Random Car Wednesday: 1985 Mazda RX-7

Last week's RCW was an iconic Japanese sports car. This week, it's...well, another Japanese sports car. In the same parking spot, no less! Today we look at a wonderful first-gen RX-7, an iconic car of the 1980's.

1985 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE

Although the concept of the RX-7 doesn't differ greatly from last week's 280Z, the Mazda stood out on account of its unique method of propulsion: rotary power. The RX-7 debuted in 1978, and had sharp styling and solid performance. In 1983 it even made the Car and Driver Ten Best list, a serious accolade.

This particular car is the top-of-the-line GSL-SE model, released towards the end of the first-gen's lifespan. It featured the fuel-injected 1.3-liter "13B" rotary engine, which was good for 135 horsepower. The RX-7 only weighed 2,590 pounds, so it was anything but sluggish. The GSL-SE also got bigger brakes and a 5-speed manual gearbox. Zero to sixty came in just under eight seconds.

This RX-7 is a 1985, the last year for the first generation. It has the optional sunroof, and overall it's in stellar condition. Mazda recently announced that there are currently no plans to build another RX model at any point in the future, so original models like this one are liable to become more valuable in the next few years.

The RX-7 is an oddball of a car. A rotary-powered sports car from the 1980's? Come on, that's just plain cool.