I keep seeing abbv. I don't understand. Like FB, FC, and so on.
Is there a link on this site that I could read up and learn about what all this rotary lingo is, or could someone post some of it and learn me what I need to know.
Thanks.
(I'm still considering the $400 '79)

 

Well, the basics are as follows:
1st Generation:
SA - 1979-1980 Production RX-7
FB - 1981-1985 Production RX-7
2nd Generation
FC - 1986-1992 Production RX-7
3rd Generation
FD - 1993+ Production RX-7
RX-8
FE - 2004+ Production RX-8

Each generation also breaks down into different series' as well, here are those year cut-offs:

Series 1 or S1 - 1979-1980 RX-7
Series 2 or S2 - 1981-1983 RX-7
Series 3 or S3 - 1984-1985 RX-7
Series 4 or S4 - 1986-1988 RX-7
Series 5 or S5 - 1989-1992 RX-7
Series 6 or S6 - 1993+ RX-7

Hope that helps. Theres also a link in the 2nd gen area thats got a nice glossary you could read. Ill include that here as well .

~T.J.

Link:

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=181219

 

So like is the SA the suckiest of all the RX-7s?
Is it the most inferior and weakest?

I noticed the '79 I'm looking at doesn't even have rear disc brakes. I'm just starting to learn about the RX-7, but I would've thought Mazda would have put discs on the rear of it's premier sports car back then, as well as independent rear suspension.
But I do like the looks of the car.

 

yea you could say the suckiest....but if u wanna put some real power into this thing an SA would be a good choice cuz.....SA's are the light 7's around...as for the drum brakes u can swap in a GSL suspension from an s2 or from an s3....it's still a sweet *** car no doubt bout it....if the 79 ur lookin into buying has rust underneath either be very careful cuz ryte now im goin thru frustration mode on my friends 80 cuttin out holes in his underbody cuz of the freakin rust....be careful bout that or be ready to invest some good time and money to fix up the body...

peace,
Gufran

 

The one I'm looking at is not rusty at all. It's got a couple of dings and needs paint.
The biggest thing is the engine runs crappy. It smokes like crazy when he gets it started. The smoke I saw was bluish at first then turned white, but it's not using coolant.
He said he put a new 4bbl carb on it, so maybe it's way messed up. It's the guys girlfriend's car, and he knows nothing about rotaries. I know the basic theory of how they work, I'm trying to learn the idiosyncrasies to see if I want to buy it.
I've always like them since high school.

 

great....should be a good project

 

Hahaha, no real anger here. SA's hold their own pretty damn well if you ask me.

 

I cant stand the tsailights and how its arranged..

 

so.... THIS is the suckiest car ever then?

News to me.... but I love her anyway.

 

I didn't mean suckiest car ever... that would be like the Yugo, or Chevette, or Ford Fairmont...

I meant the suckiest of the RX-7s. but I meant it lovingly

 

It may need some.... improvement... but it was Mazda's first crack at the Rx7... Over the couple years the 1st gen was made, they gave it a bigger gas tank, rear disc brakes, suspension upgrades, and a couple other things.

But as you can see by CHEF's car, they can easily be improved upon to get wehre you want 'em.

I wouldn't want the headache of trying to figure out all the differences and find parts for it though... So many tiny little things changed that it's damn near impossible to find some of the specific little parts.

I love my '84
Jon