The Mazda RX-7 is not the only rotary-engined car that was made but is arguably the most popular. The first-generation debuted in 1978 and it quickly proved to be a popular car. Mazda had hit a home run and they wisely stuck to the winning formula. The RX-7 would go on to have a 24-year production run across 3 generations. By the time, the last unit rolled off the production line in 2002, over 811,000 units had been built. The car also happened to be a tuner's dream platform due to the relative ease with which the performance could be enhanced with aftermarket additions.
Today, several examples of perfectly modified RX-7 sports cars exist, and here, we shine the spotlight on a few of the really striking ones.
10 All Hail The Dark Knight
This is one incredibly cool RX-7! Just check out that custom body kit, hood cut-outs, 5-way adjustable racing rear wing for additional downforce and a set of Work Meister S1 wheels to round things off.
However, the biggest 'wow' factor has to be what lies under the hood of this blacked-out creation. The rotary engine has been completely rebuilt by an Indiana-based company and when the car was put on a dyno, it cranked a frankly ridiculous 1,000+hp at the rear wheels!
9 Japanese With An American Heart
It's not a paint but the custom vinyl wrap for this RX-7 still looks pretty neat. The owner of this one went all out to modify the car; adding parts like a 3-piece adjustable spoiler, carbon-fibre hood, diffusers and side skirts.
The biggest change here though, has to be the engine swap. The stock rotary engine was taken out in favour of a 5.3-litre LS1 V8 engine. That engine was sourced from a 2002 Corvette and has been tweaked to put out an impressive 415hp and 380 pound-feet of torque.
8 Built To Race
This one started life as a 1994 RX-7 model but then an auto-performance outfit got hold of it. The company, DSport Performance, went to great lengths in transforming the car into a race car. The rotary engine was dropped in favour of a 2011 Corvette engine, tuned to produce 445hp at 6,300rpm and 409 pound-feet of torque at 4,200rpm.
The car also received various mechanical parts to enhance the chassis and structural framework. For the exterior, components like a racing wing and carbon fibre bits were added, completing a pretty impressive build for the race tracks.
7 The Multi-Build RX-7
That bright red paint is not the most interesting thing about this RX-7; rather, it's the fact that it seems to have been worked on by an entire army of different car tuners and specialists. Fortunately for the owner, it all looks like the different aspects of the work came together rather nicely.
The external dimensions have grown significantly wider thanks to a TCP Magic TT wide bodykit. Underneath, the car's chassis has been strengthened with parts from no less than 4 different car tuners. The car sits on special sticky Toyo tires; an ideal choice to effectively put down the estimated 660hp from the engine.
6 Keeping Things Simple
Here's clear proof that the RX-7 can still look gorgeous without tacking on bodykits; some of which can be truly horrendous to behold. There's been some modification done to the bodywork though; mainly the deep cutouts behind the front wheel, presumably to channel airflow towards the rear of the car.
The hood also sports some cutouts to improve engine cooling as well as the fancy fender-mounted mirrors. Custom-made rear LED lights and a massive rear wing elevate the 'cool' status of the RX-7, just like the gold wheels to complement the bright paint coat.
5 Rocket Bunny RX-7
In 2017, this extreme RX-7 creation actually took home a 'car of the show' award at the SEMA car show. It is the brainchild of Gooichi Motors, a Florida-based fabrication company. The exterior is coated with a light green paint that maximizes the visual effect of all those rivets and cutouts in the car's Rocket Bunny bodywork.
The wheel arches have been significantly extended to accommodate those massive tires. The work continues on the interior; with the car now sporting a powerplant that can generate as much as 1,200hp! Now, those huge tires make a lot more sense.
4 The Drift King
This drift machine is owned by Irish professional drift driver, James Deane. It is essentially a third-generation RX-7 on steroids. The main work done on the exterior involves the addition of diffusers, side skirts and a gigantic rear wing.
The stock engine is gone and in its place, a high-revving 4-cylinder powerplant has been fitted. There's a turbocharger too, boosting total output to the region of 480hp. The car was present at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed where James thrilled the crowd with his insane drifting skills.
3 Staying Close To Its Roots
Unlike so many modified RX-7s out there, this one still retains its Wankel rotary engine; at least to a large extent. It has been upgraded by a V-mounted radiator and an intercooler, among other parts. This has boosted the power output to an initial 450hp with plans to take this to the region of 500hp.
A RE Amemiya widebody kit gives the car a new stance while the owner's love for carbon fibre is evident with the addition of bits like the wing, rear-light cover, canards, roof spoiler and even the door handles.
2 The Special One
A good number of modified Mazda RX-7s out there today started out as third-generation models, commonly referred to as the RX-7 FD. That's one of the reasons this second-generation FC model stands out.
The hood features several openings to improve cooling for the heavily modified engine underneath. Carbon-fibre canards around the front end helps with the flow of air along the car's sides while a rear-wing improves downforce and we daresay, the overall aesthetics of the FC RX-7.
1 The RX-7 Wagon
This incredible RX-7 is one that will stand out even among the most extreme examples of the rotary-engine Mazda. It follows the typical trend with a widebody kit, vented hood and an outrageous front bumper. However, all these modifications pale in comparison to the wagon-like trunk hatch fixed to the rear of the car.
It is quite an uncommon fixture from GReddy, a Japanese automotive aftermarket company that specializes in performance tuning parts. It is not clear how this contraption enhances the performance of the RX-7 but it sure makes it look cool.