Random Snap>> Clean Silver First Gen Rx7

At first glance, you may be thinking, "look at the front bumper. Are you sure it's clean?"

Yes, I do think this first gen RX7 is exceptionally clean. A minor thing like that front bumper will look incredibly clean if it's just painted. No biggie. This past summer at the Japanese Classic Car Show in Irvine, I was walking around the show looking at so many cool cars, I just didn't know what to take pictures of first. There were too many cars to look at! Fortunately my good friend Herbrock One stops and talks to just as many people as I do when we're at carshows, so I had time to take a picture of this first gen RX7. It was owned by his friend, whose name I think is Danny. If I remember correctly. (If I got it wrong, I apologize… I always meet tons of people at events, and even though I try, it's hard for me to keep all the names straight sometimes, unless I see the same people all the time!)

First thing I want to say is… is it an SA22C? Or an FB? What's the proper chassis code, and how can you tell the first gen RX7s apart, just by looking at them? How about some assistance, rotary experts? I've been wondering about this for a very long time.

I like the subtle, clean styling put into this RX7. The Epsilon wheels are sized very well for the fenders of this first gen, and I love the front chin spoiler!!! It looks perfect on this car! It points outward, and is aggressive, yet the black texturized plastic looks very period correct, and nostalgic. Very 80s, wouldn't you say? I just love 1980s cars. It looks like it would be a Foha spoiler… I'm not sure if Foha even made them for RX7s though, I normally see those airdams on old Corollas.

Also, about the hood… I remember the owner of the car telling me that it was a METAL drop vent hood. Meaning, it was a home made drop vent, and he actually cut into the metal of his hood, and welded the side pieces on. I think he did an awesome job. Look at the body of this car. So straight, and so clean… the only thing that could make it cleaner is a new coat of glossy silver paint… but right now, the car looks like it doesn't need paint yet… I'd maybe just touch up the bumper. By the way, did you guys notice the rollbar inside? This is definitely a great example of a cool looking first gen RX7 that you could drive on the street and the track!

Even though I'm not necessarily a huge rotary fan, I believe in what those engines can do, and I just love cars like this!

-Antonio Alvendia

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1

yawwwwwwwnnnnnnnn

2

Pretty sure SA22C was the original chassis code of the first gen when it arrived in North America in '79. Mazda started using VIN numbers on the RX-7 in '81, designating FB as the model name.

3

look at the front bumper. are you sure it's clean?

4

very tidy RX7 indeed...



5

great info phil! i knew that Japanese 1st gen RX7s always said SA22C... so FB is only 81-84 then? or did the FB stop in 85?



Is it FB only? or is it FB3S (in the same style as FC3S and FD3S?)

6

great rx7, looking forward to more 1st gen rx-7 coverage.

7

Wow i don't understand why people don't like this model 7 much

i think its beautiful. Mazda made it look better each generation!

8

Yeah, I love these 1st gens, though you don't see too many around here. I see tons of FD3s at local cruise-ins, but the only 1st gen I know of is a yellow one with a small block Chevy in it.

9

so sad! small block chevy?! oh no.



if you guys know of more 1st gen RX7s i should shoot, then lemme know! you can email me thru the driftingbook.com website.

10

Antonio, it's interesting how people use the 'S' at the end of either FB3, FC3 or FD3, when it never actually showed up on American VIN codes. The codes for the three models on our side of the world are JM1 F# 331 #####. There were always two 3's after the B,C or D model designation, but no 'S'. Only the JDM third gen had FD3S in the VIN, so I guess it's been accepted by people to use 'S' after the first 3 in North America for simplicity's sake. Maybe two 3's is used in plural and as such we get the 'S'? Haha, it's complicated, I remember trying to figure it out a while back whilst scratching my head in confusion lol.



The first gen was made up until 85. Cheers.

11

haha that's interesting phil.



I dunno man, I just use the designations that are popular in Japanese magazines and such. not in an effort to be trendy or JDM, but just to people I'm talking to know wtf i'm talking about! =)

12

I'm am not usually a fan of 1 st gens. But when one right, they can look cool.

