Mazda RX-7 race car | evo REVIEW

Watch evo's Richard Meaden drive the Spa 24 hour winning Mazda RX-7.

[@JanMichaelFranklin]

This is one sweet review! People forget how dominant the FB RX-7 was in motorsports throughout the 80's! Spa overall, Daytona, 10 years straight in IMSA! Mazda still has the record for IMSA wins and they haven't hardly run at all in 20 years! People said the rotary was dead then Mazda came back with the RX-8 and won the Grand Am GT championship a few years ago! Fingers crossed for a new RX!

[@eeterp32]

Jan-Michael Franklin and it's been dead since 2012

[@JanMichaelFranklin]

eeterp32 It was dead from 1996 to 2003 before and came back. It will come back again. Mazda has confirmed it.

[@eeterp32]

Jan-Michael Franklin honestly, why would they want to? rotaries make bad fuel economy, have no torque, bad polluters, blow apex seals, and sound like a 2 stroke chainsaw. There is a reason not one other major manufacturer is developing rotary engines today.

[@minassianc]

eeterp32 Agree on everything but the sound. 2 rotor wankels sound like a chainsaw, but 3 or 4 rotor engines sound amazing,

[@JanMichaelFranklin]

eeterp32 The reason no other manufacturer is working on the rotary today is because nobody else could get it to work and they gave up. Now it is such a part of Mazda history they don't want to let it go. And why should they? It makes them unique in the market and the engine is getting better and better. I think the 16X is going to be pretty sweet. The Renesis had it's flaws, but a lot of it was fixed with the second version (2009-2011). Keep in mind that the rotary hasn't even been around half as long as the piston engine. Look at how much has been done to improve the piston engine in the last 20 years, much less 75 years. People should just stop hating and respect that Mazda has taken on the engineering challenge of the rotary. The stuff you're saying about the rotary is true to a degree, but only as bad as you mentioned when total idiots get their hands on them and try to treat them like piston engines. My 04 RX-8 has 100K on the original engine and runs like new. I just parted with an 84 GSL-SE RX-7 that had 215K on it and it ran like a top. Be smart enough not to give in to all the negative hype.

[@robertdeklerk4308]

then we get banned from every popular race series to this day. piston motors be scared of or shit ahahhahah

[@XR4turbo]

Thank you Evo. What a wonderful film. You have motivated me to fix my own 1984 RX-7.

[@VictorPitstop]

Get her going, dammit!!

[@rockolutheran]

make it super clean and super fast

[@xXDANGER69Xx]

get it going man! i just bought a totally stock 5 spd 84 rx7 gsl this year with 50k original miles. absolutely love driving the thing, and everyone who sees it smiles and waves. good luck on your fix.

[@fishcars8078]

Please get it running and join the club. Not enough of these on the road. I'm a proud owner of an '84 GSL with 12A half bridge port. People love seeing it and hearing it. It brings a smile to my face and others.

[@xXDANGER69Xx]

Fish&Cars well said

[@datzed]

Wow one of EVO's coolest reviews. PLEASE review more vintage cars like this!!!

[@nahuelluna7071]

*turns up speakers*... *speakers start to smoke*

[@lewiev7560]

That NOISE!

[@eeterp32]

Lewis Varley it certainly is noise

[@maurice9118]

Lewis Varley You mean music

[@SamuelsShea]

Who ever needs a radio if you have an engine that sounds that great. It's like having live tickets to a symphony under your hood.

[@9550raja]

made me think "why is this guy even talking? should've let the rotary talk"...

[@topgearownz]

What if I told you that car has a solid rear axle?

[@dyingangelo]

Let's see a rotary engined f1 car

[@MrSaxotomitry]

lol, they got a v10 to 20k rpm, I wonder how high they could get a rotary.

[@robertmerritt5078]

MrSaxotomitry The rotary engine has fantastic ability to rev due to the lack of valve float at high RPM's. The F1 cars valves are actuated pneumatically instead of via camshaft allowing them to get that high rev without float. The rotary engine however just needs a finely balanced eccentric shaft to rev to 20k. The reason these arent as popular is the lack of torque when you rev it out like that (and the ammount of gas it inhales at this point). Most will slam a turbo on it and just run more torque

[@hamcheesesalami]

Robert Merritt F1 engines are actuated by a camshaft, the pneumatics replace the valvesprings.

[@robertmerritt5078]

hamcheesesalami My bad you are correct. I was still reading up on that at the time of the comment. The new Renault technology will use no camshaft whatsoever. Electromagnetic controlled everything is the future.I think a diesel hybrid with gearbox similar to the Regera and this technology would be absolutely brilliant.

[@hamcheesesalami]

the future is comming. How long till its standard technology in road cars? ill stick to my single cam, no cross flow Nissan L28 because I like them.

[@maccoretti]

BEST EVO VIDEO EVER If you liked that, you should really try a 13B powered one.

[@AmesiesCorner]

Then there was this time where I sat in the 787b when it was at the Taunton Mazda training facility for the RX-8 new model training...

