The FD RX-7 is everything you want in a sports car, including failure | Cammisa Revelations | Ep. 17
The 3rd-gen Mazda RX-7 has it all: beauty, performance, a Le Mans tie-in, and a sales failure. Like so many other legends, it's everything we want in a sports car. Which made it a hard sell in its time.
The FD RX-7 was developed at the same time, by the same man, as the 4-rotor 787B that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
It was a lightweight, fast, focused sports car that walloped its competition on the road and on track, thanks to a sequential twin-turbocharged rotary engine and a obsessive lightweighting.
But it might have gone too far. The 13B-REW engine is fragile and finicky, and the chassis was one last-second reinforcement away from being too light to be structurally sound.
Then again, what sports car doesn't suffer from a few problems? At least the RX-7 had incredible performance and looks to kill. It was designed to be a classic, with forms that would make it one day appear on the lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Given how well it's aging, there's little doubt the most beautiful sports car to come out of Japan in decades will one day appear on the lawn.
Which is also a shame, because where this RX-7 really shines is on the road. #NeverStopDriving
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The RX7 is almost 30 years old and still looks beautiful today. It will always be a classic.
Most 30 year old cars look much nicer than today’s designs. But I agree it’s a gorgeous design.
40+ but who's counting
@@The_ZeroLine Seriously?? There are some BUTT ugly 30 year old cars 1992 IS 30 years ago take a look at the '92 Mustang just for instance. Of course the the original RX7 started at the end of the 70s (over 40 years ago now) ....That also was an era of some real dogs of cars if you ask me. I firmly believe the industry goes out of its way to make ugly crap....They do Not want people falling in love they want people to HATE their appearance several years later...historically the main vehicles that often dodge the ugly stick are sports cars and pick up trucks and hard core utilitarian 4wd stuff likeJeep because people fall in love with the function and of course the "function dictates form "creates " classics
Put a reliable motor in it i would buy one today
@@rt2255 It would kinda miss the point though I guess? Maybe a Hayabusa turbo motorbike engine or something but the whole point is crazy light and high-powered, high revving.
Timeless design. Could release it today minus the pop ups and a few design refreshments and no one would question it
Pop ups must stay no matter what in my opinion. I know that regulations are unecessarily strict but it's one of the things that made fd an fd.
No I need pop ups, the coolest thing ever!
@@mehmett.bakkal8257 here in the states, nothing is stopping manufacturers from using pop up headlights. It was just a trend that got phased out. Mainly due to front design space being constrained by the headlights. Kinda like how current modern cars uncannily share similar daytime running light designs.
@@DJAizakku also the fact that they are very expensive to make and maintain.
Modern cars look angry
Man, this takes me back. I owned, daily drove, and repaired a 1st and 3rd gen Rx7s. Rebuilt the 13b engine a few times, built a single turbo setup, mapped a haltech ecu, etc.
Owned an 1981 ist gen
@@rogerfox9028 the SC22a or fb?
@@-LIMITED- IIRC fb 1981
...man if I had a dollar for every time I rebuilt a 13b engine.
@@touristguy87 like 8$?
The technology behind high performance cars has trickled down so much, that even hot hatches can toast 10-20 year old super cars nowadays, while also being affordable and reliable. But sadly cars like the RX7, NSX or other similar sports cars have practically disappeared from the market; I had always hoped we would see a "poor mans" NSX or RX7 in the future. I know we should be glad, that we still got the GR86, Nissan Z and Yaris GR, but knowing what could have been is still sad.
If it could have been it would have been. But the rotary engine was, from its concept to endless attempts by all the major manufacturers, a non-starter. A never-wasser. Like cold fusion or perpetual motion, its viability is a fatally seductive lie. Buy one and you’ll find out like everybody else - the hard way.
@@johntechwriter I couldn't agree more. I still think they're super interesting, but there's a good reason they never replaced piston engines.
@@johntechwriter It is a reliable engine... in the right hands. Mine's at 180,000 Km.
@@johntechwriter The 70's oil crisis was a major contributor for all the companies dropping the rotary...
I had mine out of the garage yesterday and when walking away I turned and looked at it. It is truly a gorgeous car. Mine is modded a bit so looks pretty exotic. 380whp (about 160hp over stock) weighing about 2800lbs. It is a car that can surprise many new cars today. I had it up in deals gap a couple years ago (missed this year). There is nothing like it. It is phenomenal and so sad we don't have cool cars like this anymore. I am sure I can pull 12's in a 1/4 so it isn't obsolete with speed, but it is the handling and just plain fun to drive. There isn't much available today as fun unless you want to pay 100k plus. Beautiful and timeless.
It's worth noting that Kobayakawa was one of the "47 Ronin" who figured out how to get that first Cosmo's 10A to work. Also, the powertrain engineer on the FD became program head for the ND MX-5, which is why it's so good. And last, if you get your NA Miata restored through Mazda's factory resto program, some of the techs are ex-pit crew from the 787B Le Mans effort. Such a cool, tight-knit company.
That was awesome to learn, Mazda has soul!
saw FC on resto program, they still have original stuffs
Compared to all the auto manufacturers, there's no one else like them. SavageGeese's long form documentary on the Miata showed just how unique of a company they really are. I hope they stick around.
Company of enthusiasts
@@justanotherhiro it’s a shame modern Mazda only has 1 car in the lineup that’s like it was way back when. Hopefully the RX-9 rumors turn out 2 b true, and the Dorito legend can make its long awaited return
The sound that car makes on the ending drive is just pure symphonic melody.
I was surprised by that sound. Every time I've heard a rotary, it had an aftermarket exhaust and sounded like a bunch of angry bees. This car sounds refined and purposeful.