13

Love it! get some 3rd gen fc photos too

14

Love it! get some 3rd gen fc photos too

15

In Japan, all models of 1st generation RX7s were known as SA22C's. There was never any FB on the vin of japanese 1st gen RX7s. People get confused because when it arrived in USA, it got the FB designation. So if we call 2nd gens FC and 3rd gens FD's we should call all 1st gens SA22C's. For simplicity's sake heh.

16

oh man, i love FBs. expecially clean ones with dope wheels.

17

Antonio. 79 thru 81 are the SA designated chassis codes. 82 thru 85 are FB'S. There were tail light differences as well.

18

oh yeah......I LOVE MAZDA MONTH!!!! ROTARIES FOR LIFE!

19

This 1st gen actually once belonged to "Kyle Mohan" the pro driver of the mazdatrix FC. Now, it's in the hands of "Daniel" who I believe is the owner of JustRotary.com . The car can be seen rocking the 5lug swap and original series 5 turboII mesh wheels as well. Seen here with the really cool epsilons.

20

well doesn't it go like this, the SA22C has the license plate located between the tail lights and the FB had it relocated to the bumper

21

SA's have the smaller tailights. And also have flat turn signal lights on the front bumber. The FB has large rectangular tailights, and also the lights are curved around on the front bumber...like above. Also fb's have wider body trim (when installed) so the one pictured above is an FB

22

Anyone know what kind of spoiler that is?

23

That is a really clean FB! Very nice job on the hood.
 
"Series 1 / S1" "SA22C - 78-80
Some people will refer to all First Gen's as sa22c. In the U.S, the SA chassis code was only used in 78-80, and is also referred to as a "Series 1". It has a flat front bumper and the rear license plate is between the tail lights, which are also different than later year models and have a single-layer colored plastic. Usually steel rims, sometimes "waffle" style. Interior is rounded and 70's style - reminiscent of the Z-cars of the day. 12a 1.1L carbureted engine ~ 110hp/.
 
"Series 2 / S2" FB - 81-83
In the U.S. market, the VIN was changed to the "FB" chassis code. Front and rear bumpers are rounded and curve with body lines, and there is now a black centerpiece between the rear tail lights, which were also updated to a double-layer, clear outer and colored inserts design. You'll see updated 4-spoke 13" rims, "LE" mesh 13", steel, or waffle rims. Retained rounded interior. 12a 1.1L carbureted engine.
 
84-85 - "Series 3 / S3" - 84-85
Updated front lower air dam featuring drops on the left and right side with vents/ducting for improved brake cooling. Interior gets a face-lift with a boxier, more 80's design (U.S. market only). Introduction of the GSL-SE model with 13b 1.3L fuel injection (135hp / 135ft/lbs) and larger disc brakes, updated lug pattern and 14" flat vented rims. Japan saw a "Savanna" model with 12a 1.1L Turbo Fuel Injection @ 165hp

24

That is a really clean FB! Very nice job on the hood.
 
"Series 1 / S1" SA22C - 78-80
Some people will refer to all First Gen's as sa22c. In the U.S, the SA chassis code was only used in 78-80, and is also referred to as a "Series 1". It has a flat front bumper and the rear license plate is between the tail lights, which are also different than later year models and have a single-layer colored plastic. Usually steel rims, sometimes "waffle" style. Interior is rounded and 70's style - reminiscent of the Z-cars of the day. 12a 1.1L carbureted engine ~ 110hp/.
 
"Series 2 / S2" FB - 81-83
In the U.S. market, the VIN was changed to the "FB" chassis code. Front and rear bumpers are rounded and curve with body lines, and there is now a black centerpiece between the rear tail lights, which were also updated to a double-layer, clear outer and colored inserts design. You'll see updated 4-spoke 13" rims, "LE" mesh 13", steel, or waffle rims. Retained rounded interior. 12a 1.1L carbureted engine.
 
"Series 3 / S3" FB - 84-85
Updated front lower air dam featuring drops on the left and right side with vents/ducting for improved brake cooling. Interior gets a face-lift with a boxier, more 80's design (U.S. market only). Introduction of the GSL-SE model with 13b 1.3L fuel injection (135hp / 135ft/lbs) and larger disc brakes, updated lug pattern and 14" flat vented rims. Japan saw a "Savanna" model with 12a 1.1L Turbo Fuel Injection @ 165hp

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