im doing a school project on this idea and just wondering from all the owners out there why should the rx7 be considered a classic among all the american made cars? or should it even be consider or thought of a classic?
so basically just tell me why you think it should be considered a classic
thanks
this also might be in the wrong thread but i dont know

 

Top ten reasons the rx7 is a classic

10. The hood opens backwards

9. It has no pistons

8. It uses a carburator

7. It burns oil by design

6. Its a japanese sports car

5. It has 13 inch rims

4. It has drum brakes

3. Many parts are NLA

2. It has reciprocating ball steering


























1. Its older than you!

 

That's funny Tim. I would include it's overall innovative design and the choke, of course.

 

Well, in your case Ray, number 10 doesn't apply.

 

When tackling questions of definition, it's best to start with the definition:

Taken one at a time:

1) Without a doubt, the RX-7 model line was the "highest class" of car Mazda ever produced; during their production years, each generation of RX-7 was intended to demonstrate the best that Mazda had to offer in terms of technology, performance, and styling. They shocked the automotive world when they first arrived with their unprecedented combination of styling, performance, and affordability.
Its racing wins speak loudly to it's attaining the highest class of performance.

2) Like the 240Z a decade earlier, the first-gen RX-7 is considered the iconic Japanese sports car of the 1980's. It redefined the genre: At the same time the Nissan Z-car had jumped the shark into the over-stretched, over-styled & mission-blurred 280ZX, the RX-7 came out as a purely-defined sports coupe.

3) The first-gen RX-7 is a classic sports coupe formulation, with a couple new flairs tossed in; live-axle rear-drive, but with a mid-front engine; ball-box steering & McPherson struts & front-hinged hood, but a light and unique rotary motor; 2-seater coupe config but with a frameless glass rear hatch.

4) This definition of 'classic' more than the others characterizes the first-gen: "simplicity, balance, regularity, and purity of form." Clean lines, simple strong design, reliable and predictable in handling, and a pure 2-seater to it's very roots.

5) The fact that RX7club.com boasts nearly 155,000 members, 33 years after these cars were launched, answers to this definition well enough.

6) Again, perfectly describes the first-gen -7's: Still very much in fashion and well-desired.

"Classic" in every sense of the word.

 

Now if we could only convince everyone else!

 

Those who don't agree, don't matter. /smug

 

this is attempt #2, #1, involved finding a comparison test from 1978 with the Rx7 pitted against its peers.

so in attempt #2, i'll just say that cars were so bad in 1978 that in 2011 you would not come up with the list of cars tested in 1978.

the Rx7 was so good in 78 that we're still using it as some kind of yardstick. it really is good, its got great feel, balanced performance, while being practical. NODE now owns the car, but in 2006 or so i had the opportunity to buy an early build 79 Rx7 that is 100% stock and mostly original (still!)

NODE and i have had the car all over the place, its been to sevenstock twice, on 7/7/07 we took it on the california millie miglia route, which covers the nicest roads in the state, santa cruz via the backroads and the car is just FUN.

there is something about it that makes it a joy to drive, even though its not fast. there is also a lack of distractions, IE BS features that actually take away from the experience of driving, which is the bane of modern cars.

and with something like 549,000 sold it edged out the MGB as the best selling sports car, until the Miata

 

DD i think you should write my paper heh great ideas on all this

all your opinions will be present in my paper and probably quote you guys also if thats ok

hopefully we shall convince the younger generation that im part of to say holy @%$# that car is amazing--which of course many people say at my school already--

thanks
could use a couple more opinions though

 

these weren't american made so i am having a difficult time grasping the topic..

 

the question was why are good reasons the rotary powered 1st gen rx7s should be put into the classic state next to all the chevelles and novas,the old mustangs and stuff

cause every seems to call those cars a classic, theyre old and good looking and from america

but what rotarys got is rotory power, superb acceleration, nice sleek/sexy look, a little cheaper

but there are other reasons, so basically what do you love about your 1st gen and why

 

Fine by me - - but remember that posts here can and do show up in google searches, so be rigorous with your footnotes in case your teacher checks.

 

the road tests from the 70's and 80s say things like "the line forms here" and "enthusiasts dream come true" EVERY iteration of the car was on the cover too. the SA, the FB, when it came out in 81, and the GSL-SE. the GSL-SE was on the cover of all three car mags.

 

The reason why the 1st gen RX-7 is a classic is because I own one and it's the finest car I ever drove.

 

DD i swear your an english teacher....

ray this is my first car...im convinced to keep it as long as i can
i love my car and baby it too much

 

Half right twice: I have been a teacher (taught tech subjects in the military, and spent several years as a corporate technical trainer / training manager) and I did take a lot of English Comp and writing classes, but I've never taught English.

Plus, I like to write. Write tons of stuff in my profession now. 20, 30 pages a day, some days. Hundreds of e-mails in a week.

 

According to wikipedia a classic is 20 to 40 years old and anything over 45 years is an antique, and you know there is nothing but solid facts on wikipedia, right?

 

wow thats alot, im not even out of high school yet lol, but what can you say im a good guesser to be half right twice...

this english comp stuff it alright i suppose, whats not to like when you write your college essay before you even graduate...

opeth1stgen, i never use wikipedia just for that fact, cause anybody can edit that stuff, but i guess like in math taking the average of everybodys knowledge you end up with a better answer over all....just like in jeopardy-- we shall poll the audience--

 

The gold sticker in the rear window says these things were winning races before I was even born. That's classic enough for me.

 

did the stock 79 have those also, cause i didnt get one on my car...

 

I personally believe that the first generation Rx7's should be considered classics because of the age, but also because of what is shows. The car through design and function shows what was "in" and what once was. Go look at your car and you'll see things nobody sees today. I personally own a '79, and I have a regular clock not a digital, people now would cry if they didn't have a digital clock. Also you'll see a rats nest (emissions) now you pop up the hood and you're greeted by an engine cover.

 

word...i love my car so much and dont see much of them around

 

Oh to answer your question about the window stickers, Mazda started putting them on the windows in 1982 when our CLASSICS won some serious races.

 

You need to figure out what makes it different from other cars from that period. I can tell you that the Rx7 was and is a head turner. I've owned several other cars from the early 80's (Escort, 2 Cavaliers, Mazda B2000, Ford E-150) and the Rx7 was the most fun to drive, best looking, and downright coolest of them all. That's why I've owned 3 FB's and an FC. Would you call an '84 Ford Escort a classic? I wouldn't, even though it was the first car I owned. Did it stand out back then, and does it still? Absolutely not. The 7 was a groundbreaking car then, with comparable performance to a low end Porsche for far less money. It still gets looks when I drive down the road (although since mine is strictly for racing, it kind of stands out anyways).

 

Dude you got this school project nailed. These cars scream classic.
If you teacher needs the definition of classic here it is.
Classic:
a. Belonging to the highest rank or class.
b. Serving as the established model or standard:
c. Having lasting significance or worth; enduring.
Source: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/classic