If you like the volume on 12...lol
I dunno, it sounds a bit like a vacuum cleaner to me. But not necessarily in an unpleasant way... Hmmm
@@MattH-wg7ou sounded so smooth and gentle but you can tell hes flying
Rotary engines sound annoying ngl
Never ceases to amaze me how beautiful this car looks in person compared to how it shows in pics or on the screen. It’s proportions, lines, size… Over time it will be more appreciated for what it is. Kudos for Mazda’s mindset and making it happen.
We need to know more about those 'work arounds' to the mechanical issues before we buy into raving.
You’re right. Most pics don’t seem to relay the size of the FD. In person you realize they’re just a little longer and slightly wider than a Miata. Also most pics don’t convey the beautiful curves of the body work, especially from behind.
Yeah even on screen here it doesn't convey how sleek it actually is. Long live the batmobile!@@homedeezyfasheezy5662
Growing up, I had a few friends with 1st/2nd gen RX7s, and when most of the motors popped, the guys would do V8 swaps into them.. NOT the case for my buddy J's 3rd gen RX7. That can was an Absolute Beast! We did everything we could to add/free-up the ponies, and when we maxed out on all of that, We took a trip to visit Dave & Kim at KD-Rotary in PA. They're RX7 Mad Scientists for sure! DYNO tuning is what we went for.. What we got was So Much More.. An 'emergency drop off' was called in, and all appointments slowed down.. We got to see one of the US's most popular "Import Tuner" - as it came on on a flatbed.. All I remember is that it was a black RX8 3rd gen, Insane HP and Insane stereo system to boot. With time ticking, Dave and Kim ordered a party-pack, and we all got to hang out and enjoy.. Pizza & wings have never been so much fun.. Our little party also consisted of a full-tour, [I remember a handful of NISMO Nissan tuner cars there also - Dropped off to be dyno-tuned] we got to see all of the RX7s in different states of build, repair, tuning, etc. There where prototype builds, and Three-Rotor Setups!
Why V8 swap them ? Just why ? Even if you don't want a rotary you can get a way more suitable 4 cyl or just don't buy an RX7
@@attilavs2 Never understood people swapping out unique engines. When the S2000 was younger, alot of people also LS swapped them...
i mean the stock engine was a maintenance nightmare it seems so a swap makes sense but a v8 isnt exactly the kind of engine you'd want for this. A high revving na like a Honda K would be the best.
Everytime one of these comes out now I am just elated in anticipation of how good its gonna be. Please keep em comming Jason and Hagerty.
I wonder how long is Jason's contract with Hagerty.... He was in another channel for 2 years prior to coming to this channel..
Ditto love em
I certainly agree the content is beautiful.
Best car reviews on KZhead!
Hmm
This RX-7 generation just looks damn modern and desirable even 25 years later, it's bonkers... 🤤👍🏻
No it’s older than that, it was released 30 years ago Wow time goes fast
@@spinnymathingy3149 True, 1992-2002... Time flies by so fast, I'm still stuck in 2017... 😅😅😅
@@Zipfei_Kloatscher yeah crazy how time slips away, I still clearly remember seeing photos from a motor show (possibly Tokyo) in the late 1980s showing the prototype Fd, I was amazed at the beautiful design and said to myself that I’d get one. Well 27 years later I lucky got 1 just before the prices went up
My top 3 best looking cars: 1: Mazda RX-7, 2: Honda/Acura NSX, 3: Ferrari F40
you liked that MX-5 too, copied from the Italian 1950 ish cars, modern?
I want a car show featuring Jason Cammisa introducing the cars, Chris Harris communicating the driving dynamics, and Frank Stephenson talking car design.
OH MY GODS YES. That would be the literal golden show
@@Kellen6795 I’d add Tiff Needell to that list. Anywhere.
Thanks. I owned seven Mazda rotary cars including all three generations of RX-7. Raced a few modified ones too. Wish I still had my FD today. One FD just sold At Barrett-Jackson Auction for over $50,000 USD. I still have my 2008 40th Anniversary Edition RX8, modified and going strong. But I do miss my red 1993 FD. It felt like I was wearing it , so fun to drive and blow away other sports cars of the time. Cheers
I just bought a 1993 RX-7, love it!
It's an amazing car
I had a 93. And I miss it.
Lucky bastards! I only owned the 89' loved it but really wanted a 93'
Jealous!
Congratulations my man, enjoy it, because that's what it's for.
The RX-7 is an amazing car, and the rotary engine is such a racing oriented motor. I drive my second gen RX-7 on the track and it just eats it up. Yes, there are problems with the cars, but a lot of it is solved by regular maintenance. Which I think is something most of these cars have been lacking and get a bad rap for. Because so many of them were neglected for decades and young people get their hands on these "sports cars" they break quickly because they weren't maintained, and the stigma continues. Having owned multiple RX-7s over the decades, regular maintenance has allowed them all to last well over 150K miles. Also, not modifying it like a buffoon has also helped them stay reliable.
As an CYM FD owner, I 100% agree with you. Maintain them without racing mods and you are good to go.
What do you mean by modifying like a buffoon? I'm rebuilding my 2nd gen soon (coolant seals) and was thinking about a street port
I am far from an expert on rotary engines, but from my understanding they are almost the opposite of a traditional engine. They do really good while being put through the paces, and their biggest issues come from simple maintenance.
@@MilesPrower1992 modifying like a buffoon is basically not doing research. Theres the obvious things like making more power than your tire and suspension can support, but a big one on the Rotary is that on these newer turbos, especially the gen 2 garret turbos they ramp in boost so early that the torque curve hurts the irons and leads to catastrophic damage.
@@MilesPrower1992 Why do you guys modify every single JDM classic?. I mean, isnt the car in itself not fullfilling enough?
I was a presentation and public speaking coach for 30+ years, with a number of high profile clients. Jason's work on these videos is nothing short of sensational. Smart, funny, entertaining, informative. Does NOT get any better.
