Hey everyone, I've got a 1980 RX-7 and two things about the car have struck me as curious since I've had it.

1: I've got a digital clock in the instrument cluster.

2: I've got rear seats.

Anyone know whether these two were available for the 1980 model year?

 

I didn't think that any RX-7s sold in North America had rear seats installed from the factory. There's quite a few floating around with JDM interiors though. The clock was an available item in '80, IIRC.

 

The Limited model

 

Your instrument cluster is out of a 79 Limited model. In 1980 Mazda went to an 85MPH speedo. Swapping in a 79 cluster to get the 120 speedo back has been a popular upgrade for 1980 owners. The Limited was the only 79 model to have the quartz digital clock.

 

I love the look of the rear seats. Reminds me of the MGC GT my family had when I was a kid. How well do you think these could be installed in a 84?

 

Probably fairly easily, although i believe there is an issue with the sa having a hump or something that is not present on the fb.

Quick search will turn up an answer for you.

 

I read somewhere that the +2 was done in small numbers to comply with some silly federal law dealing with import restrictions. It was pretty rare. I saw one on an 84 GSL-SE that was clearly factory.

 

The included picture should be showing the brace I think you're speaking of. The underside of the seats curve with it. I've had a few people say it might be a custom made seat, and others say it came out of a newer RX-7.