A Barn-Resurrection Tale: Reviving a 1994 Mazda RX-7 After Two Decades in Hiding


1994 Mazda RX-7

The FD generation RX-7, abandoned by the owner for over two decades, was found a state that can make enthusiasts weep. Though it was just sitting in a garage with dust and cobwebs, there were at least no signs of external damage. WD Detailing discloses the last time it was tagged was 1999. Apparently the owner bought it fresh from the dealership and drove the car for about 8,800 miles. The owner reportedly took the RX-7 to the freeways, and he got terrified by its performance after touching the 140 mph mark. So, that made them tether the beast to the barn.

The folks at WD Detailing took the FD RX-7 out and brought it to their garage for a makeover. The first thing that was instantly noticed was the number of dead mice inside the bonnet, glovebox, and center console, but luckily the mice did not cut through any wires. The refreshing of the RX-7 began with the exterior, including the wheels, giving the Mazda its first bath in over two decades. Finally, the RX-7 received paint protection and clean windows, but sadly we couldn’t hear the Wankel engine roaring to life.

Mazda RX-7: The Rotary King

Mazda RX-7 clean

The Mazda RX-7 is one of the finest Japanese sports cars of all time thanks to the Wankel engine. While it was not the company’s first rotary-engined vehicle, the RX-7 is still a sensation in the aftermarket tuning world. The third generation RX-7 debuted in 1992 with a redesigned body and the company’s first twin-turbo dual-rotor engine. This 1.3-liter unit boosted the engine to produce up to 276 horsepower at the end of its lifetime in 2002. Unfortunately, only 68,589 examples of the third-gen RX-7 models were produced, relatively less than the earlier two generations.

Apart from the upgraded performance, the FD generation RX-7 looked more aggressive than its previous iterations. The RX-7 had old-school supercar-like visuals, especially with the massive fixed spoiler at the rear. In addition, the rounded corners, sleeker pop-up headlights, and a lower bonnet stance were icing on the cake.

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