An immaculate example of the RX-7 in its first year of production
The phrase pur sang (pure blood) has long been associated with the genius of Ettore Bugatti and his cars from Molsheim. Adorned – more often than not in Bleu de France – Bugattis are unequivocal jewels that share an essence that imbues each unique car (regardless of model or type) with the same qualities emblematic of every other car to wear the iconic horseshoe grill.
Why discuss Bugatti? Because with the launch of the fourth generation of the venerated Miata just hours away, it seems curiously appropriate and timely having just completed a 1000 mile drive in an original 1979 RX-7 that begun the trip with little more than 33,000 miles on the clock.
A drive – regardless of distance – in an RX-7 is not unique nor particularly memorable in and of itself except this most recent stint behind the wheel was revelatory. Upon its introduction at the end of the 70s, the RX-7 was largely seen as the successor to the wildly successful successor to the Datsun 240Z introduced a decade earlier. But while the original Z car owed much of its design to the Jaguar E-Type and an engine based on the Big Healey’s straight six, the Mazda RX-7 was much lighter and higher revving – more Ferrari and less Jaguar.
Some things just look right
With perfect 50/50 weight distribution and flawless ergonomics, the first generation RX-7 was then and continues to feel so now a light sports car designed for the open road and twisty mountain curves. It is light, easily tossed around and inherently smooth in character and operation. Upon its introduction and through three successive evolutions, the Mazda MX-5 remains the standard for affordable sports cars by incorporating the same qualities that marked its larger brother on its debut.
These characteristics helped make the Miata the best-selling sports car of all-time and cannot help but imbue the original RX-7 with collectible status that is rarely bestowed upon Japanese cars of any era (with the exceptions of the Toyota 2000 GT, Mazda Cosmo and Nissan’s 240Z and Skyline) and will likely see significant appreciation in future value. When the new Miata bows later today we hope that it too will become a future classic and worthy of its rotary powered progenitor.
'The Miata’s Pure Blood – Mazda RX-7' has 1 comment
September 3, 2014 @ 11:43 am Ed Hargrove
Yes, the RX7 1st gen had some fine qualities and real character, and Mazda deserves much credit for developing NSU’s Wankel rotary engine for practical, reliable street use. Yet Mazda could never overcome the mileage penalty, and for me that was my 84 GSL-SE’s greatest flaw. Maybe it’s illogical, but I couldn’t get used to wasting gasoline at 18 mpg highway, 14 in town in such a small vehicle. Perhaps those accustomed to modern barges and pickups won’t be bothered about mileage, and they should be delighted to discover what balance, lightness, and handling really mean.