I adore this vehicle to death and am lucky that I was able to grow up with one. My dad had bought one in 1993 at the Mazda dealership in Michigan and has held onto, maintained and driven it all these years. Just hit 36k. The feeling of this car is magic, the sounds and feel and of course, it's looks.
Revelations content is on whole another level. Thank you guys.
Anyone know what year Jason was born??
It truly is!
@@poweraccountabilityleague6877 Why do you ask?
Needs his own channel. Easier to find.
@@JasonCammisa I'm impressed you've been able to scrub that from the net. BTW, why Italian-american rather than just American?
Had the R1 in back in '93, pretty accurate review. One thing never mentioned is the cool "Top Gun" locking on target beeping that you'd get when approaching redline. Almost poetic and definitely fitting/appropriate in that car. The reason was unlike piston engines, the 13B would actually smooth out and get quieter approaching redline, so drivers needed a heads up to shift and not just keep on trucking. Just an amazing car for its time and price point.
Did it burn a lot of oil?
@@saulespino2510 it burns oil by design to lubricate the apex seals, that's why you need to check your oil often.
And also why synthetics are bad as they dont burn as cleanly as conventional
@@saulespino2510 About quart every 3000 miles. Even driven hard if they're running right you shouldn't need to add oil by the time you reach the add line it's time for a change.
Haha I love that sound. It's on the rx8 as well
The FD has always been the car I lust over, haha. Still looks fantastic. Doesn't even have that "oh it has that era's aesthetics." It just has FD aesthetics. The way it looks like a flat deck with wheels, hugging the road. The indentations running up the hood. The slight little valley in the roof. It almost feels like a product of natural selection rather than a design someone made. It needs the spoiler on the back though, haha. The design is begging for it.
Love the driving clips at the end of your videos. No music just roads, driving, and exhaust. Awesome!
don't forget the turbos and blow off valve.🚓🚨
I remember seeing an FD at my local motorshow when it was released, it looked gorgeous, absolutely stunning and it hasn't aged one day since!
The exterior of the Mazda Rx7 and the Honda NSX are timeless.
@@philithegamer8265 I was massively disappointed with the "new" NSX, over styled and over complicated compared to the pure original, Honda should've called it something else!
@@somat111 I personally thought the new NSX looked really nice. It didn't seem that over styled to me unlike the new Type R was
@@somat111 New NSX == Eagle Talon (styling wise)
@@DumbledoreMcCracken no
I was lucky enough to drive one of these, despite all the hype... they are still UNDER rated, unbelievably fun to drive. it was basically if you gave a miata a 8ball
under rated my ass, did you check the prices lately?
@@dgalcaide_ the comment is meant as a compliment to the car , despite there price I’d still love to have one . Problem is they are less and less of them each year and not to mention the disgusting LS swaps 🤮 . Like the MK4 supras they won’t really be around at all for purchase at any kinda normal proce
Haha. Much more fun comparison than steroids.
@@dgalcaide_ You know that being overpriced and underrated are completely different things, right?
I had an FC but not a turbo model. It was a GXL which was still a blast to drive. I learned to drive manual on that car. It's easy to stall a 1.3L haha good times tho
Don't know why they didn't add some types of hood ducts and or NACA Ducts to help bring down temperatures under the hood. Car still would have looked great and won't have to worry about turning everything under the hood into "coal" LOL!!!
Hey, metal have a weight, 40 grams is too much
@@hugokussj3531 The obsession with weight was its only cons
@@reinertgregal1130 And also one of it greatest pro
It has been said that the introduction of the Miata in 1989 took sales away from the RX7 rotary and eventually killed it. Despite the second generation 1986-91 RX7 looking like a Porsche 924, I think that it is the prettiest, most practical sports car. I owned my 1986 base model RX7 for six years, and at 18 years old, it still did 140mph. It had a roomy enough interior to be comfortable. With its hatchback, I could take my cats to the Vet, go to the laundry mat, and even move furniture. And it was a hell of a lot of fun to drive.
MX5
I believe that the FD RX-7 is just about one of the most beautiful cars ever made... but you’re right, maintenance and upkeep are a nightmare.
yep, Looking at FB's i shudder at the thought of a port+polish, runners, and having to run a cat in california while knowing damn well the most expensive aspect of that build will be the same length headers and the stand alone. It pushes me into a renesis swap OFF top with stock ecu bc of cost efficacy. VS loud brap dominion. Like out of the box 9000 wider rpm band and a stock ONLY config. Or something that i might be able to sell if i dont blow it XD. Its either that or trying to add power to a stock VG30det z31which basically needs the cooling of a turbo build way past 4-450hp, and is just going to push me into forged internals....which is what pushed me into throwing 10gs at an FB instead. I mean buying an auto FB+5spd+lsd and renesis seems do-able. I find trying to add power to a z31/vg30 becomes a money pit/rabbit hole for more power/better pistons thus better fuel application/ecu etc a quest to be the baddest z31 in the lot/meet where as the rotary is just BAD in its own right and and ported NA chop or bridge ported 12A chop is just End game. Hell i was looking at VR30 swaps for the z31 but the lack of harness/ecu support has me on the fence for a couple years as the z35 gets some run with the aftermarket Providers. RX-7 for me is like that meme "so you mean to tell me to make 200 HP NA on my FB, i gotta buy a stand alone+fab work in the 10,000$ range+tuning " kid.
Shizzz I’ll change that apex seal any day over all those rings rods valves ect ect
My FD is 31 years old. Yes, the first engine broke after 5 years. But that was more or less all. No rust - nowhere, no gear box problems, still the original hitch. If I remember correctly the battery had to be replaced a single time. Inspections are much, much cheaper than for a Porsche. Tax is ridiculously low - 90 Euros per year. Insurance ist 240 Euro per year. In 31 years TÜV (responsible for mandatory biennal security inspection) complained a single time only - about a problem with the exhaust pipe. I never had problems with brakes, anti-lock braking system. In 31 years not a single light bulb had to be replaced. They are rather dark compared to modern Xenon light, though. Maintenance and upkeep have been ridiculously simple and cheap - apart from the broken engine after 95000 km (60000 miles). Your turn...
