Hardcore fans of the Mazda RX-7 take a severe issue with the rotary engine being removed for any kind of engine, let alone a V8. Pulling the rotary is sacrilegious, they say. It removes the ultimate essence of the car, the unique noise, the inability to rev to the moon and back…whatever. Look, nothing against a well-built rotary, and we know they exist, but happiness is an American V8 in that sports car, especially the wedge-shaped first generation. This 1984 example is a very nice first-generation car, a rare sight anymore, and it’s packing small-block Chevrolet power under that flip-forward hood and a manual transmission. My inner hoon is doing the happy dance right now. A dead-nuts stock 305 that’s running right would be enough to get really silly with…if that 350 has any kind of suds at all, say a prayer for the rear tires and just wait for the fun.
And keep waiting, because before you get to the ultimate goal of scaring yourself half to death, you have to address one major fault in this Mazda’s game plan: the rear axle. Apparently, something bad has happened to the one currently under the car (act shocked, please) and currently the RX-7 is all-show, no go. But the price is a solid reflection, we feel…$2,800 will bring you a clean blue first-gen Mazda RX-7 with a V8 swap. Use the rest of the money to make sure that the rear axle never breaks again, and be sure to film the “test” footage.
Craigslist Link: 1984 Mazda RX-7
