You Need This: Early Mazda RX-7 time capsule

David S.
By David S. Wallens
Aug 20, 2024 | Mazda, Mazda RX-7, You Need This

Okay, what’s wrong with this 1981 Mazda RX-7? Nothing’s jumping out at us as it looks clean.

Stock alloys, stock steering wheel, stock air cleaner. (Not sure about the seats, though.)

Five-speed and, according to the ad, converted to 134 and fitted with fresh tires.

Asking price is $10,500.

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Comments
Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
8/20/24 4:23 p.m.

It does look pretty clean, and the asking price is pretty close to what Hagerty values an '81 RX-7 in No. 3 condition:

  • No. 1 Concours condition: $44,500
  • No. 2 Excellent condition: $27,300
  • No. 3 Good condition: $10,900
  • No. 4 Fair condition: $3,700
Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
8/20/24 5:22 p.m.

It's missing the air cleaner snorkel.

 

Seats appear OE to me.  A/C looks like factory air, too, as opposed to port installed air. The only other non power steering FB that I've seen with factory air was also an '81.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
8/21/24 9:09 a.m.

I couldn’t recall if those were the OE seats but, yeah, looks rather original.

#GLWS

DavyZ
DavyZ Reader
8/21/24 1:32 p.m.

It's so rare to find a near-perfect, stock, unmolested car like this RX7.  It takes my breath away by looking at such a beautiful, clean canvas to completely destroy with performance modifications. 

jmabarone
jmabarone HalfDork
8/21/24 2:02 p.m.

That looks way nicer than mine.  

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
8/21/24 4:14 p.m.

In reply to DavyZ :

So, early taillights or the later ones? To be honest, I can’t decide. 

j_tso
j_tso Dork
8/21/24 5:33 p.m.

In reply to David S. Wallens :

Judging only the taillights, I like the early ones. I like the progression of red-orange-clear, even though it doesn't make sense to have the turn signals further inboard.

But the rear as a whole on the early car looks a little out of the place with the rest of the car, and I prefer the plate under the bumper.

The correct model year of Mazda SA22C RX7 as in GT2 | Fandom

Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
8/21/24 6:25 p.m.

In reply to j_tso :

But the SA has a much better looking front end, with the little chin lip.  

j_tso
j_tso Dork
8/21/24 6:50 p.m.

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

Yeah, even though it's mostly a "modern" 80s car the metal bumpers keep one foot in the old skool 70s.

wvumtnbkr
wvumtnbkr GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
8/21/24 7:12 p.m.

The green car is an SA and is thoroughly a 70s car.  It was only made in 79 and 80.

The red car is an FB and ran through 1985.

The FB and SA share a lot of parts, but you'd be amazed how many differences there are.  It's a bit more different than just a facelift.

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