It's utterly amazing how well the design has aged
What I like is that it isn't ugly. Some Japanese cars are just hideous and the only reason people buy them is they last a long time. Toyotas (Corollas especially) for example are just ugly but they last a long time.
I cannot explain how much I appreciate seeing a stock FD.
Had a 1982 red GS and my girlfriend who became my wife had a white 82 S. When she got pregnant with our first child, we sold the S. Held on to my GS until 1996 when child number 3 (and last) came along and i had to part with it as i did not have the luxury to keep it. To this day, my biggest regret. I had a lover affair with the 10th anniversary "White Heat" model but couldn't pull the trigger. When the FD came out, it was love at first site. IMHO, the only thing that ever came close to the fun factor of the FD is the Honda S2000.
The last 2 minutes of driving footage and sound brings back so many great memories and exhilaration of driving my ‘93 FD. Although it spent more time in the shop than I ever anticipated, it was certainly a blast to drive.
I had a 93 as well, and I reached a point where the cost to keep it on the road was just too prohibitive. It was so much fun to drive but was also treacherous in the rain. Nothing like watching the ass end beat you around a curve.
His approach to cars reminds me of Jeremy Clarkson which is a super rare mindset about cars, not caring about numbers and cares about how they make you feel which is the reason we're in love with cars. Only few people have that. Only 2 of them are journalists.
He is very different to Clarkson, I'd say May is the only journalist of the trio who tries to understand the concept of each car and the mind of their creators a little deeper when he is no playing an scripted dialog, even though he is not a performance orientated car guy
@@alejandrobono8034 You're not wrong about him being like May but generally i still claim that he is like Clarkson. He goes full petrolhead on enthusiast cars which how it should be, almost as good as Clarkson.
Jason's greatest point is how both the RX7 and RX8 were extensions of the driver. It was almost like you would think "I should drive into this corner and rotate the rear on the way out" and the car would respond "already doing that". I spent one month on tire pressures as every half pound changed the driving dynamics. Once setup, miss corner adjustments were easy and smooth. The engine was intriguing, but the chassis was nearly perfection.
I remember back in the late 90s one of the US magazines for Japanese cars had a long term FD project. The article about replacing all of the vacuum lines fascinated me. And made me realize buying one to daily would have been a horrible decision. So I bought something slightly more reliable - a talon tsi. Yep. I blew up that motor. Lol
My buddy got a 95 TSi (fwd) when he turned 16. Man, looking back that car was a rocket ship to us at that young age. Had lots of fun in that car.
Should buy a honda for daily or a toyota.
Mazda Rx7 FD. This car means more to me than what most people can begin to imagine I have wanted one since I was 3 years old and that has never changed in all the years that I have loved cars, which has been nearly every all the years i’ve been alive. Countaches, NSXs and Ferraris were things that existed to entice me before, and they are great cars, but for me, there was something extraordinarily special about an FD. I LOVE them. Beauty, purity, perfect handling, perfect driving dynamics, perfect harmony, speed (and stiffer than a mclaren f1! But don’t quote me) This car lives in my heart. Owning one for life is something I just have to do.
Well said. To me the FD is such a special car because of how ambitious the design was. Everything from the engine, twin turbo design to the door handles were one-off and very unique. It feels like an engineering passion project.
That's interesting, I know what it feels like to be like you. I was 5 when the Nissan 300ZXTT went on sale and I instantly wanted one. Back in 1989, many Americans didn't know the name Nissan, but I did because of my mom's 1985 Nissan Maxima. That car made me know and love the name Nissan. Maybe the 300ZXTT wasn't as special as the RX-7TT, but it was still special.
I truly hope you get to make good on your aspirations someday. A million dollars couldn't buy a car more exotic or beautiful than the one that lives in your heart.
I'm the exact same, absolutely in love with these cars, saw one the other day at a fuel station and had to just stand there in disbelief for about 5 mins talking to the owner. Hopefully they won't appreciate too much before I can buy one.
@@vladpiranha Thanks Ben. That's very true. And while the prices are going up I do have some kind of plan/s to get one
Fantastic car. And to the point of it being a Japanese car with a German engine design designed and America. This is the kind of car we get when the world comes together to make a great sports car.
Lol nah
That's why the Corvette C5 looks so similar to it.
when the world comes together? germans and japanese i must say because wakandans have never done anything to positively contribute to human kind
i remember being 17 ish when i first saw a FD, i was blown away at how unique it looked. They are an amazingly beautiful car. I'm hoping to see you do a Z32 video in the near future. Cheers!
My uncle had a 1993 FD in Montego Blue. To this day it is still my dream car. Someday I hope to get one. It was such a visceral experience and I would find myself craving a ride in it as a kid. It was so damn cool.
I had one from 1995 to 2017: 5 motors, 2 transmissions, 2 differentials, 4 turbos. In the end I sold it as a roller with 1/2 of another wrecked car for parts to Fritz Flynn in Virginia. I just got tired of constant paranoia every time I pushed it hard.
Wankel adds the cutting edge of greatness (you don't need midengine layout if you have very little weight over front wheels). But what it gives you with one hand, steals 5x more with the other hand, ever since. I once had Passat B5.5 TDI, with all 3 letters in RED (total torque beast with some 5 more HP, but some extra 60-70Nm more than silver T and red DI), and all the optional extras (17" wheels leather+alcantara, climatronic, 12V at back, parking sensors, ... even passenger had electric seat adjustment, quite rare with mid-class cars). Unluckily B5.5 still had that sluggish 4-speed AT (you had to totally floor it for magic to happen). I didn't need or even want AT, but as it's MSRP with all the extras was out of league and focus of average Passat buyer, they had hard time selling it, dealer used it for bit as manager vehicle and I've got it in supposedly great deal. Turbo on mine Passat start leaking at some 70k+ km's, other people I knew with same model, but normal power/torque vs displacement ratio, had hassle free run for 200-250k km till tranny and clutch problems appeared. Buying mediocre car is always better option. The fun is not worth it unless you're filthy rich.
