Mazda's involvement with rotary engines has brought the company both grief and pleasure. Taking onboard the unconventional engine design from German engineer Felix Wankel was a risky venture that saw the introduction of a number of rotary-engined Mazdas, beginning with the R100 coupe in 1969. Various rotary powered sedans and coupes followed, right through to 1979 when the RX5 coupe and RX4 sedan sold in Australia alongside conventionally powered equivalents — the 121 and 929, respectively.
The whole exercise cost the company dearly and in 1979 the widespread application of rotary engines in its model range was abandoned.
But the rotary itself was not abandoned. 1979 was the year that saw the launch of the RX-7 sports coupe as the sole remaining bearer of the Wankel engine. The light, zippy coupe wielded the powerful but revvy 1.3-litre two-chamber rotary more effectively than possibly any of its Mazda predecessors apart from the original R100.
Perhaps surprisingly, given the fact it was now the only Mazda rotary, the RX-7 continued through to 1999 (in Australia, that is – the RX-7 remained available in other markets until 2002). It was replaced, after a four-year gap, by the four-door RX-8.
The last RX-7 to be sold here, the FD version, brought the Mazda sports car theme to its peak. Introduced locally in 1992, the twin-turbocharged RX-7 belted out 176kW, supported by a healthy 294Nm of torque, making a package so formidable that Mazda used the car to take out four consecutive victories in the Bathurst 12-hour race from 1992 to 1995 (the year when the hotter SP version out-performed the likes of Porsche's 911 RS CS to cross the line in first place).
The RX-7 FD was pared-down, lighter and more stimulating to look at than its conservative FC forebear, and was considerably faster.
Its ability to accelerate to 100km/h in around six seconds, coupled to a tight, sure-footed suspension and strong brakes, made it a sports car to be reckoned with – its main deficit being the traditional rotary thirst for fuel.
Today, there are plenty of used FD series RX-7s still out there. But many are imports brought into the country after Mazda stopped selling the car here in 1999, and even more are modified. Finding an untouched FD RX-7 is difficult.
Which is why this 1994 example from Queensland caught our attention: second owner, full history, properly cared for and a seemingly plausible reason for selling it.
The car is in fact the owner's third RX-7 – he previously owned a Series 2 and a Series 3 - and was bought in 1998, inspired by Mazda's sensational performances at the Bathurst 12-hour.
Asking price for this apparently unblemished RX-7 is $22,900. Not bad for what is arguably the rortiest and most desirable sports coupe Mazda has yet sold.
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