The July issue of Sports Car International Mag. did an article on the sports cars of the '70's. The RX-7 ranked 7th (well we all know it's the best). Actaully 7th was the average. Some didn't consider it in the top ten but others considered it as high as forth. Just and F.Y.I.

 

what placed ahead of it, I know some people who would put the old celica supra and 240z ahead of it, but the little 7 is #1 in my book

 

i think the 240 z is up there but not the celica

 

240s are pretty ******* sweet

 

oh I agree the 240 is a sweet little car, after I sell my sentra I may get one. I just still think the seven is better, just my .02

 

btw nice avatar 82streetracer

 

(1) Ferrari Daytona, (2) Datsun 240z (they wrote Nissan, silly bastards), (3)Lamborghini Countach, (4) Lamborghini Miura SV, (5) Ferrari 308, (6) Ferrari Dino, (7) (everyone stands up and claps) Mazda RX-7, (Tied for seventh) Porsche Carrera RS, (9) De Tomaso Pantera, (Tied for ninth) BMW M1.

 

That's some pretty good company, the Rx and the Datsun (and maybe the RS) are the only non-exotics.

 

yeah, in the company of super cars *wipes away a tear* i'm just so damn proud

 

the rx-7 is a true classic. It has suck a memorable shape and sound. once one has ridden in one, they never want another piston!

 

i don't know how Sports Car International fits into the scope of international car magazines, but i think if the Rx-7 gets mentioned, much less ties with the 911 Carrera RS for anything, then we've been legitimized as a world-class force ... period! the Carrera RS is one of the ultimate cream machines ...

 

not to mention monsters like the M1 or the Countach!

 

Seriously, it came in ahead of the M1 and the Pantera, thats damn good by anyones book.

 

 

Wasnt the muria, the economy "everymans" lambo? If it was, it was the biggest pos on wheels.

 

The Muira was the predicessor to the Countach (V12 and all). It was the last "feminine" shaped Lambo. It was my personal favorite.

 

The 240Z and the 7 probably got on the list because of their affordability. The 7 is definetily a better car, but the 240Z was astonishingly cheap: my friend was so surprised by the low price for such a good sports car he bought two new ones.

B

 

Panteras were cheap also and IMHO should be rated higher. The RX-7 proved itself many years ago, so it does not really need "legitimizing". It is interesting that it made the list for the 70's. Did they compile 60's, 80's and 90's lists as well? The criteria seem to be all over the place.

 

What dipshit put the Countach in that list?

Ask anyone who has DRIVEN one and you'll get nothing but moaning and complaining...

 

They do another decade every month. They've done 50s, 60s and this month is 70s.

 

I just wonder what the criteria are. For example, granted that the Ferrari 308 was affordable and they sold a lot of them, but otherwise why not pick a 512 BB or another model that beats it on other criteria?

Of course the RX-7 should be ahead of the M1. The M1 is a nice car but if you had to pick the 10 best of the decade it might not make the cut. They only produced ~450 of them and although they handle well, didn't win a lot of races. I remember seeing the 1st gen RX-7's beating up on a lot of M1's in the early 80's. They did not look like such "monsters" when they were sucking up rotary exhaust fumes.

The decades that these cars are assigned to just don't seem to follow any rhyme or reason. The Lambo Miura was really a 60's car, made from 1966-73. It was a great car but the real significance was being first with a lot of features. (Many people said it was a a lot better than the Countach and a mistake to stop making them.) It was very practical, and the most desireable sports car until the Ferrari Daytona. For that matter the Daytona was introduced in 1968! On the other hand the 1st gen RX-7 came out in 1978 but the huge numbers of race wins and most sales were during the 80's.

 

You'll need to buy the article for criteria, it's basically up to each individual editor. The article also explains why the M1 and Muira are on the list. Both placed well in the 60s list as well.

I would expect that the Rx-7 will show up in the 80s as well, I doubt they'll differeniate between generations.

 

It should be in both the 80's and 90's lists if only on the strengths of the 1st and 3rd generations. If not then I would return the magazine and demand my money back.

 

What's amazing is that the Rx7 only had one year in the '70s, 1979! Well.. '78 too if you were in Japan.

And I'd be willing to bet that it won't actually place in the '80s for some odd reason that I can't understand. Probably because they reviewed the SA/FB for the '70s and will review the FC for the '80s... And everybody knows FBs are *far superior* to FCs :

Jon