The mechanicals weren't well built and the Wankel was a gas guzzler. Outside of that, they were o-ak
Wow 👌
You drove it for 22 years, it was whey worthed
I owned an '80 GS, an '87 Turbo, and a '94 FD. The '80 & the '87 were trouble-free and a blast to drive. The '94 spent a lot of time at the dealer getting a myriad of problems fixed. The aluminum body was so thin, it dented if you looked at it wrong. The interior was cramped, the AC couldn't keep the interior cool. The '87 was the most fun to own.
Did your '94 FD make that whistling noise from the windshield molding when you drove at freeway speeds?
I prefer that FC design because you can get it with a convertible top.
@@twhalen nah sheet metal has drastically improved
@@oldrrocr Love my convertible. When it runs. But what can I say, it was free
Something was wrong with your A/C if it could t keep the interior cool
14:06 just looks like a blast to drive. Sounds amazing, too. Not the "Ferrari tuned pitch engine note" kind of amazing. I mean like "race car doing race car things" amazing.
This is the second video I am watching from Hagerty and am already in love with the content and especially the presentation!! Appreciate this channel
Could never afford one of these, and when I could I didn't have the patience to deal with its quirks, but I did hop on the Miata train for a 6 year ownership of an NC. The manual transmission is literally perfect. Mazda makes some brilliant cars.
*When they're running...*If they're running (NB owner)
@@cluelessbeekeeping1322 What do you mean? The BP series in the NA and NB miatas was pretty strong!
@@cluelessbeekeeping1322 never had a problem with the engine. daily driver for 3 years
I still remember the first time I saw an FD. My heart actually throbbed a beat and it was one of those rare 'the future is now' moments. I thought it was a new Ferrari model at first and was surprised to see the Mazda badging. Its still a beautiful car after all these years.
Jason back in 1993 I was lucky enough to buy a brand new black RX-7 and did the upgrade with the HKS mini computer that added boost. I had just finished my Army service in 1996 when I moved to Northeast Georgia. In the foot of the Appalachian mountains I drove this beauty and it handled like a dream. Fast forward many years and I have been blessed with a good carrier and have had 911’s(986 Turbo S, 997.1 Turbo Cab), multiple BMW M cars, Ferraris, etc. To this date I still miss my black 1993 RX-7 that my then 4 year old daughter used to call the Batman Car! (She’s 32 now) and I would really like to get my hands on one that hasn’t been extremely modified and battered so I can play with him until the day I die (which is any day, hopefully not soon). Thanks for your excellent video!
Yeah, that's just absolutely stunning. And those driving clips at the end do it for me, I didn't realise how involved it all was. It's great and would love to have one someday👍🏻
IMO one of the most beautiful sports car to ever come out of Japan. Its just timelessly beautiful and perfectly proportioned. It hurt a little anytime i would see one that had distasteful mods n bodykits back in the day
One of the best looking car ever from anywhere in the planet. I find it absolutely perfect!
I agree its oerfect from the factory with no body mods
Instant click and like. The FD still looks amazing, and I hope someone puts a Crighton rotary in one
kinda too small tbh, unless if maybe they released a bigger one
Sure, that's fine... but did you see the indoors startup for that engine? Looked like a small forest fire.
@@monkeybarmonkeyman I'm here for a good time, not a long time
@@orlmont Then it wouldn't work as well as it did. That rotary engine isn't that powerful in stock form, so the weight needs to be as low as possible to coax some impressive figures out of the car. Yes, it's crazy tunable, but the simple fact that Mazda didn't tune it that high says enough.
@@tjroelsma are you talking about the crighton's rotary engine or mazda's rotary engine? I was talking about how swapping in a crighton rotary into an rx7 wouldn't make sense simply because it doesn't make enough torque to pull it's weight, unless if maybe crighton made a 4 rotor version of their engine
Drove a 94' from 1997-2001 and put over 50k miles on it. Built it into an amazing auto-x and track day car. I have had well over 30 sports cars since, and the FD was still my favorite by a mile.
I was there at the time were all dealers are giving test drive back in the early nineties, me and my brother test drove it and it was a timeless machine it put a big smile on our faces . Missing America 🇺🇸
One of THE prettiest cars ever made! It's just timelessly seductive and stunning!
Thank you Jason, Hagerty and co for more great content! Keep up the great work :)
I owned one of these 3Gen RX-7 back around 2001. I bought mine used with around 40k miles on it. Drove it for almost a year and never had any problems with it. One thing I did notice was that when the engine was cold, if you tried to push the rev's above 3000 in the first 4-5 minutes the car would stumble and bog down. As soon as the engine started warming up, the stumble disappeared entirely. So whenever I plan to jump in the car and take off from a cold start, I had to go slow for the first 5 minutes. As for the acceleration and handling and stopping, the car had incredible handling, and it stopped and turned on a dime. Literally. It is easily the best braking car I have ever driven. As for alteration, you never had the feeling that the torque on the car was supercar level, but it was a very smooth acceleration from 1500 all the way up above 7500 revs. My Rx-/ could spank any Porsche 993 (non-turbo) on the street. One of the other big negatives about the car was the gas mileage. The little 1.3 Rotary had horrible gas mileage when driven hard - I estimated around 10-12 mpg when driven hard. Even when driven normally, the mileage couldn't't have been any better than 16-20 mpg max. Mine had the Bose stereo, leather seats and sunroof. The A/C worked great and the stereo was great for its day, but takes up a lot of space in the rear cargo area. I sold mine to buy a 67 911. I would highly recommend anyone looking for a supercar at under $35k to buy one of these. They are special...
