www.RX7fb.com

Hi all,

I have just paid a deposit for a tatty 1982 project. the 1st gen cars are almost non existent over here. There are very very few runners surviving and if they are runners they are almost certainly running on a piston engine while the Rotary would have been junked a while ago.
The car I have just reserved is also running on a 4 pot Mazda engine. The body has some rust in places and the roof is a mess. The paint is awful and the sun roof has been "enlarged" . My plan is to return it to its Rotary glory and clean up the body.
The interior too has some missing switches and the right lower part of the dash is broken. I know this must sound like a horror story to many of your ears but having gone through the restoration process with 3 Alfa Romeo coupes I am convinced that there is potential here. If I were to ignore the rust spots and the botched roof the rest of the body is straight despite the blistering joke paint.

I would need all the help I could get because I am an absolute novice when it comes to RXs. I would like to know the best places to get an engine, bumpers, a roof panel if possible and some trim bits. Oh and the seats don't look original too. I would also like to buy a book on the first gen and like to know what the exact spec of this car should be. All cars that came to Sri Lanka were JDMs I am quite certain, as was the practice then.

Once brought back on to the road this should be the only rotary powered 1st gen RX7 on our roads. (Import of used cars are not allowed).

I have always had a soft spot for all gens of the RX7 but never actually gone for one until today! I have been busy with restoring my three classic Alfa Romeo coupes. My parents first car was a Mazda 808 and we have owned several Mazdas between us. And so I have a bond with the brand.

Welcome! Is there much following for old Mazda metal in general out there?

Welcome aboard! A friend just got back from Sri Lanka and she said she was amazed how many old Mazdas there were about, albeit many seemed to be the piston rather than rotary versions. Look forward to seeing how you get on with yours

Chud wrote:Welcome! Is there much following for old Mazda metal in general out there?

Hi Chud, there were quite a few RX7s of all generations. And the RX8 was a big hit too as it attracted low import taxes based on it s engine capacity. However many have deteriorated due to lack of specialists who can service and care for the cars. The majority of RX7s are with piston engines and some even with diesel units

The RX8 is it that phase where many engines have gone bust and one could be picked up very cheap. Sadly these cars will fall in the hands of people with no understanding of rotary engines and (I dread to think that) they too will end up with piston engines.

The RX cars were never imported by the official importers and always came via grey importers who never offered any after sales service. Most owners have their horror tales to relate.

There is no Rotary club here and there was a short lived Mazda club. However being a member of the Classic Car Club of Ceylon I would probably end up being the only FB owner. There is another member who owns a FC convertible. Hopefully there will be others who follow me

Lucky wrote:Welcome aboard! A friend just got back from Sri Lanka and she said she was amazed how many old Mazdas there were about, albeit many seemed to be the piston rather than rotary versions. Look forward to seeing how you get on with yours

Thank you Lucky. Yes Mazda has to be one of the most popular brands in the country. I have just been counting we have owned 5 Mazda cars between my parents and I and our small business has used 4 Mazda delivery vans in it's 30+ year history and I have driven all of them. The new 6 seems to have taken off well and I'm sure when the new 3 is launched it will be a bit hit.

I will be collecting the RX7 most likely on Tuesday. Will post some pics then.

Hi mate, welcome to our forum.
We like lots of mugs of tea by the way......

The deal is still not done. The seller is quite chaotic. License and Insurance not renewed I was told today while I was readying payment :x So we have postponed the transaction for tomorrow. Hopefully I will have some pics by evening.

Hi all

Is there a website with detailed history of the FB? I would like to see something on how the styling changes evolved over the years.

I particularly would like to know and I'm certain that you can help me here, what rear end should a 1982 car have. The number plate is located on the bumper or in between the tail lamps? Are the tail lamps the short unified squares or the long ribbed ones?

Thanks in advance.

Try This.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_RX-7

1982 should be series 2 with number between lights and long ribbed lights.......that's UK models anyway.