The initial shipment of 150 RX-7s sold out in weeks. People were trading in SLR Toranas and GT Falcons for rotary power. In the USA, Mazda limited supply until its dealership network was strong enough to support service and sales. Demand for the RX-7 was so great, buyers were paying almost double the list price to own one. Even with the supply shortage, US sales in the first eight months reached almost 29,000 units.

Released in Australia in 1979, the Series I RX-7 came with the 12A engine producing 77kW at 6000rpm with 147Nm of torque at 4000rpm. Carburetion was a Nikki four barrel downdraft carburetor. Power was fed through a five-speed box with fifth an 0.825 overdrive.

The slinky aerodynamic body had a claimed Cd of 0.36, with the use of pop-up headlights saving 6 percent in drag. The engine was sufficiently small to allow it to be mounted in a front/mid location behind the front axle giving the car an excellent weight distribution of 51/49 front/rear. Mazda claimed a top speed of 200kph for the coupe; tests showed a more realistic 180kph. Acceleration to 110kph took 11.4 seconds, and the standing quarter was dispatched in 17.6 seconds. The $14,850 RX-7's performance, when compared to its competitors, stood alone. Datsun's 280ZX at $19,000, Alfa Romeo's $15,800 GTV 2000 and the Porsche 924 at a hefty $27,000 were all slower.

The RX-7's suspension used front struts and coil springs, with a tension rod and sway bar. Rear suspension was by a live axle on coils, located by four links with a Watts link and a sway bar. Sway bar stability gave flat cornering, with Mazda quoting 1.6 degrees of lean with a cornering force of 0.5G. Alloy 13x5 inch wheels were clad in Bridgestone 185-70 tires. How tire size has grown to a present Series VI RX-7 width of 16x8 with 225-50 rubber.

Steering, of the recirculating ball type, had 3.7 turns lock-to-lock and was criticized for some vagueness at the dead center position. Handling was balanced with mild initial understeer ultimately moving into oversteer if the power was kept on.

Instrumentation consisted of a speedometer (which often read optimistically), a very necessary tachometer incorporating a volts gauge, fuel and water temp gauges seen through a thick-rimmed leather steering wheel. Seats, trimmed in vinyl with velour inserts, were good with excellent lumbar and under-thigh support.

On the road the rotary engine gave the car a smooth, silent and swift progress. The engine was likened by test drivers of the time to a super-smooth six cylinder of twice the rotary's capacity, so effortless was its performance.

At the time of the introduction of the RX-7, Mazda was seen very much as the third Japanese car maker - behind Toyota and Nissan. The beauty of the RX-7's body shape and the well-sorted mechanicals complemented the engine, and set Japanese sports cars back on track.

Best of all, the RX-7's huge success meant that many people discovered the rotary engine for the first time. Re-discovery of the earlier Mazda rotaries inevitably followed.

 

 

ENGINE

2-rotor turbo-charged rotary engine 654cc / rotor Horsepower - 410 HP @ 8200 rpm Maximum torque - 380 Nm @ 7000 rpm Maximum rpm - 8500 Water-cooled with oil heat exchanger Dry-sump lubrication Intake system with six throttle valves Racing exhaust manifold open, without catalytic converter 108 RON octane leaded "Elf" race fuel

WEIGHT

Approx. 2550 lbs, less fuel and driver

PERFORMANCE

Top speed over 180 mph, 0-60 in under 4 seconds Stops and corners at over 1.5g

GEARBOX

Five-speed gearbox with stainless steel synchros, external cooler Single mass flywheel with racing clutch, limited slip differential 40/65%, ring and pinion ratio 9:31

TIRES AND WHEELS

Michelin tires D6 245/645/18" front; 305/645/18" rear On board air-jacking system for quick tire changes Three piece light alloy BBS wheels 18" with magnesium center piece and central locking system

BRAKES

Front and rear disc brakes with tandem diaphragm power break unit Driver adjustable brake bias Castrol SRF racing brake fluid Performance Friction racing brake pads

DATA AND COMMUNICATIONS

Motorola two-way radio for pit-driver communications Onboard Motec data acquisition system and dash.

SUSPENSION

Strut-type suspension with torsion bar stabilizers in front, multilink semi-trailing suspension in rear Dual springs with racing set-up, adjustable ride height Front roll bar adjustable in five different positions, rear roll bar adjustable in three positions

CONSTRUCTION

Steel unibody with carbon-fiber hood, deck lid, and doors Mazda EVO front splitter, rear wing and fenders

FUEL INJECTION

EGI fuel injection with detonation control

SAFETY

Fully integrated steel roll cage Six-point racing harness, Recaro lightweight fire-resistant racing seat Quick-release MOMO steering wheel Reinforced front windshield Carbon fiber 100 liter fuel cell with dry-break gravity feed fueling fittings On-board halon fire system and electrical cutoff switch High powered Bosch xenon lights for night racing Pit speed rev limiter button Electronic drink bottle and driver cool shirt with cooling system