These videos are honestly incredible. Thank you.
Awesome video! I have a 94 FD. Jason is spot on with the number of vacuum lines and inner workings of the sequential twin turbos. I will just share some of my thoughts: 1. Nowadays it is okay to use most synthetic oil in the rotary engine. The problem was mostly in 90s when the synthetic oil had some composition that could damage the low vulcanized, soft rubber sealings on the rotary engine. 2. The power kick-in around 4500 RPM isn't a huge deal. Mine is very smooth. It looks fine from Jason's drving clip too. The low polar moment of inertia and short wheelbase of the car may be more challenging to handle. 3. That's the fastest driving clip I've seen Jason had done on this show :)
I get the feeling the driving clip is a little sped up, it has a lot of the telltale signs. You notice it in how fast hand movements, etc. are. It's *plausible*, but then again why would someone be pushing that hard on the street in a valuable collector vehicle that they don't own? I think the editors are trying to spice up more pedestrian/mundane driving IMO.
Do you think they are reliable if taken care of? I want one so bad
don't use synthetic oil in a rotary engine with an oil metering pump. synthetic oil does not burn well and these cars inject crankcase oil into the housing from the factory. synthetic will gum up in the housings trashing the engine.
@@cesar-lf1jw I heard getting one of the turbos removed makes them more reliable. I was planning on buying one last year but then the pandemic happened had and the prices became astronomical (cheapest is like $80k)
Another banger! Awesome job, Cammisa-Sandler. Fun FD lightweight tidbit: The 16x8 wheels on early cars had a semi hollow spoke and only weighed 13.8 lbs - which also made them prone to cracking. Later ones were beefed up out back to the tune of 1.5 lb per wheel.
I think after the RX7TT was axed in the USA, it got 17 inch wheels as an option.
im not really that much into cars, its your editing & your clear passion that im following. Your editing and productio0n are fantastic, it keeps me watching
You are an excellent presenter and the production of the Mazda RX-7 was very well done and great narration. Your delivery is factual, entertaining and funny. Really well done! I wish you could expand the subject matter and host other great topics such as science, and contemporary events. Really well done!
Oh snap, you went there. The 90s E Type, my personal dream car. The most beautiful car of the last 30 years. As a big fan of the car. Thank you. I'm tired of hearing the same crap about it. You did it justice. Thanks so much.
The designer owned an E-Type at the time, and still has it (and a black FD).
@@brendanmcaleer4058 Yep, red OTS. But the funny thing is the FD could never get work as a roadster and the E Type is more bone while the FD is just...muscle
E-Type, as in Jaguar E-type? Or maybe some kind of Mazda Euneos?
@@skylinefever yep Jag.
@@Petrospect That's amazing. I wouldn't have expected a Jaguar guy to own any kind of Mazda.
The final generation has one of my favorite looks of all time. Especially the rear end, gorgeous.
The engine was designed by a German, but THEY made it WORK! By the way, this guy is The Best. The way he brings across the importance of wearing seat belts right after we saw that crash (that started around 10:00), without any words, only using the expression on his face..! Pure gold..!
I had a 1980 series one until 1992 when I bought a series two, which I disliked (too heavy and Camaro-like). I was at the dealer getting its oil changed and saw the dealership-owner's series three come off the truck. He let me buy it. It had some problems: Bubbling paint, an oboe-like whistle in the windshield seal above 75mph and it overheated. But they fixed everything under warranty, including removing all external badges when sanding and repainting the bubbles. After that, it was marvelous. I tore out the awful Bose sound system and put in an Alpine. I lived in the Texas Hill Country and LOVED those ranch roads, plus doing 150 on I-35. After my employer sold his company and most of my fellow employees and I got laid off, I traded it for a Honda Civic Hatch. It was fun, too, for many years. I still look back fondly on my RX-7. No, I was never tempted to get the series 4. Back to big and heavy. Now, in retirement, I happily own a Scion FR-S.
At the 0:03 mark, you can see Keisuke's FD from Initial D. Thank you, Jason for inserting that bit in the beginning. Many of us discovered the FD through Initial D, and it would be a shame to not pay homage to the show for popularising it to audiences outside Japan.
The Takahashi Brothers of the Rotary Engine!
Initial D is a good point. It would be even more amazing to know how many people rediscovered the AE86, which was called the Corolla GT-S 16V. I know I helped a few people repair theirs, it was cheap and easy back when few people knew what Initial D was. I don't know the price they command nowadays.
Jason is finally in his perfect place with this series. This is just pure internet gold. Well done!
The first American car You Tube channel I have REALLY enjoyed! Congratulations! I'm subscribed! Kermie
i was fortunate enough to see ferraris and lamborghinis when i was a kid in the 80s. when i saw this in 1992, i was absolutely in love...it was mainly the cockpit style dash of controls next to the gear shifter that made it feel like an F15 Strike Eagle or something of that sort. soon after that, i had posters of it on my while, bragging of the holes in the pedals that were made to save on weight (which is a cliche now). this was it. i was forced to look at other cars by people in school like an upgrade scirocco called a corrado and so on like they were telling me to be distracted was better for the greater good. it was a conspiracy. this was the greatest personal luxury sports vehicle ever made...with a ridiculous capacity for drag race mischief under the hood. it was it. i chased them till 95 when they did the forest green on tan interior to copy corvettes, explorers, and supras...but it was too late. you are right, young men. this would have been the competition killer.
The look of the car is one of sheer beauty. I think the Spirit R is the most beautiful car ever made.
I still miss my 93 R1. Every mile was thrilling. It was so fast in its day. Sounded like a vacuum cleaner when you punched it. At 4000 rpm it was a beast. Sold it with only 4000 miles. Was afraid I would not survive as I became more confident driving it.
