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I'm looking at a nice car and I found something odd.
It should be a 04/1995 JDM car, but at least a couple things are off, to my inexperienced eye.
I see a later spoiler, and later tail lights. You can check in the pictures attached.
The second picture shows some holes: I'm wondering if those would be the correct holes for a '95 spoiler, hence meaning that the previous owner swapped the stock spoiler for a later-model one.
This leaves the round tail lights at the question: what's this car?
Thank you for your help.
Giacomo
the rear "whale tail" (or "dolphin"?) wing and round lights... Both strange for a '95.
the only thing that matters is the vin. cosmetically, anyone can change whatever parts they want. it shouldnt be used as an indication of trim level, model year or series.
It's probably a version 3 car. Look at the Vin. It will be like fd3s-300146.
The spoiler and lights are correct, although the boot lid may have been changed. It will have the 8 bit ecu, the 16 bit came in the version 4 cars.
series 7 is a thing the aussies made up and doesn't directly apply to the jdm cars.
The VIN info tag is stuck to the drivers door sill and looks like this. It is also on the engine firewall. If you put the FD3S-xxxxxx code into ??????? ????????? Mazda RX-7 it will show you the car's specifications.
Thank you all for the precious help.
I was sent to Spain for work this week, I'll be coming back next week and finally inspect the car at the shop. I will note the VIN and post the results here...
I just came home from the shop. Amazing, passionate guy in there, who invited me to inspect the car thoroughly.
The VIN on the sticker at the door was so worn I couldn't read it, so he showed me the VIN under the bonnet instead: it reads FD3S-303387. It's an April 1995 car, which the web decoder reports to be a TYPE RS (????? RX-7 ? ?????? FD3S - ???????????? ). This kinda excites me, though the shop owner thinks it's just a mistake from the website. The steering wheel is the standard Efini, not Momo like it should be in a RS (right?), and the tachometer is a gorgeous 300kph ReAmemiya which I forgot to snap.
I attach pictures of its heart.
Apart from the double HKS filter, it's said to be original and in great shape.
Do you guys... Like it?
Last edited by Giacomo Pagani; 07-03-18 at 02:58 PM.
Reason: adding a picture
Not an expert either, but I like them very much. Not sure if the "FD" engraving means anything RX7 related or just a cohincidence.
They do look very good on the car, period correct appearance - hopefully someone chimes in with some infp. Just needs some new center caps by the look of it but that's an easy fix.
The wheels are BBS RGR series, basically what is found on the Spirit R but sold as a BBS product instead of a Mazda part. Chassis/VIN numbers can be found in two places under the hood. On the information plate riveted to the firewall (above the brake booster in your picture) and stamped into the center of the firewall (directly behind the Upper Intake Manifold).
It's an early Version 3, still a S6 model. IIRC, S7 didn't begin untill December 1995 (I just woke up...lol) and that's when it got the 16-bit ECU and so on. While it is a cosmetic and easily changed part as PeloNZ mentioned in regard to the spoiler/tail lights, eFini badges on it are a considerable clue. S7 made the change to the Flying M badges.
Situations like this are why I offer to run a Build Sheet...after coffee
Thank you! I was almost convinced it was a version 3 indeed. In the last days, I spotted many pictures of Efini (not Mazda) RX-7s from 1995 with the circle tail lights and the whale tail spoiler. So I think it's not a swap, kind of an "early domestic adoption" of the new features in Japan, maybe.
I checked the carpets and everything I could, they are '95, also that black crossover pipe next to the engine is a '95: if it were a '96, it should have had an aluminium Y-pipe.
The odd remaining part is the Type-RS thing. VIN code is FD3S-303387, and it's read as a Type-RS.
The only readable things on the sticker are the suspensions ("Hard S.") and the MODEL SPEC (F125-315). It took me quite some time, but I eventually found another user with the same Model Spec, and a picture of the full sticker: it's indeed a Type-RS, with the same Hard suspensions etc.
But... I have a Efini steering wheel in place of the Momo wheel that should be associated with the Type-RS model.
Thank you! I was almost convinced it was a version 3 indeed. In the last days, I spotted many pictures of Efini (not Mazda) RX-7s from 1995 with the circle tail lights and the whale tail spoiler. So I think it's not a swap, kind of an "early domestic adoption" of the new features in Japan, maybe.
I checked the carpets and everything I could, they are '95, also that black crossover pipe next to the engine is a '95: if it were a '96, it should have had an aluminium Y-pipe.
The odd remaining part is the Type-RS thing. VIN code is FD3S-303387, and it's read as a Type-RS.
The only readable things on the sticker are the suspensions ("Hard S.") and the MODEL SPEC (F125-315). It took me quite some time, but I eventually found another user with the same Model Spec, and a picture of the full sticker: it's indeed a Type-RS, with the same Hard suspensions etc.
But... I have a Efini steering wheel in place of the Momo wheel that should be associated with the Type-RS model.
Is that possible?
The round tail lights were introduced on Series 8, in 1999. Plenty of owners retrofit them, along with the 99-spec front bumper light housings, bumper, etc. Just did a build sheet, Type-RS with MSC code F125-315 exactly as you said. Built on 4/3/1995, 4 seats, Paint code 3L, FE5 interior, STC seat code. Your car is indeed a S6 with a N3A7 8-bit ECU, standard issue for Japanese spec cars with manual transmission
What I found slightly quirky is that Non-Sunroof cars got the eFini steering wheel, while ones WITH sunroof got the US-spec wheel. Section 3200 part 2 shows the Momo Wheel with a description on the page as "レザ モモ" (Racer Momo). It appears that it was an optional part, but a proper in-depth check would require translating the entire option charts. It's a very time-consuming endeavour and with everything currently going on in my life, my plate is a bit too full to take time off of work for it.
