Miscellaneous Features
From the Book Shelf: Mazda RX-7
By By: Bryan Joslin
Aug 19, 2004, 23:44

Few cars draw such a loyal following as Mazda’s RX-7. They are as popular today as ever before, despite the fact that it’s been nearly a decade since a new RX-7 has been sold here in the States. Brian Long’s book, entitled simply RX-7, chronicles the complete history of Mazda’s rotary-engined sports car, starting with the advent of the Wankel engine and following through to the end of its production in Japan in 2002.

Long’s RX-7 was actually released initially in 2001, though the current printing has been updated and contains 16 additional pages. His passion for the car is evident in the fact that he has not overlooked any detail in the model’s history.

The book opens with a brief background on the Mazda marque before diving deep into the development of the original RX-7. The first few chapters are filled with an unbelievable number of pictures of design concepts, clay models and pre-production mockups. The book also contains numerous RX-7 advertisements from Japan, Great Britain, and America.

The second generation RX-7 receives as much attention as the first. Once again, the reader is treated to an abundance of information and images from several key markets. Special attention is given to the short-lived RX-7 convertible as well.

Nearly a quarter of the book is dedicated to the third and final (so far) generation. Coverage of the third generation continues well beyond its 1995 departure from the American market, all the way up to the final 2002 special edition (one of which the author was fortunate enough to purchase).

Discussion of the RX-8 is kept intentionally short, as the author explains in the introduction, “…[it] freed up more space for the RX-7 material in this book, and we can do full justice to the effort of the Mazda engineers behind the new car.” In other words, we can probably expect another volume from Mr. Long, presumably titled RX-8.

Anyone who has ever owned an RX-7 will find this book irresistible. My wife, who had a yellow 1978 RX-7 in high school, was mesmerized as she flipped through it, revisiting the fond memories of her little car.

RX-7, by Brian Long. $59.95, distributed by MBI Publishing Company.
Available in bookstores everywhere, through Classic Motorbooks at (800) 826-6600, or online at www.motorbooks.com

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