I'm sure it was a hard decision. But your life is more valuable than any car. At least you enjoyed it for a bit!
You did the right thing. It's my favorite car and although I would like to have one so much I'd probably do the same one day.
The 8's weren't bad either. I drove 150 mi a day in mine and smiled the whole way.
I feel ya brother. Had an FC turbo II then a FD. Sold my FD 18 years ago and I still regret it...Damn that car was fast...
You keep me glued to the video even when I'm not really interested in the car you are talking about, there are other KZhead shows I can't listen to even though I am very interested in what they are talking about it's how they talk about it that makes me fall asleep.
I only knew Hagerty for carpet cleaners until now. So i guess the transition from carpet cleaners over the sound of the rx7, which many say is a vacuum cleaner, to your channel was smooth! Thankyou for this!
These episodes are must-watch automotive content for any enthusiast. I love the integration of the period-correct video footage from the manufacturer, advertising and of course, Motorweek. Easily one of the best-looking cars ever made.
Without the driving bits it would only be informative though, now IDK about you but I don't want to learn that much about a 30k+ car that has a list of issues longer than my CV unless I also get to see it drive.
Love the video guys, lve been in so many of these cars they are timeless. 👍
One of the prettiest modern cars made. I loved it from day one.
Aye look who it is 👍
@@Tony-112 Aha its ya boi, fullboost.
@@scareyaf 👌
When we raced Mini-Stocks back in the early 1980s there was a guy that stuffed one of these rotary's into a Datsun B-210 the first year he held back ironing out the bugs , the second year he walked away for every race placing first place unless he crashed out , the third year he was banned from using that engine . I remember hearing it go around the track passing everyone making the same engine noise on the straightaways or through the turns , you could not hear any change as far as him shifting going in or out of the turns , it just hummed through the whole race . This was one of the most banged-up cars in our series , these were NASCAR Mini's "Winston Cup" if that lets you know how long ago this was , we ran 2 cars , a VW bug , and a Vega , these were nice cars but just like everyone else they did not have a chance in hell catching that B-210 , After being beat with no chance of ever placing first we changed classes and stepped up too late models and sprints and got out of NASCAR , there was way too much drama being a member of that "club" . Good times 😂 👍
Myself in 1974 at my hi-school "shop" learning Auto-Mechanics...Mr Tomaski had Mazda bring in the "revolutionary" RX 2 & the RX3...the future of the automobile as we were told...kinda missed the mark back then, but us teenagers still marveled at the things....even took us on test-drives!
I was wondering when you’ll get around to the FD. 😉👏🏻 Nothing brings greater joy than being able to take mine out for a spin. 24yrs and going strong! 👍🏻😎
I want to drive one before I die
Neo Anderson fears the ae86
@@slipstream7324 😂👏🏻
@@neoanderson7 haha i was confident you would get that reference. Enjoy your FD for all of us car guys boss.
@@slipstream7324 counting down the days till the new season. 👍🏻😎
Jason, your the man man. Your personality is inspiring when comparing to the “oh the steering feel” black n white auto journalists. I’ve been reading all 3 major car magazines since 1989, and have most of them in storage. Your the man. Happy Holidays. Why not do a 1994 Impala SS, I had one and what a boat. My 2012 CTS V will eat it for dinner but that’s ok
Thank you! And the SS is on my list! I love that thing.
Ahhh I too at one point owned a 2012 ctsv and impala at the same time. Mine was a black 96 tho. Today I own a challenger widebody hellcat and a 95 dggm impala along with some other toys. Good taste sir
@@JasonCammisa I'm your biggest fan i want to get your autograph one day and drive my bike up to meet you. just crashed so I'll be down and out for 2 months but it's on the bucket list for sure. You're the greatest automotive commentator I've ever heard and I'm glad to see you still producing content for us enthusiasts out there who just want to learn and soak up all the knowledge there is.
@@jradish Thank you, that's much appreciated. So, focus on healing up and be careful out there - sorry to hear you got banged up!
Awesome video with some new info for this rotary fan and mechanic. Makes me want to go out and drive my FD. Mostly accurate with one common misconception that stands out: you can absolutely use synthetic oil in a rotary.
How have i only just found this series? its fantatic. Fun and informative.
Vaguely Italian and British sports car lines, along with RX7 details from past generations. It's one of the most beautiful cars ever made in my opinion.
I drove a rotary for 9 years. By the time I sold the car I was well and truly done with rotaries. It's an intriguing engine design that has some huge fundamental weaknesses that cannot be overcome, oil consumption and carbon buildup being at the top of the list. The reason piston engines are everywhere is because piston engines are the best way to generate power by burning gasoline in a 3-dimensional universe with the laws of physics we have to work with.
Same, I had an FD and at the same time I owned an R33 GT-R. I almost never drove the RX7. But it sure was nice to look at!! Unfortunately the GT-R was just so much better at absolutely everything, even handling despite the weight - the RX7 rear end was just a little flighty at the limit compared to the GT-R. And then there's the RX7's total lack of torque............ Honestly, I mostly drove the RX7 to keep the engine in good shape, I never wanted to choose it over the GT-R.
