Enjoy the small details. This is how you should present and look at an old car - don't compare it to a modern car. Well done.

I had the exact same car! Same color.. right down to the pinstripes. A few years after I sold it, I missed it so much I bought an identical one (except a slightly lighter color). I am 63 years old. I have owned 15 cars, new and used, sports cars, muscle cars, pick up truck, sports cars, but at the end of the day, THIS is the car I want to be buried with

SA22C versions were sold in North America from late '78 through '80. The FB replaced the SA in 1981. The GSL-SE went zero to 50 in 6.3 seconds (zero to 60 was around 8.8 seconds). Those side vents are not faux vents they are for the flow through ventilation and the sunroof also drains through them.

My friend had one in high school. It would smoke any stock 5.0. For an 80's car the design still holds up.

When I bought my '85 GSL-SE, a year before my son was born, the Mazda service manager made it a point to tell me not to worry about breaking it in. His advice was to drive the crap out of it, which I did for 18 years before giving it to my son for his high school graduation. It was always trouble free.

Where did you get your info from? SA’s were available, rx2,x3,rx4 all came before the 7, gsl-se’s were only series 3 (84-85)...

Just a footnote. Those “faux” vents are functional. They vent cabin air when windows are up and sunroof is closed. Turn the vent on and shut all doors. You can feel the air escaping through them as well as under the door handles. I have the same car. 85 GSLSE I have loved it for over 15 years. But I love the fact that you appreciate the analog nature of the car. It talks to you.

I did grow up with 8 track tapes!!! I remember when the RX7 came out, I think that they are great, thanks for sharing this fun video!! 🙂

great video. I remember when this car was launched. My buddy had one, and I will never forget the sound of that cool rotary engine.

I have always had a soft spot for these early RX-7s, they are so reminiscent of the early Nissan 240z that came before it while still doing its own thing. Truly an underdog in its segment, it’s a shame it’s so underrated. These are really great cars to experience. Great job on the video!

I've loved these cars from the 70's when I first drove one. Lots of fun and yes, it's quick. BTW... you sir do a great job on this site, glad I found you. Keep it up, God bless you and I'll keep tling friends how good you are.

My uncle had one back in the day. Same color. Such a beautiful car and sounds wonderful. Thanks for the tour, Jake!

1978 - I arrived in LA to be a Freshman in University. A friend worked for Mazda NA in Los Angeles. When I visited his office on the 5th Floor, he pulled back the drapes and showed me the lot below with HUNDREDS of RX-7s! And he let me drive a black on black one. It was revelatory. My first car was a Mazda 1300 with a 4-spd stick. I learned to drive on it and taught all my family to drive too. That 5-spd is typical Mazda fare- slick, smooth, with unbeatable synchromesh. Mazdas are reliable, honest, friendly, accommodating cars and I've had a series of them over the years.

Very good review. I think this was better put together then some of your other videos.

Well you did a mighty fine job of selling the idea of an FB RX-7 to me... I hope one of your viewers buys it

Thoroughly enjoyed this video. Thank you for the RX-7 close-up.

I love how much you love driving that rotary.

I had that exact same car when I was a Junior and Senior in High School 1988- 1989!!! OOHHHHH the memories!! I would LOVE to own one again being a 50 year old!!

I had a '82 in the late 80's and it was a hell of a lot of fun to drive

First gen models began in 78 Not 81, and went to 1985 not 83. The 12A was the only engine available first couple years. I've owned three of these models. A 79, 82, and an 83 with a JDM motor.

Bought an FC Vert last year. Probably the slowest version of the RX7 ever made, but I love the thing.

I had an RX3-SP back in the 80's with a 12A engine, same as the early RX7s. Tons of fun, red-lined at 8000 and created a smoke screen along the way. I wish I still had it.

Jake. All kidding aside. You're my new go-to guy for new KZfaq video's. You are freaking cool. 100%.

I've got a 1980 SA that I'm working on and I love it. Got it running and driving but its still got a long ways to go.

Great review! I had an 81 back in the late 90's for exactly a month. I was the 5th owner so it had been HEAVILY modified (Ricaro seats, NeuSpeed suspension and rims, Cork Sport Exhaust, (15" sub in the back I pulled out :)) rust, Etc,,, it was rough as hell tbh. It was like a go cart that hauled ass and I absolutely loved it. I made the amateur mistake of trying to start it late on a 10 degree night and blew the inside rotor seals. I sold it as a parts car for more then I paid, so no harm. I would totally consider making a bid on that one when it goes up for sale. It looks clean and true, and I agree, the power steering mod would be a great add. Please be sure to post the sale link.

