The third-generation Mazda RX-7, known by its chassis code FD, is one of the best-looking Japanese sports cars ever made, and its twin-turbo rotary engine is like nothing else on the road. It has a reputation for being fragile, which puts some people off. Bought carefully and looked after properly, it is a very rewarding car to own, and its age now works in your favour on tax and testing.
- Built
- 1992 to 2002
- Engine
- 13B-REW twin-rotor, sequential twin turbos
- Shipping from Japan
- From £3,575, shipping only
- Tax
- 20% VAT + 10% duty, or 5% VAT over 30 years
Which series
| Feature | Series 6 | Series 7 | Series 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built | 1992 to 1995 | 1996 to 1998 | 1999 to 2002 |
| In brief | The original, and the purest shape | Detail changes and updates | The most developed, with revised styling and more power on top models |
| Tax today | Reduced classic rate | Check the build date | Standard rate, for now |
All three use the same basic recipe: a light, front-mid-engined coupe with a 1.3-litre twin-rotor engine and two turbos that work in sequence. Early Japanese cars were sold under Mazda's Efini brand, so you will see both Efini RX-7 and Mazda RX-7 badges on cars of a similar age.
The Series 8 cars are the most sought after, and the final limited editions sit at the top of the tree. The Series 6 is the cheapest way in and is already old enough to qualify for the reduced tax rate.
Understanding the rotary
A rotary engine has no pistons or valves in the usual sense. Triangular rotors spin inside a housing, sealed at their tips by apex seals. It is compact, smooth and revs freely, and it is also less forgiving of neglect than a conventional engine.
By design, a rotary burns a small amount of oil to lubricate its seals, so checking the oil level is part of owning one. Heat is the other enemy. A healthy cooling system matters on any FD, and a lot of owners upgrade it.
The sequential turbo system relies on a web of vacuum hoses and solenoids. When the hoses age, the changeover from one turbo to two can feel flat or jerky. It is a common fault and usually a fixable one, but it is worth knowing about when you test a car.
What to check before you buy
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 8 done
The compression test is the single most useful check on an RX-7. A rotary needs its own tester and someone who knows how to read the result, so ask the seller, or an inspector, before you commit. Our guides to buying a car abroad safely and the Japanese import checklist cover the general checks in more detail.
Modified cars
Many FDs have been modified, from single-turbo conversions to full engine swaps. A well-built car with proper paperwork can be a good buy. A car with a lot of changes and no history is a gamble, and the difference is in the receipts. Japanese auctions often give heavily modified cars a low or special grade, so read the notes rather than the number alone.
Where to find one
- Japanese auctions, with an independent inspection and a translated auction sheet
- Specialist exporters in Japan
- UK specialist dealers, if you would rather see it first
If you are buying at auction, our guide to Japanese auction grades explains how to read the sheet, including the repair codes worth watching for.
Shipping and tax
An RX-7 from Japan usually travels by RoRo, which costs less than a container, or in a container if you would rather it was sealed away for the voyage. Door to door, it is usually about 5 to 8 weeks. As a guide, shipping from Japan starts from £3,575, shipping only.
A car under 30 years old pays 20% VAT and 10% duty on the price plus shipping. A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty, which is a much smaller bill. The earliest FDs are already past that mark, and more cross it every year. Our worked tax examples show the sums, and the import tax calculator will run your own.
Check the build date, not the model year. The 30-year line is judged on the car itself, so a few months can change the tax bill. We work out exactly what applies when we quote.
Found one you like? Send us the auction listing or the exporter's details and we will price the whole job.
Getting it road legal
Every FD is now well over 10 years old, so it does not need an IVA test. It takes an MOT instead, and the speedometer does not have to be converted to mph, though many owners choose to. It does need a correctly positioned rear fog light if one was not fitted at the factory.
Japanese cars are no longer checked for headlight compliance, which keeps the work down. We do the changes and the MOT on our own site in Castle Donington, and our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register the car within 10 working days. For the full route, see our guide to importing a car from Japan.
Insurance
A modified rotary sports car is the kind of thing insurers like to know about in detail. Tell them about every modification, and keep the receipts. Our guide to insuring a Japanese import explains what they ask for.
Questions people ask
Does an imported RX-7 FD need an IVA test?
No. Every FD is over 10 years old, so it is exempt from vehicle approval and takes an MOT instead, after a rear fog light is fitted if it does not have one.
Is an RX-7 FD old enough for the reduced import tax?
The earliest ones are. A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty. Later cars pay 20% VAT and 10% duty until they cross the 30-year mark, so check the build date.
What is the most important check on an RX-7?
A rotary compression test, done with the right tester by someone who knows how to read it. It tells you far more about the engine than a test drive.
Do I need to convert the speedometer to mph?
Not for registration. The mph rule applies to cars under 10 years old, and every FD is older than that. Some owners convert it anyway.
How long does it take to ship an RX-7 from Japan?
Usually about 5 to 8 weeks door to door, plus the time for UK customs, any changes, the MOT and registration.
Got your eye on an FD? Send it to us on the quote form and we will price the shipping, customs, MOT and registration.