@@mattm6865 i see this a lot, there becomes a love/hate relationship bc if its not being driven there is no love in the relationship. After all the time/effort put into the build its still not comparable to any other platform. Just the cost to run/maintain while having an other option and knowing its not being driven becomes a factor/dilemma. the hate isnt really in the car in the love/hate just a bi-productual outcome. Like how it put you in a position between the rx7 and the GTR even though you cant even rationally choose between them. Im looking at FB-s with intent of running a standalone so i have a more ideal system and can drive it a lil harder while being able to maintain/tune the engine. They definitely are prone to their inherent aspects. But also having a Z31 already knwing trying to push stock internals has its EOL with oil/gasket/head problems as well as the necessary investment to cooling. I thought of trying to build an NA 12a. But considered the cost vs a stock renesis as far as trying to add some NA power/feel to the rotary. Sooner or later ill just feel compelled to sell one for a GR86 NGL as many as im sure ill see on the road. Possibly try to find a wrecked 2.4 boxer to swap into the FB since im not a purist. The FB rear end is lacking in LSD/suspension compared to the FC and FD so that would already take its own level of investment if more power were to be added. Its what makes the rx-7 platform such a rabbit hole to me at least especially at the price of some auto FBs. Definitely more power band/range on the renesis but it generally lacks aftermaket application due to its porting/design....can still be ported for longterm/use/abuse. But imo all that sweet stuff definitely comes with the price tag and stand-alone attached to it. Stock R33 is a working monster, with a "light tune" as they say or most have. These days most stock rx-7s are rarely driven and held to be sold as investments, IDK about rhd imports or high milage ones but the USDM ones generally are impossible to find or see on the street stock. Even kouki s chassis etc are a lot less seen or seen for sale im guessing in CA many have been impounded/scraped or wrecked/hacked as drift cars. Let alone stock S chassis these days theyre selling for stock z32 prices.
@@mattm6865: If you had _both_ cars to choose from, you're a lucky man.
*cough* LS Swap *cough*
@@communistwoman: The LS is a nice simple engine, but an LS is too much engine for the RX. A turbo 4 would be much better-suited to the platform.
I had a 93 rx7 R1 it had zero issues going form single to sequentially boosted. It didn't have any rattles either. Under hood temps were so hot popping the hood after a drive could easily burn your fingers. Change your conventional oil early and often and run good coolant would keep it going forever Best mods, a downpipe to ruduce temps, swapping the million vacum hoses that really enjoyed a silicone upgrade seemed to solve most issues.
I bought a 1978 Mazda RX-7. It was the first one off the local dealer lot. He said I was very lucky to have walked in that second. I was!
FINALLY! Jason just sharing my enthusiasm for my favourite 90's car of all time! There's nothing that just captured the bubbliness of the 90's design language so alluring that it became timeless and never forgotten for eternity. The fact that it's also the only one with a rotary engine makes it a unicorn among the 90's JDM legends, heck even for any car. However, not gonna lie, I'm a bit sad modern owners would rather cut holes or change some proportions to the cars for styling and functionality, because, untouched ones are just perfection.
In the 1960's we had the Jaguar E-type. In the 1990's we had the FD RX-7. The two most beautiful sports cars. Ever. Great video.
Both junk.
Definitely agree with you David, Both timeless cars
Someone should put a Wankel engine in an E-Type body.
@@COBARHORSE1 then you should name it the RX-E ?
@@spinnymathingy3149 Works for me.
I like this guy. Eminently watchable and informative and fun. Definitely more of this person and Catchpole please! 👌
FD owner here…..Never forget the first time I saw one as a teenage in 1997. Was a red 95. … I love mine like family. It’s a forever car for me.
I had a FC Turbo and a friend had the FD. Good times were had. Still my dream car.
Thank you Hagerty and Jason for these awesome videos. I love to hear you speak about these machines so passionately. Fantastic work!
In 1997, I drove an RX7 R1. I was shocked at how light it felt. How firm the suspension was. The shift linkage was pure metallic, very direct, I could feel the synchros meshing the gears together. It really was a race car. The clutch was short and direct. There was no wasted motion in the entire car. I had just sold out my 88 corvette. In comparison, the vette felt like a Buick Grand National. Fast, but not light or nimble with a gear linkage from a truck(not a good one). I still think of this as a Race version of a Miata. Great video. Thanks for bringing this unique engineering masterpiece back.
This moderator is so charming and funny to watch. He could be the American one person top gear. Funny like JC, knowledgeable like James, and accentuating like Richard. Like it! :)
Rx7 will always have the most special place in my heart every time you start a ported turbo 13b the fumes and gas just ignite the spirit to race!
Easily one of THE MOST beautiful cars EVER made by ANY manufacturer or coach builder EVER.
I concur, but I may be biased
Agree
@ixx but Is it though? It's engine is part of its experience and well looked after can be reliable.
we had two of the original RX-7; this vid brings all the memories and emotions back - very cool, thanks 😀
had a limited edition '79. fantastic car. videos like this reminds me how much I miss it. thanks allot...
God bless this video. FD is probably in the top 5 most beautiful cars ever made for me. It's literal art
Blows my mind how content like this comes free. Keep it up Jason and Hagerty.
umm youtube pays
@@LyricalHustlersHQ and i pay for youtube :(:
10:11 That crash was bcz some parts of the track were wet & some were dry, as confessed by the driver in that clip.
The sound of a rotary hitting its power band is pure bliss.
The FD RX7 is on my must own shortlist. I had an FC briefly and loved it.
Owned 2 fds 1 fc currently still holding on to my last fd in storage highly recommend with the big single turbo it's a rocket ship
I own an FB, and the FD is my dream car. I never really liked the 924 styling of the FC; however, Rob Dahm recently picked up a 10th Anniversary FC and that is intriguing to me. I came to realize that in many respects the FD was an evolutionary upgrade to the FC. Certainly the style was new, but the engine and brakes for example were an evolutionary upgrade to the FC Turbo 2.
Real talk: In every version of Gran Turismo, that RX7 is the first used car I bought (followed by the 2nd gen MR2). That FD is absolutely beautiful, without question.
At first I got the celica gtfour, then the supra mk3 turbo, then the rx7 fc turbo, while my driving skills got better.
"Real talk"? I thought Gran Turismo was a video game.
Love these Camissa Revelations...happened to come across one when looking for GR86 info and now hooked!
Wow great video and memories. Had an all new ,04 RX-8. Never did find the handling limits of it. It STILL had the cold start flooding ussue in 2004