Dan Trent: Could the FD RX‑7 be as beautiful as a 250 GTO or E‑Type?

I’m serious! When we’re all whirring about in autonomous electric pods and the great history of the motor car is compiled I’ll be fighting for the FD RX-7 to be included alongside the likes of the Ferrari 250 GTO, Jaguar E-Type and Porsche 911 as one of the great pieces of sports car design. That it’s currently also more affordable and attainable than any of those cars just happens to be a bonus.

Take this one for instance. Japanese manufacturers of the era did love a limited edition and navigating the local market (JDM) specials can be an extreme test of forensic geekery. In the Mazda’s case, there were Type Rs, Type RZs, Bathurst Editions and all manner of other exotics contrived from differing combinations of the same parts bin. All you need to know is that this one – the Spirit R – combines the best of the lot. Only sold in Japan, Mazda built 1,500 examples divided across three variants. Of these the Type-A seen here is the most desirable, combining the uprated 280ps [276bhp] power output, strut braces, gunmetal 17-inch BBS wheels, uprated brakes, Bilstein dampers and some very trick looking Recaro seats. 

For sale with an import specialist in Devon as far as I can tell from the pictures it’s near-standard, this alone being a cause for celebration given how many RX-7s have been modified. I’d say blame the Fast and Furious modding culture and the wild paint jobs and Veilside body kits it’s inspired but I am conflicted, given this is an important expression of the 90s Japanese car culture I love. For me though, standard is best. The vendor (and importer) of this example says prices have near-doubled in the last year as buyers chase the remaining original cars. 

Don’t get me started on the craze for replacing the rotary engines with American V8s either. I appreciate the Wankel motor is an acquired taste, incredibly thirsty and demanding of exacting maintenance to stop it going pop every few thousand miles. These are not cheap cars to run, by any stretch. But the complexity of its twin sequential turbo set-up, its screaming power delivery, its eery smoothness and its 8,000rpm redline are – along with the styling – what makes the RX-7 such a beguiling car.

And if this one lives up to the promise of the photos it’s still only £30,000. People will say that’s a lot for a 90s Japanese sports car. But look at the values of other stuff in the market and it still seems a steal.  

Thankfully the RX-7 is also as beautiful to drive as it is to look at. I’ve had a go in a real Spirit R but, bizarrely, I was reminded of this by the addition of the RX-7 – and a choice selection of other 90s Japanese icons – to Gran Turismo Sport just before Christmas. Obviously I immediately ‘bought’ a fleet of virtual Skylines and suchlike but the one I’ve ‘driven’ most of all is the RX-7, its perfect natural balance, distinctive power delivery, compact size and lack of weight all faithfully reproduced in the game.

As previously discussed Gran Turismo has inspired many of these columns, and my real-world car buying habits too. If it has me attempting to scrape together £29,990 and getting on a train to Devon don’t be surprised.

Photos: Jacob Ashworth