Junkyard Find: 1985 Mazda RX-7

Murilee Martin — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:00:17 +0000

Back when I reviewed the final Mazda RX-8, I ranted on at some length about my envy of my RX-7-driving college classmates who were the rich sons of high-ranking South Vietnamese military officers and government officials. Still, except when I was shopping for a Mazda rear end for my 20R Sprite Hell Project, I haven’t paid much attention to the many RX-7s I’ve seen in wrecking yards over the years. First-gen examples aren’t uncommon even today; here’s an ’85 I found in a Denver yard last week.
It didn’t quite manage to get to 150,000 miles. That speedometer looks more 2000s than 1980s; Mazda wasn’t as much into Mars Base-style instruments as the other Japanese manufacturers of the era.
The interior is worn, but not nearly as beat as most mid-80s cars I see around here.
The good old Mazda 12A Wankel engine.
You’ll find one in every car, kid. You’ll see.

The Truth About Cars » 1985 Mazda RX-7

Junkyard Find: 1985 Mazda RX-7