I noticed that I can start my 1985 RX7 without pressing the clutch. Do I have a defective clutch safety switch, or do first gen’s not even have one?

 

RX-7s did not have clutch interlocks. They weren't really used by anybody until the 1990s or so.

 

Mazda installed one just for the US market mid way through 1987, the rest of the world didn't get one until the early 2000's

 

The only clutch switch on a 1st Gen RX-7 is for the cruise control deactivation. There is no clutch start interlock switch. My 88 10th Anniversary RX-7 does have one but none of my earlier cars do. Its just the way it was then.

 

My '82 has a clutch switch and it is factory stock.

 

I'm pretty sure that clutch switch you are seeing is related to emissions as opposed to interlock for the starter. I have an 83 and have the same switch but I do not need to depress the clutch in order to turn over.
Edit: oops what Dave said!

 

The starter will not turn over without the clutch pressed. Do you need me to be any more specific?

 

lol, I guess I did need more specifics since you just said clutch switch, not starter interlock. No harm.

Do you have cruise control?

 

There should be no factory starter interlock on the 82 RX-7. The clutch switch should be for the cruise control deactivation. Not saying that someone didn't install one and add some wiring at one point. It would be possible to do and I can see it being done for safety reasons.

 

I don't think 82 even had a fuel pump interlock, fuel pump would have been directly powered by the ignition switch, so if you got into a collision and a fuel line broke, the fuel pump would merrily keep pumping fuel all over the crash site until the tank was empty or the battery was dead (or the ignition shut off, I guess)

 

So true. The fuel pump on SAs comes on in the on and run key positions. The FB (not sure what year) don't run the pump unless the car is being cranked or started. I love how primitive these are compared to new cars.

 

My early '86 FC Sport didn't have a clutch interlock switch, but my '90 does. I was under the impression that all '86 FC's and earlier did not have one.

 

I got curious and I'm avoiding doing other work so I looked at 82-85 FB wiring diagrams from Foxed

On 82 and 83 the key turns the fuel pump ON in ACC, IGN and ST. The clutch switch goes straight to the cruise control module.

12A in 84 and 85, the fuel pump is connected to a fuel cut relay and that is controlled by the ECU terminal 'n' (lower case). The clutch switch now connects to the ECU via terminal 'i' and also goes to the cruise control module.

13B in 84 and 85, the fuel pump is on a cut relay and that is on ECU terminal 'N', Clutch switch goes to terminal 'i'.