2002 Mazda FD3S RX7 'Spirit R' Type A Coupe (No. 561/1500)

Mazda is the only major automotive manufacturer to have persisted with Felix Wankel’s revolutionary rotary engine design and early models like the Cosmo, R100 and RX2/RX3 enjoy a cult following today.  It took until the launch of a proper sports car, the RX-7, in 1978 for the rotary to find a chassis more suited to its high-revving characteristics; the first generation model received rave reviews and proved a commercial success, with over half a million sold.  The second generation RX-7 of 1985-1991 took Mazda’s sports car further upmarket, competing with the likes of Porsche’s 944 thanks to clever technology and the first appearance of a turbo variant.  When Mazda unveiled the third generation RX-7 in 1991, it was clear the model had come a long way from its humble roots, harnessing a complex sequential twin turbo system to overcome lag and deliver linear power all the way to the redline.  With perfect 50:50 weight distribution achieved by locating the engine well behind the front axle, the new FD RX-7 also looked the part, with bold new styling that has only got better with age.  In fact, the third generation RX-7 was a bone fide supercar, combining sublime handling, excellent braking and strong acceleration.  The RX-7’s swansong was the hugely collectible Spirit R, a Japan-only model built in limited numbers using all the best bits – sold in three distinct versions, the Type A featured five-speed manual transmission and lightweight Recaro seats, the Type B added 2+2 seating configuration while the Type C came exclusively with automatic transmission.  Mazda made just 1,504 Spirit Rs, of which the majority were sold in Type A guise, all in right-hand drive configuration.  Nominally rated at 276 horsepower, notable features included the forged BBS 17-inch wheels, Bilstein shock absorbers, hard-type torsion LSD, cross-drilled brake rotors with red calipers and twin oil coolers, while exterior changes included special badging and the front diffuser.  The Spirit R’s interior benefited from a Nardi leather steering wheel and stitched gearshifter and handbrake, silver instrument bezels and the special Kevlar Recaro seats.  Seen by many as the ultimate production RX-7, values of th Spirit R have been climbing fast in recent years and Japanese sports cars of the 1990s are hotter than ever in the marketplace right now.