I am very unfamiliar with these cars, and learned a lot from your video. Thank you for making this one! Also, now we know you're so ripped because you drove a Jag with no power steering!

Love my fb! Mine is not so rust free and perfect but everything works and still is solid where it matters. Thank you for making a vid on these seemingly forgotten cars, they really are fun and imo better than a 924 or 944 of that era. Only let down is that steering..

Bought my 85 GS new and still have it. Though no longer my daily driver, it held up as such for many years. The main issue I had was passing CA smog in recent years that required new cats being installed plus the air control valve needed to be replaced due to the high temperatures from the exhaust manifold. Replacing it with insulation under the valve will hopefully prevent this from happening again. Steering was beginning to get too loose due to wear in the steering box. Tightening it slightly helped but it definitely could benefit from rack and pinion rather than the recirculating ball it presently has.

I loved my 85 GSL. It was a magnet back in 87 when I had it.

That takes me back to my RX-7, I had one painted black with the same color interior but never could get it running, wish I'd kept it though.

Where I"m from we call these "Cinco Letras" -- "Five Letters" -- GSL-SE. Top dog. Top shelf. I had an '84 from '92 to '95, and in those 3 years I put 70,.000 miles. For the poster of the vid, the same team that designed this designed the NA Miata, and the kid of the designer drew the Mazda 3, the 6, and the Rx8. Runs in the family. My Rx-7 was called Midnight (brilliant black) and I miss her so, so much.

My friend had one in high school too. It was a 1983. It flew but rpm was so cool how high it got. Him and me talked about what if we could get a other one. But them are old as dirt though. Long live the 83 rx7.

I have a SA22C Mazda Rx7 1980 in my garage...I learned something every time. I bought it, some time September or October of 1980, after my 1973 Datsun 240z that summer in 1980. I bought it because its styling was resembling my Z, 4 speed, & it was quick. I am going to put it back on the road.

It’s amazing how small these cars are when you see them in person.

I had an '82 and it is still one of my favorite cars I've owned. Would love to pick another one up at some point.

I had that EXACT car! An '85 GSLSE Havana Brown metallic with brown leather. Actually, I owned 7 RX-7's. '85 GSL, '85 GSLSE, 2 88 10th Anniversary Editions (turbocharged--the crystal white ones with white wheels), '91 convertable, '93 twin turbo base and a '95 R-2. Amazing cars.

Not sure which I enjoyed more, the snark or you enjoying the heck out of driving the car. What the heck, it's a tie. Nice review!

I like that design. Imagine one that looks exactly like that on the outside but everthing on the inside has modern technology. That would be awesome

sweet car! spent many hours back in the day as a passenger in one of those. good times!

My best friend had one of these in HS, first model year (this was in the early 90’s), and he got it before I got my car. We would regularly fit four in it (two in the trunk) because that’s what you did in HS! Then I finally got my first car, a Tercel with four doors, and we would cram six in it! I also remember one time when his rotary engine locked up. A mechanic at the Mazda dealer told him to pour a quart of ATF into the throttle body. It smoked like a freight train for a while, but it worked!

Yeah, they sold a few rotary pickups, but it was the RX2 that really introduced the rotary to the US market. Great video.

Jake you do a good job commentating! Keep it up.

I had a 1980 se. Dual Delarto carbs, header and 2.5” exhaust, lightened flywheel and large radiator. Turned 8500 rpm for literally hours with the 7k redline buzzer blaring. Had a few more but this was the “best” of them

My friends in high school and college had that car and one of them had the GSL-SE and another one had the Targa version. Super slick cars fast, quick movements they made the Mustangs and Corolla Twin Cams a run for their money.

Had a fd. Squatted like crazy when you got on it. Now I have a FC S5 Turbo. Working on getting it running (dead ecu)

Thanks for the ride Jake.

I want one. Either an FB or FC but the FB just looks so good

100% YES! Thank you 100% Jake. Nice video👍

awesome car, good video. thanks!

ive been looking for one for a while im in love

I had an '84 GSLSE which I modified: Racing Beat exhaust, Dell'Orto carb, Koni shocks, etc.

My 80 Mazda Rx7 is a SA22C that I bought new in October of 1980 when I my previous car was in multiply car collision from the rear. The prior car was a 1973 Datsun 240z and the Mazda caught my attention because of the similarities it had to my Z. I would have kept both but you know how youth can be. I am going to see your channel with other videos.

