By: Krish Persaud
Photos By: Josh Coish
August 13, 2025
Some cars don’t need an introduction. One glance at the long hood, sweeping curves, and wide fenders of this 1993 Mazda RX-7 is all it takes. It’s sleek, timeless, and focused entirely on the experience of driving. This example, painted in a deep gloss black with a full red leather interior, looks like it just rolled out of a collector’s garage—and that’s because it practically did. Few cars manage to capture the same sense of balance, lightness, and mechanical purity, even three decades on.
Powering the RX-7 is the iconic 13B-REW rotary engine, a twin-rotor 1.3-litre setup paired with twin sequential turbochargers. While the displacement figure might sound modest, the engine spins freely to its 8,000RPM redline, delivering 255 horsepower and 217 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual. It’s a powertrain that rewards commitment. The turbos build gradually, with a noticeable rush in the upper revs, and the lightweight chassis—just under 2,800 pounds—makes the car feel incredibly responsive and agile.
On the road, the RX-7 is everything enthusiasts dream it to be. The steering feel is sharp and communicative, and the chassis has a perfectly judged balance between rigidity and compliance. Whether carving through on-ramps or flowing along a winding road, the RX-7 feels planted and alive in your hands. The manual shifter slots into gear with satisfying precision, and the low seating position only adds to the connection between driver and machine. This is a car that feels engineered for feedback, not just speed.
Mazda used a fully independent double wishbone suspension setup with Showa-supplied dampers at all four corners, giving the RX-7 its balance of comfort and sharpness. It stays composed over bumps but never feels disconnected. It’s an old-school setup that still holds its own today.
The experience is full of analog charm. On warm starts, there’s a faint smell of fuel that immediately transports you to a different era—when cars had quirks and character. Then there are the pop-up headlights, which feel like a small celebration every time you activate them. Watching them rise in the dark is an event in itself, and the RX-7’s shape with the lights up looks every bit as iconic as you remember.
Even the sound system had its own character. Mazda teamed up with Bose to design a setup tailored specifically to the RX-7’s cabin, featuring an innovative acoustic waveguide subwoofer tucked into the trunk. It wasn’t about volume—it was about clarity and warmth. The factory cassette deck and motorized antenna bring that ‘90s feeling to life in a way no touchscreen ever could, especially when you’ve got the right track on tape. For a setup from three decades ago, it still holds its own—windows down, volume up.
We’re grateful to Mazda Canada for giving us access to this incredibly well-preserved RX-7. It’s not every day that you get to experience a car like this—let alone one in such pristine condition, straight from the manufacturer’s own heritage fleet. Driving this time capsule felt like opening a window to a different era, one where purity, balance, and analog connection were the entire point.
Back in 1993, the RX-7 carried a price tag of around $45,000 CAD. Today, finding one in collector-grade condition—especially with such low mileage—can easily demand well over $60,000, and in some cases, north of six figures. It’s a testament to how special these cars are, and how much they still mean to enthusiasts.
The RX-7 doesn’t rely on gimmicks, wild horsepower, or tech-heavy distractions. It leans into the essence of driving. The controls are light, the engine screams to redline, and everything about it feels mechanical in the best way. If apex seals don’t scare you, this remains one of the most rewarding cars you can drive—even 30 years later.
