im getting ready to buy a 1985 mazda RX-7 i have read many different things about them such to what is a first gen and what is a second gen. well the rx-7 im lookng at looks like a second gen ( body styling ) but it also has the 13b engine where as the 1st gen had the 12A engine. I read somewhere that they started producing second gen's in late 1985 which makes me believe that im getting a second gen model but im not sure i was wondering if there is someone out there that can clear this up for me.

 

What's the chasis number on it?
if starts with something like sa22c its a first gen 7

 

if the chassis number starts with SA22C, its a series 1 rx7, 79-80. If it starts with fb3s(i think, at least fb) then its an 81 thru 85 rx7. Theres is however an 84-85 rx7, first gen rx7 that came with a fuel injected 13b engine.
If its a second gen then the chassis number starts with fc3s.
hope this helps.

 

i went and looked at the number today i get the car thursday well the first 9 numbers and letters of the VIN are JM1FC3312.

okay next question if it is a second gen then when ordering parts should i order part from the 86-91 sections?

 

It is a 1st gen RX-7 if it is a 85.. IT is a GSL-SE if it has a EFI 13B... A lot of people consider these the best of the 1st gen RX-7..


-Zach

 

are you 100% sure about that . if so can i still add some 86-91 upgrades since it has the 13b fuel injection engine or am i stuck to the first gen upgrades

 

Yes i am 100% sure... I own one.. But i have the 84.. I have also owned an 86 2nd gen...


ok here are the US generations:

1st gen 79-85
2nd gen 86-92
3rd gen 93-95(and still being made in japan.. Just not exported to the US)


Ok, As for upgrades, what kind of upgrades are you wanting to do? alot of parts are interchangable between the GSL-SE and a 2nd gen RX-7... Alot of them are not..


If you want a list of good upgrades here are some:

Exhaust (RB Dual Racing exhaust is great)
Intake (buy a cone filter & fab a cold air intake)


Doing both of these things will make the car much faster & sound alot better.. It will also drop some weight.

 

i just found some pics of the 1985 gsl-se . the one im getting doesn't look like that

 

Then it is not an 85.....


What does it look like? does it look more like a 280z or a porshe 944??


-Zach

 

well im looking around on the net and i found some info on www.rx7.org about the first gen models, it looks like i have a second gen after all the VIN doesn't match with any of these

Vin Info:

Model Year VIN Ser Numbers
1979 SA22C - 500001 +
1980 SA22C - 600001 +
1981 FB33 - 500001 +
1982 FB33 - 600001 +
1983 FB33 - 700001 +
1984 FB33 - 800001 +
1985 FB33 - 856209 +


here's a link to where i got the info

http://www.rx7.org/public/1st-gen.html

 

Does it look like this

1st gen

or this

2nd gen


This should tell you for sure...


-Zach

 

did some more research found a 86 with the VIN number like mine go here http://www.rx-7.cc/registry/ and it should have a list of people that have registered there RX-7's so it gives a list of VIN's mine matches a 1986.

 

i thought that it looked like the second gen since i saw the car but the year threw me off

 

So do you know what year it is? if it looks like a second gen it is a 86+

-Zach

 

it is a 85 the sticker inside the door panel cleary show the date 09/85 for the date the car was made. i will send you pictures of my car when i get it on thursday. i guess there is no other way to prove i am right than to show you that in late 85 there is a second gen. another interesting fact most factory plants re-tool there plants for new models in july ( well that is how ford does it atleast ) so it is possible to buy the next year model before the new year which i believe is the case here

 

That production date is for an 86 2nd gen. I almost bought one and it had the exact same date on it.

 

Ok, Alot of cars are made before they are sold.. IE a 2002 was made in 2001 and 2003 was made in 2002.. This is almost always the case..

Your car is still an 86 Model year...


-Zach