I also remember them being pretty powerful. Not exactly fast, but still very nice linear power.

that style rear hatch strut also powers the rear defroster. Same on the C4 Vette

The first generation RX-7 was in three series - 79-80 models, SA with steel bumpers, old fashioned round instruments, 81-81 FB with plastic bumpers integrated into the body, different interior and instrumentation, 84-85 FB with the same body, but completely different interior, instrumentation and heating/cooling. Some 84-85s were the GSl-SE, with the first 13b engine, first fuel injection. The second generation RX-7 86-91 were all fuel injected 13b engines. I owned several of the first gen cars, settled on the 84-85 because I think they are much nicer than the earlier ones, though a few pounds heavier. If you can find a nice first generation RX-7 for any reasonable price, it is probably the best sports car for the money. I had a lot of fun with these cars, including two 84 models that converted to custom convertibles. My current driver is a very nice 84 RX-7 with a Skyline engine and trans - shouldn't talk about that here.

Beautiful car.

the first of the RX line was the RX-2 followed by the RX-3 which sold in fairly significant numbers in the US

The rx-3 was a big hit here in NZ. rx-7's were loved to death

Great video , dude👍😁

This car needs a synthwave soundtrack - love it

I had a first gen, and I enjoyed it, the short time I had it. It wouldn't pass Colorado emission inspection so I had my friend from Wichita take it to sell it. Never saw it again.

Been very interested in the rotary engine ever since Rob Dahm has been doing his series on the three and four rotor engines..

I remember when these were dirt cheap here in new Zealand, now you never see them, good little cars ,I nearly bought one but got a 240z instead, the better cars for sure...

We actually got SAs as early as 1978. Fun fact: a buddy of mine has such an early SA 1978, that the hood prop is still on the right side of the vehicle, as if it was still RHD.

The FB is hands down the funniest car in the world to drive. Not because it's fast but because it just feels right. It is zen with the world around you ❤

Love this car. It really is a fun little car to drive.

Me over here with the never talked about middle child FC RX7

Mine was identical. I’ve had so many cool cars that became cooler with time. Was Sitting on a gold mine and didn’t know it.

Not the first of the RX line and they were also not JDM specific, RX-2 and RX-3s were offered here with rotaries... they are quite valuable now

RX 3 and 4 came out between the Cosmo and the 7 in the NA market.

So similar design to the Porsche 924 944

Love the video bud :D

I had a 76 Cosmo with the 13b rotary in High School.

Super injected had me in stitches

I owned a beater RX4 in the mid '90s. It got accordioned when it got rammed from behind at a stop light and shoved into the car in front. Insurance company paid me twice what I'd paid for it just a couple months earlier. At the time I thought it was awesome that I could make the RX4 backfire at will. :)

I had a 85 or 86 in 1994 or so. ( don't remember if it had 3rd brake light ) I ended up selling it and a 1969 Corvette to get a new 1994 Vette, ( had insurance probs and had to sell but got a 1995 a year+ later after insurance got fixed - Damn State Farm ) but I miss that car. It was not the fastest, but of the 70 cars I have owned, it was the funnest. I miss that RX-7, the 69 vette to an extent -11.90 1/4 mile ) , a 1985 Conquest TSi and a 1991 Laser Turbo. If I had the money I would also buy another mid 90's Corvette. My 1974 240Z was close to as fun to drive. Part of why I sold the RX-7 was hard to crank in the winter. I had to put an once of trans fluid in the main vacuum line to swell the seals up to get enough compression to start it in the winter. It wasn't a problem in the summer though. I got top $$ for it and the kid didn't car, he really wanted a RX-7 and had saved for years. I sold it for $2500 after driving it for over a year and putting 9,000 miles on it. I bought it for $800 because it didn't start. ( was due to low compression in the winter ) Everything still looked really good and the AC worked. I really didn't need the money, I had a 2 car garage and a Z71 truck and needed the space for the New vette. I missed it from the time I sold it. Damn it, now I want a RX-7 again. The sound of that engine revving. Yes, the power is very smooth.

When i was growing up nobody said FB it was just an RX-7... That said i always wanted one but couldn't afford one until i didn't want one anymore. They aren't very practical after you're 21 but hell of fun to drive. My buddy had a Miata years later and used to come pick me up with the top down listening to Air Supply.... it wasn't funny. Young people search Air Supply, you'll soon understand.

Actually 79 and 80 were the SA22C in the States I've had a couple and presently have an 80 with JDM Fuel injected 12a turbo swap

I always thought the original RX 7 to be one of the best looking cars.

