I seen some japansese RX-7 FDs on the web that has 1991 on them. But doesn't the FD-Generation start at 1993?
It went under the name Mazda RX-7 Type R.

Is this just miss print or what up with these cars?

 

i am not sure of the true answer but seeing Japan makes them it is possible. There are alot of things that dont make it here thanks to "laws" and crap.

 

iirc, the first FD's were available in early 1992 in certain countries

 

my FD is a 92

 

mine was delivered to the original buyer (the guy i bought it from) in April of 1992... meaning i probably have one of the first RX-7s sold in the US that aside, i was under the impression that there was NO 1991 RX-7 ever built... sort of a transition year.

 

I think there was a 91 2nd gen... and then no 92 (in this country), with the FD picking up as a 93 model.

 

production started october 91 - so there are definitely 91 FDs out there - whether or not they were badged 91, is another matter (I have a feeling I may have seen one in the japanese classifieds)

 

I think we're talking about two different things... date of manufacture, and model year. My car shows a build date sometime in '92, but is a '93 model. There was no U.S. '92 model, and I believe there was a '91 2G. There may have been '92 model year FD's elsewhere, just like there were 96-on models that we didn't get.

 

Ok I found the answer in my trusty book shelf

The model I found was the Mazda RX-7 Infini IV which was built in 1991-1992. This was a domestic RX-7 that became a real myth car.
This was a concept model that had more in common with 2G RX-7 then the 3G, but this car developed into the 3G RX-7 we saw later. Kind of a hybrid between the generations.

Don't know how many of them they built.

If someone has detailed pictures of the Infini IV please post them, I would really like to get a close look on it.

 

The fd that we know today as far as I know starts from 92. Mine is a 92 (year manufactured) and there are tons of other 92's in this country.

 

Yes the FD first year was 1992 but the Infini IV was built already in 1991 and it didn't have specs of a FD. It was FD-like body with the old FC engine.
Another interesting fact is that it wasn't named RX-7 but only had the name Infini IV on it.

This car is extremly rare, so it's not an FD at all but some mutant car.

BTW: I love you FD, paintjob is just great!

 

OK, time to straighten this out .

In the US, the FC's were sold with model years of 86-91. FD's were sold with model years of 93-95. In the US, there was no '92 RX-7 - the '93s showed up as "early" 93's, and dealers sold leftover '91s while waiting for the FD.

In Japan and the rest of the world, the FD debuted as a '92 model year model, with actual production of the car starting in Dec. 91. Again, the build date and the model year aren't directly correlated - this is typical in the car industry. For example, you could buy a 2004 RX-8 in August of 2003 here in the US.

The Infini IV has been warped into something it's not by slightly overstated entries in RX-7 books and the Internet. There were multiple Infini models of the FC available in Japan, but the Infini IV was brought to the US by Mazda for a press tour. The Infini IV was simply a black FC turbo, lightweight (no radio, etc.) with tuned suspension, slightly bumped horsepower with bolt-on mods, race seats, front strut tower brace, etc. While the car is way cool, at the end of the day it's just an FC with some bolt-ons. The only thing it had to do with the FD was it was showing the direction Mazda was taking with the FD - more elemental, stiffer suspension, more "true" sports car. That's it. There are NO FD parts or anything else FD-related about it - it's simply an FC with bolt-ons sold as a special package option in Japan.

The real "final" FC was a dark green/tan leather 'vert in Japan, I think it was called the "conclusion" model or something. That was supposedly the last FC's built before they started the production line for the FD.

Dale

 

Wrong about the 92 3rd gen.

The series-6 (92-95) RX-7 arrived into the USA in the first half of 1992. May-92 to be exact.

Even though they where introduced in May, many had Jan,Feb or Mar-92 production dates. etc

In fact, over 60% of USA sales are 92-models. Sales took a steep nose dive for the 93- model, which lead to the cars ultimate removal from the USA market at the end of the "series-6" production run in DEC-95.

Production actually started in late-91 for the domestic release in Japan. The rest of the world followed in early 92 once stock had built up.

As for the "Infini" version of the "series-4" (86-88) & the "series-5" (89-91) in Japan, dont confuse those special edition RX-7's with the 3-rd gen "Efini RX-7" which was the sales channel Mazda Japan sold the "series-6" & "series-7" versions through. For the "series-8" version of 99-02, Mazda dropped the "Efini" channel & sold them directly as a "Mazda RX-7".


Eg, Australia got there 92-models from APR-92, one month ahead of the USA.

A basic table for those that are keen to know...........

SA RX-7 (USA=FB)

series-1 = 78-80
series-2 = 81-83
series-3 = 84-85

FC RX-7

series-4 = 86-88
series-5 = 89-91

FD RX-7

series-6 = 92-95
series-7 = 96-98
series-8 = 99-02

 

Correct. The design for the FD was developed in the late 80's, and finalized in 1990.

 

Anyone have a picture of this mythical FC/FD creature?

~Kris

 

And were sold and registered as '93s...

There is no such thing as a 1992 RX-7 in the United States. The VIN numbers for the FD start with 1993 ("P") and end with 1995 ("S") regardless of build date.

 

There isn't one...

 

91.10 - 93.8 I ('series 6')

93.8 - 95.3 II (last 'efini' model)

95.3 - 96.1 III ('series 7')

96.1 - 98.12 IV

98.12 - 00.10 V ('series 8')

00.10 - 02.8 VI


As noted above, US system is problematic, as all 92s were sold as 93s. The 'series' system of dating is purely an australian terminology.

 

2nd generation ended in mid 92. They are definitly the rarest year, but it was when the change was made.

 

same here

 

Remember that just because we in the USA call a car a "1993 model year" doesn't mean that other countries will not call them a 1991 or 1992 model year. I have seen 1991 3rd generation cars being advertised for sale in Japan websites. They (I BELIEVE JUST AN OPINION HERE) refer to the car more in the series terms instead of the year or model year terms. When looking at the Japanese websites, everything is advertised for sale without stating the model years.

Saying this, is there a 1991 3rd gen car, Yes. Was there a 1991 or 92 in the US, No unless imported or early production released as a 1993 model year car.

Tim

 

Yeah there are a few 91 model imports here in Australia. As the FC RX-7 production stopped in SEP-91, the FD production kicked in the next month. Like Japan, we call a 92 model car a "92 model".

From our side of the world it sure seems strange understanding the ***** system used in the USA.

Most USA FD sales where made in 92. Most FD's delivered during the MAY-92 release where Jan or Feb or Mar-92 production yet they are all called 93 models.....

A question regarding the hypocrasy here. Since the 92 models where called a "93-model". Why aren't the 95-models called a "96-model".........????

 

that 1st rx rolled of the production line on the 28th of december 1991

 

pretty sure its in Jack Yamagucci's book. I'm sure I spelled his name wrong too. No pics though

 

Re-read Dale's post about the the Infini IV below. It was basically a lightened FC built to keep the press happy while they were waiting for the unveiling of the FD.