1984 GSL-SE was the Top Spec for Mazda’s Seminal RX-7

A near-pristine example of Mazda’s seminal sports car is recently for sale on eBay Motors in Fort Worth, Tex.

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Doing the Impossible

In the 1960s, Mazda achieved what other automakers thought impossible: mass-producing the rotary engine. This “engine of the future” soon spread across the Mazda line, in everything from sports cars to station wagons. The arrival of the first-generation Mazda RX-7 in 1978 truly utilized the rotary engine to its full potential at a time when the rest of the auto industry was stuck in a post-oil-crisis slump. Its sudden popularity felt like the second coming of the Datsun 240Z.

Unlike conventional piston engines, a rotary engine spins only one way. The normal intake, compression, power, and exhaust cycles are all executed as the rotor turns inside a housing. Since there is no reciprocation—the up-down movement of a traditional piston engine—a rotary can operate at extremely high rpm.

Moreover, without valves, connecting rods, and many other parts found in its reciprocating counterparts, a rotary engine is much lighter and more compact. These factors allow a rotary engine of the same displacement to produce far more power.

Perfect Engine

Its light weight and compact size made the rotary the perfect engine for the Mazda RX-7. Its size let engineers package the motor under a sleek, low hood. Without the need to support a large engine, the suspension, brakes, and chassis could be made lighter than other sports cars. The domino effect resulted in nimbler handling as well.

To prove its mettle, Mazda introduced the RX-7 to America by entering it in the most grueling race in the country. Rotaries often get a bad rap for being unreliable, but Mazda dispelled that notion by winning its class at the 1979 24 Hours of Daytona. Not only that, it came in fourth overall, beating many cars with bigger engines competing in larger displacement classes.

Long in the Tooth

Throughout the 1980s, Mazda continued to succeed in US road racing. The wedge-shaped RX-7 became a sensation for Mazda, doing what the 240Z did for Datsun/Nissan. Still, by the mid-’80s, the first-generation RX-7 had gotten long in the tooth. Enter the RX-7 GSL-SE performance package in 1984.

The differences between the GSL-SE and other RX-7s were substantial. Mazda gave it a larger, 1.3-liter, fuel-injected rotary engine that generated 135 horsepower and 133 pound-feet of torque. That was a big improvement over the RX-7’s carbureted 1.2-liter with 101 horsepower and 107 pound-feet. Additionally, Mazda added a beefier brake system and larger wheels and tweaked the suspension system. The GSL-SE is considered the top-spec among first-gen RX-7s sold in the US.

Near Mint

The car for sale appears to be a near-mint example. The seller says it was purchased from the original owner, an elderly gentleman from Alabama. It has only 26,000 miles on the odometer, and the superb condition of the interior reflects that low mileage.

The seller is asking $20,000 and has addressed a laundry list of important maintenance points necessary for a 40-year-old car. Still on the to-do list: The air conditioner could use a recharge, and the liftgate struts no longer hold air. These are minor quibbles about an otherwise stunning example of a seminal car that is unique in its engineering and design. It’s hard to come across an example this clean.