i'm not sure of the age of an imported car ,what are the physical differences to look for

 

Oh.... it's easy. The 2nd gen is butt ugly. Some would even say it's fugly.

 

2nd gens came in models such as the GTU, GXL and Sport. 1st gens typically came in either S, GS, GSL or SE trim.

 

First Gens
S
GS
GSL
GSLSE

1 anniversary
Limited Edition

Second gen
SE
GXL
TII
GTU
GTUs
10AE

I know he said "imported'

You want to stop guessing check the vins

BUT if it is a Jspec or from another counrty it can be diffrent.



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


____ VDS (Vehicle Description Section)
|
____V____
J M 1 F B 3 3 1 4 B O 5 1 2 3 4 5
----- --- --- - - - - -----------
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Production Serial Number
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |__ Assembly Plant Code (O = Hiroshima)
| | | | | |
| | | | | |__ Model Year Code (B= 1981, C = 1982, D = 1983...)
| | | | |
| | | | |__ Check Digit *
| | | |
| | | |__ Miscellaneous Identification Code **
| | |
| | |__ Body Style Code
| |
| |__ Car Line Code (FB = RX-7 Series)
|
|__ World Manufacturer Identifier (All Mazda Passenger Cars are
identified by JM1.)


If you see
SA
FB
thats a first gen

If you see
FC
thats a second gen


FD
third gen

If you dont see any of them,well yor screwed.
Look at the vin tag on the dash ot firewall behind the carb.

 

1st gens look sorta like this:



2nd gens look sorta like this:

 

See what I mean? It takes some "leg" to make the 2nd gen look decent.

 

LOL!


Here are some more to help you see the difference between 1st and 2nd gen.


1st gens.




2nd gens.




I hope that helps.

-Error

 

Who coined the term second generation?

Was it Mazda or the Media?

 

It is the second generation in the rx-7 family.

 

That would do it!

 

generations are cited for pretty much every make and model. over in the Daytona forum they talk about 1st and 2nd generation Turbo Z Daytonas, etc.

 

I hadn't really heard the terms 1st gen, 2nd gen and 3rd gen until I visited this US based forum. In Oz all everyone says is - Series 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

 

well... I personally think that the second gen looks like alot of other 80's cars... LIKE A BOX!

The first gen has curves....

 

what it comes down to is the 1st gen has relatively timeless lines, whereas the 2nd gen was too trendy and ended up looking dated.

I've a book on the development of 1st and 2nd gen styling. The 1st gen came close to being an ugly little bug-eyed Sprite wannabe, and the 2nd gen came close to being better looking than it ended up.

Can't fault the 3rd gen though. That's just a pretty body, nad I suspect it'll age as well as the lines of the 1st gen have

 

Generations apply to pretty much every car company... my Hon-Duh prelude (1981, so not really part of the ricer crowd) is a "First Generation" which is 79-82, then it goes up from there, all the way up to a 5th generation which is the last models they made (99-01) I believe....

Woooo.... 993 posts

 

some people say 2nd gens look like 944's?? im sorry i dont see it!?
lol

--eric

 

haha..someone said my first gen looked like a Porche...and I was like...neh?...my car is all stock. hahaha

I guess if anything...1st gens look more like a porsche than a first gen....IMO.

 

That one is way cool.

 

S2-13BT, from oz would do it.

main body shaope/style changes usually define different gens. S1/2/3 all have the same basic bodyshell and suspension setup, then major revision to S4/5, then again S6/7/8 are completely different also.

1st, 2nd, 3rd evolutuons of the shape if you will.

 

manntis always with the visual description..

i love u bro..


jk

 

Yeah, it makes so much sense, I use it all the time now.

 

Th second gens DO look like a 944,I remeber hearing a story that Mazda (did) or (almost) got into some trouble cause of the design,

The phone dial rims,Just like a 944
Big rear glass hatch,Just like a 944
The body shape is really similar,
I think even the front seats are about the same shape high back narrowed headrest bucket seats.

 

I've read a book on the 2nd gen and it's true: Mazda had been attempting to create something similar to the 944. Personally, I think the 2nd gen looks more like a Daytona or older Probe than a 944.

 

http://sevendrift.gotdns.com/flash/porsche.html
a little animation comparing porsche 944 and 2nd gen rx-7

 

Too bad they are both butt ugly. But i guess that was the boxy style at the time.

No one asks me if my fb is a 944. they always ask if its a 280. heheeh good thing i like datsuns too.