30 years of the Mazda RX-7 FD3S on sale but probably only 10 years of actually running

A permanent fixture on the list of “timeless vehicle designs,” the Mazda RX-7 FD3S turned 30 years old on December 1, 2021. Not as timeless though are the apex seal jokes and questioning if the car is still running.

To celebrate the occasion, Mazda’s blog took a high-revving drive down memory lane with a focus on photos of the most popular rotary-powered car.

The very first RX-7 is referred to as the Savanna. It made do with a smaller 12A rotary engine that displaced; you guessed it, 1.2-litres. Born in 1978, it had the pop-up lights that went on to become a distinct feature of the nameplate.

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It looked good and the unique experience of driving a rotary made it popular among driving enthusiasts. Down the road, Mazda tacked on a turbo to the engine that really woke it up. High revving with tons of boost, the RX-7 was just getting started.

Part of the rotary charm was the light weight and high-revving nature that made the package a well-balanced driving machine.

Building on the success of the first model, Mazda released the second-generation RX-7. Dubbed the RX-7 FC, it was released in 1985 with a larger 13B rotary engine with a newer twin-scroll turbo.

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Further widening the model’s appeal, a cabriolet was added.

Finally, Mazda went all out with the third generation RX-7. Wearing the FD3S or Efini banner, it roared on the road in 1991 at the end of Japan's bubble economy.

Alongside the Mazda 787B that went to win Le Mans; becoming the only Japanese manufacturer to do pick up the coveted honour, the FD3S blew everyone’s mind at the Tokyo Motor Show.

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Many of the key design cues were retained, such as the coupe body style, the rear glass hatch and the pop-up lights, but the design ditched the angular-wedge shape of the past for a more flowing, curved surface.

The engine itself was upgraded and labelled a 13B-REW. It had sequential turbos that gave the car a wide powerband and good response. Output was 255 PS but soon grew to 265 PS and finally the ceiling of the “gentlemen’s agreement” of 280 PS.

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Some called it a front mid-engined car as the compact rotary mill was positioned behind the front axle.

In addition to the updated engine, the extensive use of aluminium alloy for the suspension and bonnet gave it ideal weight distribution. Every aspect of the car’s performance was tightened to deliver a driving experience like no other; including a driver-oriented cockpit.

Although an absolute joy to drive, the 13B-REW engine itself was always running on borrowed time as well as some 2T oil. It drank fuel like your twice-divorced uncle that’s always drunk at family functions downed whisky, and it out exhaust emissions like the gossip his ex-wife would spew at the same family function.

Production of the car ended in 2002 as emission regulations caught up with the car.

Credits to Mazda for still attempting to give the rotary engine a new lease of life with the Renesis engine in the RX-8. It dropped the turbo and sacrificed a lot of performance to remain on the right side of the law but that didn’t last long as well.

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Nonetheless, Mazda has seen the demand and desire for cars of that generation climb exponentially. Following in the footsteps of other carmakers, Mazda has committed to remanufacturing some of the main components for the RX-7 so that owners can continue to keep their cars on the road for decades to come.