Obviously they didn't want the wiper to run when the hatch was not fully closed. Could cause a malfunction if it did. Hence the strut disconnect. The large frameless glass is just classy.

Dont want to be a nerd but they did sell SAs here: I have one from 1980. It's not the JDM Savannah turbo, but it is the pre-facelift SA model.

Wait Kansas? Im near OP and looking at an FB in smithville. It’s missing and carb and I’m not sure about the apex seals. Im thinking of getting it and swapping a miata engine into it if I can’t get the 13b to start but I don’t know much about any of that. Any ideas?

MY FC turbo street port big turbo awesome was beating bikes on the highway.. car fell apart in months.. these cars are not mean to be dailys fyi but they are awesome AF

Beautiful car..

Heads up, your video didn't appear in my subscription list. I have now hit the bell for future videos ;)

I believe we did in fact get the sa22c in north america from 1979-1980.

These FBs are worth their weight in gold for a Puerto Rican. They bring crazy money over there for a clean "5 letras" GSL-SE

Just one minor thing to correct here, as my father owns the exact same model as this (FB), manufactured in August of 1982, is that the FB model came with the 12A Mazda rotary engine, not the 13B as mentioned in this video. So if this car does have a 13B engine, that is an aftermarket replacement, not the engine it was manufactured with. That in and of itself wouldn't surprise me though, as the engines tend to wear out much sooner than a piston engined car [because of the rotor seal degredation] over time, and Mazda stopped manufacturing the parts required to renovate a 12A a LONG time ago. Another difference between US and European models of the FB, is that the European models retained the 'Thermal Reactor' exhaust system, as a pose to a conventional exhaust system [with catalytic converter] as was the standard on US models. Not sure what was present on the AUS/NZ exports. In the UK, the FB is exempt from emissions testing if fitted with the 'Thermal Reactor' system. Finally, the 'blue smoke' phenonmenon, is down to the fact that oil is injected into the engine as part of normal running to help lubricate the rotor chambers. Too much oil injection can cause the 'blue smoke' phenomenon he mentions in the video. But this issue also becomes more evident as the engine gets close to needing a rebuild, and can be a sign that the seals are wearing down and will soon need replacing. It can also be a sign that the seal springs have 'flattened-out' somewhat, and are not exerting enough pressure on the rotor seals. The rotor housings can also become pitted and worn at the edges of the housings, which can cause uneven compression and potential damage to the seals as they age. Again, replacement housings for a 12A engine are getting rarer than hen's teeth these days, so I wouldn't be 'ragging-the-f**k' out of a stock 12A equipped RX-7 if you don't want to eventually have to scrap the car.

Great looking 5-letter you got there...... G-S-L-S-E You forgot to mention that the SE is the best equipped and final, top trim level of the first gen, available in 84-85 and the only one with EFI besides the Japan only 12A Turbo. I wont touch on the other errors in your historical presentation since it has been mentioned already, but I will say that the B-pillar vents are functional.....they are the rear water drains for the sunroof valley.

I miss my 79 savanna :( , I mean a Bridgeport 13B brap brap brap sound pretty cool but I actually just preferred the standard rotary sound :D

Does anyone know what that rear view mirror rubber thingy is called?

Jake, I fuck with this video heavy bro.

Is the sa22c rare? I got one but thought it was just an early model no one cared about.

B stands for Beautiful. Well, it doesn't, but what an absolute beauty

Nice video, but quite a few incorrect bits of info. Here are two that stand out; 1. The SA22C Rx-7s were indeed the very first RX7's, And we're not Japan only. Every RX7 built in for the '78-80 model years where SA22Cs, all over the world. In fact they were only changed to the FB chassis code beginning in 1981 for North America only. They were still SA22Cs everywhere else, from '78-85. 2. No first generation RX7 did 0 to 60 in 6.3 seconds from the factory. The very first '79 models did 0 to 50 in about 6.3 seconds. 0 to 60 times for those models were between 9 and 10 seconds. The GSL-SE model that you're showcasing did it in about the lower 8 second range.

Real world difference btwn the 12A vs 13B is that the smaller 12A didn't overheat the way the 13B did. This means replacing the head gaskets less often at the cost of a little HP. But handling in tight corners and hitting it at full throttle has been this little beast's most treasured personality trait. Naturally aspirated, high revving, flow inspiring goodness.

We definitely have the sa22 in the us my guy

Had to look up "anachronism"! Thanks for that....

We had the SA in the states, also the rx-3 was a thing

it was SA22C, FB, FC, FD, Rx8 if that counts