Mazda and rotary engines are two of the most famous combinations in the world. The company practically made them their own, and capitalized where other companies such as Citroën failed to do so with the idea. Mazda became the only company to ever make a rotary powered car win the Le Mans 24 Hours with the stunning 787B in 1991, and their engines are still things that we miss greatly in this modern day and age. One of their greatest cars ever surely has to be the exemplary Mazda RX-7.

The RX-7 is one of the finest JDM cars ever made, and a legend as much as the Honda NSX, Nissan Skyline and Subaru Impreza are. For some reason though, while a great car, clearly, the RX-7 doesn’t sometimes have that same energy behind it. No one talks about it in quite the same vein. Which is odd, as the RX-7 through its various generations is a truly fantastic car, and one that is also popular within the modding community too. We definitely think it is an underrated car, and will always be an all-time classic in our eyes.

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The Early Mazda RX-7s

Mazda-RX-7-1984 Front Quarter View
via Mazda

The first generation RX-7 certainly doesn’t get all the love, but it was still a great car. The first-gen version is commonly referred to as the SA22C, and it was first introduced in Japan back in 1978. It was the replacement for the Mazda Savanna RX-3, another wonderful car from Mazda. The RX-7 would become one of just three rotary engine cars Mazda’s on sale, with the Cosmo and the Luce the other two. The minimal size and weight of the RX-7 plus its compact rotary engine helped to balance the front and rear weight distribution, resulting in a low center of gravity.

Mazda-Savanna-RX-7-Turbo Front Quarter View
via Mazda

Mazda would also introduce an RX-7 Savanna Turbo in September 1983, with a 12A turbocharged engine was available in the top-end Series 3 RX-7. The second generation of the RX-7 saw a total redesign of the car, with smoother lines that were akin to that of the Porsche 928 and much more suited to the American market. The handling of the RX-7 was vastly improved thanks to its more modern, independent rear suspension compared to the live rear axle on the previous generation. A Dynamic Tracking Suspension System was also offered on the car, but the finest hour for the RX-7 would come in 1992.

The Third Generation RX-7

Mazda-RX-7-1992 Front Quarter View
via Mazda

The third generation RX-7, and indeed the final generation, is what we all really think of when this car comes to mind. Introduced in 1992, the new version of the RX-7 would come with a 13B-REW twin-turbo twin-rotor engine, that produced 252 hp when the car launched and then that went up to 276 hp when production finished in 2002. The updated body design would instantly become classic, with the sleek likes, pop-up headlights and smooth, round edges making the new RX-7 a far cry from the first generation.

Mazda RX-7 Spirit R White Front Quarter View
via GT Planet

As the car entered its final months of production, Mazda produced a special Spirit R model, the last model of the RX-7 and one that was also limited to just 1,500 units. Mazda called this the ultimate RX-7 and that it boasted the most outstanding driving performance in hits history. And these are the most collectible of all RX-7 variants. The FD generation of the RX-7, what the third generation was officially called, won various awards such as Motor Trends “Impact Car of the Year”. Playboy even said the RX-7 was better than the Dodge Viper in 1993, such was the impact that the car had.

RELATED: The Story Of Mazda’s Famous Win At The 1991 Le Mans 24 Hours

Modifying The RX-7

Mazda-RX7-1999 Rear Quarter View Red
via Mazda

Something else that has helped the RX-7 stand the test of time is just how ripe for modifications the car is. The RX-7 has become something many people love to modify, not just in Japan, but in America too. Various body kits are available to turn the car into a widebody monster. There are numerous tuning and performance upgrades too, and of course these have all made the RX-7 a fantastic drag racing car. Some of these things can churn out over 1,000 hp, something Mazda probably never imagined when they first dreamt of the RX-7 in the 1970s.

A True JDM Legend In Every Sense Of The Word

Mazda-RX7-1999-Front Quarter View Yellow
via Mazda

There is no other way to describe the RX-7 as anything other than a legend. The FD generation has ensured that it will live on for years to come, and the tuning and modifying community have added a whole new dimension to this popular Japanese car. The car even made a name for itself in motorsports, with RX-7s winning in the GT3 class of the 2010 SCAA National Championship Runoffs, and even competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Spa 24 Hours, which it won in 1981. Underrated it might be, but the RX-7 is a truly great JDM car.

Sources: Top Gear, Mazda, Speed Hunters, GT Planet