Mazda RX-7 Buying Guide: FD, FC & FB Generations Compared

Rankings

1. 1
   RX-7 FDMedian $39,000 12-mo +9.7%

   n=107 sold

   The twin-turbo pinnacle: 255 hp in US form from a 1.3 liter rotary, in one of the best-looking sports car bodies of the 1990s

   Nov 4, '261993 Mazda RX-7 R1$112k

   Oct 29, '261993 Mazda RX-7$43k

   Oct 13, '261994 Mazda RX-7 Touring$26k
2. 2
   RX-7 FCMedian $9,625 12-mo +29.4%

   n=50 sold

   The second-generation RX-7, a capable and underrated chassis and the cheapest way into a rotary sports car

   Oct 29, '261991 Mazda RX-7 Convertible$9k

   Oct 14, '261988 Mazda RX-7 GTU$19k

   Oct 3, '261990 Mazda RX-7 GTU 5-Speed$23k
3. 3
   RX-7 FC Turbo IIMedian $22,250

   n=11 sold

   The turbocharged FC with 182-200 hp, offering serious performance for much less than an FD

   Sep 12, '261988 Mazda RX-7 Turbo 10th Anniversary$38k

   Mar 10, '261988 Mazda RX-7 Turbo 10th Anniversary$24k

   Feb 21, '261988 Mazda RX-7 Turbo 10th Anniversary$27k
4. 4
   RX-7 SA & FBMedian $13,775 12-mo -18.2%

   n=80 sold

   The original lightweight rotary sports car (1978-1985) that started the line, pure and simple

   Oct 30, '261979 Mazda RX-7 Series 1$22k

   Oct 28, '261984 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE$18k

   Oct 19, '261979 Mazda RX-7 GS$9.6k

Comparison

How to Choose

• Compression testing is the most important pre-purchase step. Use a rotary-specific tester: readings well below 7.0 kg/cm2 on any face (normalized to 250 rpm), or more than 1.5 kg/cm2 between faces, point to a several-thousand-dollar rebuild.
• FD prices are set by originality. Stock, original cars sell at the top of the market and modified cars for much less.
• The FC Turbo II (1987-1991) typically sells for $22K, against $39K for an FD. The non-turbo FC is slower but the cheapest way into a rotary sports car at $9,625.
• The SA and FB are the simplest RX-7s to own: light, carbureted and mechanically easy. The 1984-1985 GSL-SE with the fuel-injected 13B is the one to look for.
• The FD was sold new in the US only for 1993-1995. Later JDM-only FDs, including 276 hp versions and the final 2002 Spirit R, are reaching 25 years old and entering the US. Verify import paperwork and title history carefully.
• Check FD cooling and vacuum systems. Overheating kills rotaries, and the sequential-turbo vacuum lines are a common source of boost problems.
• Never buy a heavily modified RX-7 unless you can verify the builder's reputation. Bad rotary builds fail catastrophically.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a Mazda RX-7?

It depends on the generation. In our data an FD typically sells for $39K, an FC Turbo II $22K, a non-turbo FC $9,625 and a first-generation SA or FB $14K. Condition and originality move FD prices more than mileage.

How much is a Mazda RX-7 FD worth?

FDs typically sell for $39K across 107 sales in our data, with the middle half of sales between $31K and $48K. Low-mile, unmodified examples in original colors sit at the top of that range. Modified cars sell for much less than stock equivalents, and automatics sell for far less than manuals.

How much is an FC RX-7?

A naturally aspirated FC typically sells for $9,625 across 50 sales in our data, and the FC Turbo II $22K. Convertibles and clean, original Turbo IIs are the most sought-after FCs.

What years was the Mazda RX-7 made?

1978 to 2002. The first generation (SA and FB) ran from 1978 to 1985, the FC from 1986 to 1992, and the FD from 1992 to 2002. US sales of the FD ended after the 1995 model year, and Japan-market production ended with the 2002 Spirit R.

How reliable is the RX-7 rotary engine?

The rotary is reliable when maintained correctly but has a finite lifespan, and many need a rebuild somewhere around 80K-120K miles. Premix a little two-stroke oil in the fuel (commonly half an ounce to an ounce per gallon), never lug the engine at low RPM, and let the car warm up fully before driving hard.

What kills a rotary engine?

Low-RPM lugging (starves the apex seals of oil), inadequate warm-up, coolant leaks into the rotor housings, overheating and poor fuel quality. The rotary needs to spin to stay healthy. Short trips with no warm-up are the worst use case.

RX-7 FD or Supra: which should I buy?

The FD is lighter (about 2,800 lb against 3,400 lb for a Supra Turbo), more agile, and more exotic-feeling. The Supra is more robust, easier to modify to extreme power, and more comfortable. The FD rewards driving skill; the Supra rewards horsepower. Both are icons.

Will Mazda make a new RX-7?

Mazda has not announced one. Its 2023 Iconic SP concept used a two-rotor engine as a generator, and its 2025 Vision X-Coupe concept pairs a twin-rotor turbo engine with a plug-in hybrid system, but no production rotary sports car has been confirmed.