The round tail lights were introduced on Series 8, in 1999. Plenty of owners retrofit them, along with the 99-spec front bumper light housings, bumper, etc. Just did a build sheet, Type-RS with MSC code F125-315 exactly as you said. Built on 4/3/1995, 4 seats, Paint code 3L, FE5 interior, STC seat code. Your car is indeed a S6 with a N3A7 8-bit ECU, standard issue for Japanese spec cars with manual transmission
What I found slightly quirky is that Non-Sunroof cars got the eFini steering wheel, while ones WITH sunroof got the US-spec wheel. Section 3200 part 2 shows the Momo Wheel with a description on the page as "レザ モモ" (Racer Momo). It appears that it was an optional part, but a proper in-depth check would require translating the entire option charts. It's a very time-consuming endeavour and with everything currently going on in my life, my plate is a bit too full to take time off of work for it.
Huge information there! Thank you!
I don't want you to wreck your spare time for me, but I'm curious: how are you "doing build sheets"?
I thought it would have been nice to share an update: after an amazingly inspiring test drive, I bought the car.
I couldn't perform all the tests explained in the precious guides around here, but I read them all nonetheless, and I paid attention to the following:
- the car, sitting from months unused (it was exactly "like I left it" when I tinkered with it the last time I visited the showroom), started in a split second;
- no smoke whatsoever
- a good "little above 1000 rpm" idle when cold, and slightly less than 1000 when warm;
- strong pull from the lowest rpm range, a very faint "softening" at 4.000-4.500, and then, without kicking, a consistent pull up to... Damn I forgot to redline it;
- after 1 hour driving (with some punch), we stopped the car outside the showroom, and turned it on again to park inside: no problem restarting, as quick as cold;
So, I couldn't run or ask for a compression test, but the shop is top-notch and very wankel-passionate, and I feel like trusting the guy.
Now the car is sitting in there, awaiting for italian registration (a few weeks), in the meantime I asked for:
- interior sanification
- checking why the beautiful HKS turbo timer doesn't turn on :-)
- a proper check of the BC Racing suspensions setup and health, along with the differential (we heard some "clunks" from the rear during moderate speed changes)
That's it and I'm like waiting for a very early Christmas now.
right after the test drive...
Thanks for all your precious support.
Giacomo
Last edited by Giacomo Pagani; 07-27-18 at 08:45 AM.
I just came home from the shop. Amazing, passionate guy in there, who invited me to inspect the car thoroughly.
The VIN on the sticker at the door was so worn I couldn't read it, so he showed me the VIN under the bonnet instead: it reads FD3S-303387. It's an April 1995 car, which the web decoder reports to be a TYPE RS (????? RX-7 ? ?????? FD3S - ???????????? ). This kinda excites me, though the shop owner thinks it's just a mistake from the website. The steering wheel is the standard Efini, not Momo like it should be in a RS (right?), and the tachometer is a gorgeous 300kph ReAmemiya which I forgot to snap.
I attach pictures of its heart.
Apart from the double HKS filter, it's said to be original and in great shape.
Do you guys... Like it?
thats a clean engine bay. The car I got from Japan did look that good when I first bought it.
I apologize for posting on this 2018 post, but I'm kind of at the same situation here. I just got a 95 Type RS with the same "whale tail" oem wing spoiler. Model Spec for mine is F125-315 with Grade Type RS Special Edition. Very weird and a bit unique.
I apologize for posting on this 2018 post, but I'm kind of at the same situation here. I just got a 95 Type RS with the same "whale tail" oem wing spoiler. Model Spec for mine is F125-315 with Grade Type RS Special Edition. Very weird and a bit unique.
Might want to send me your VIN for a Build Sheet. Hate to say it, but misinformation and upbadging unfortunately now happens to FDs. There's 4 different MSC Codes for a Type RS and it seems like people have just been making up things because they don't know or can't read Kanji. Wouldn't surprise me if someone claims they have a "RZ Touring X Bathurst" these days...
Might want to send me your VIN for a Build Sheet. Hate to say it, but misinformation and upbadging unfortunately now happens to FDs. There's 4 different MSC Codes for a Type RS and it seems like people have just been making up things because they don't know or can't read Kanji. Wouldn't surprise me if someone claims they have a "RZ Touring X Bathurst" these days...
OK so the 1995 Type RS seems to be a strange one. As best as I can tell, the late 95 JDM Type RS although its a series 6 car actually comes with a series 7 wing from factory. I have had one myself in silver. Those BBS wheels are also standard for this model. There should also be a Momo steering wheel with removeable centre panel. The rear lights should be the early versions though. The rest of the car is series 6 including dash light illumination in orange, early style rats nest and early 8 bit connectors for the electronics.
this is the 95 RS I sold. Note it doesn’t have the wheels anymore (it had them when I bought the car but I needed them for my RZ). You can however see the correct steering wheel that the car came with from the factory. And the factory series 7 whale tail.
also worth noting that those BBS wheels in that particular finish were a factory option only in 1995 for other models. Obviously those BBS wheels were available in the grey/polished lip finish on the series 6 and 7 Type RZ.
Thanks for the responses. This information is very helpful!. Hhere's mine with the same whale tail and some small mods. but it's all stock for the most part. Here's the tag. Sorry for cutting off the "Type RS" portion. I can take a better pic once I drive it this weekend.
06-24-18, 12:10 PM