[@yapira3d]

Amesie's Automotive Corner haha don’t lie

[@adoyaben]

@@yapira3d why would he lie about sitting in it? I'd say that if he said he drove it, but sitting in it is no big deal

[@yapira3d]

skylinegtr32 there is no way he could have sat in it to do with the VIN number

[@adoyaben]

@@yapira3d what? Just sitting in a car doesn't change anything, I can sit in another person's car, doesn't do anything

[@speedypetey999]

How the chuffing bejesus does Dickie carry on chatting while he is double de-clutching like a boss!?!?

[@marshallcameron5871]

Wow, brings back long lost memories of my late teens driving my periphial ported 13 B RX4 coupe. Always broke down, guzzled fuel and was hated by all the neighbours. But at 10,000+ rpm screaming on a night run, all was forgotten and forgiven. First love of my life!

[@cliffordbradford8910]

my guess is Mazda will solve the fuel economy/emissions problem the same ways it's been solved on 2 strokes i.e. with direct injection... It'd been cool to see a rotary engine again

[@yuvrajsinghmaanrotaholic5017]

Fuel Economy on my fb is 10l 100km and rx8 14l 100km

[@evanwallace1744]

damn that's right I forgot to change my blinker fluid

[@VictorPitstop]

I literally just bought one of these cars two weeks ago. Stoked to see some credit!

[@jo05dk]

SUCH a pretty little car. I grew up watching these on the roads, and i've always loved the delicacy and beauty of them. ..and of course the sound. In this car we got more of that = win:)

[@melissahillmer308]

Reminds me of my s2 rx7 it had a 280 hp 13b monster port was a quick street car.god it was loud.they build some outstanding rotarys here in New Zealand mad mikes cars 6rotor rx4.on of these won Bathurst in Aussie in 82 against ford and Holden v8s It had a 13bpp.

[@romero1337]

Rotaries are one of my favorite engines in the world. The noise and the thrust being produced at high rpm is completely intoxicating! Only other thing like it is a 600-1000cc bike engine

[@TheBryanbas]

Zoom zoom

[@tonisukles858]

TheBryanbas Brap brap

[@TomDeWeerdt1]

Toni Sukles BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP Braaaaaaaaap

[@Michael_Michaels]

The Wankel world should be alot more explored!!!

[@eeterp32]

MikeVonDoom what's to explore? bad fuel economy, pollutes, makes no torque, blows seals, and sounds like a 2 stroke chainsaw

[@eeterp32]

+koneknows RX-Vaporware

[@diarmuidmarsden7752]

It makes more sense from a finacial perspective to make a supercar rather than a sports car like the rx7. Think the way nissan went with the r35. So yeah it will be flashy and expensive.

[@RetroGamerr1991]

I might sound stupid for asking this, but why is he double clutching? Does it not have syncros?

[@topgearownz]

***** It's an old car, and an old gearbox he's just being nice.

[@richardmeaden9626]

***** No, not stupid at all, but as topgearownz said, I was just being kind to the car. It was due to run at Goodwood Festival of Speed a week after we tested it, so wanted to be as careful and respectful as possible, especially as the car is owned by a private individual and not Mazda. He was very kind to let us drive it as fast as we liked pretty much all day long, so I didn't want to risk repaying his generosity with a broken car!

[@ITsIMP0RT4NT]

God look at the rotation that thing has. It's got to be one of the most balanced race cars Ive ever seen. He just pushes it to its slip angle and since its so well sorted out it just slides through the corners without any loss of speed while still being able to maintain WOT early in the apex but keeps from oversteering excessively. I just love it, I absolutely love it!!

[@FogerRox]

Yeah you can steer with the gas pedal in a turn. And it doesn't break loose suddenly.

[@1chris311]

4:23 that was close!! Lol Great video!!

[@dln.sweeney]

Rotaries are just amazing things.

[@isaiahthomas7210]

A BARREL OF ANGRY BEES 🐝🐝🐝

[@belmster2304]

An RX-7 tribute video/review/test would be fantastic in 2020 Dickie!

[@belmster2304]

I'll lend you mine

[@Hygoog]

People who dislike...drives stock hondas with fart cans.

[@yeesenchai]

Those shoots from the rear of the car is amazing, its spreading the gap in every corner...

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Still a beautiful amazing handling car today! I wish I still had mine!👌😢👍definitely one of the best sports car mazda has ever build.

[@ParadoxdesignsOrg]

the size of that muffler sure brings back memories of my Rx-7's and trying to quiet any kind engine port that had headers. A great piece of history right here.

[@nicolaspiche4652]

Double clutch downshifting... Interesting

[@Malc180s]

Nicolas Piché Not really

[@nicolaspiche4652]

Malc180s How would you call it then?

[@Malc180s]

Nicolas Piché Dull

[@Ghostca]

Nicolas Piché usual for a race car of that date.

[@Retrenders]

A legend - the RX-7!

[@Retrobeemer]

Worked at Mazda UK in late 80's & early 90's and drove RX7 FB for years. Always highly underrated.

[@kondor99999]

Please more of this! Can't get enough of classic race cars.

[@kennethmoureau5123]

Anybody know if double-clutching the downshift was the practice in this car back at Spa or is he just trying to be gentle with it? Wonderful car!!

[@EricNguyener]

Kenneth Moureau It could be him trying to be gentle with it, or that's just what he's used to.

[@sherifelsakkaf1458]

Every decent racing driver worth his name was driving like this in those days. It is gentle on the gearbox and vital if you want to go quickly. Its main advantage is to avoid blocking the driving wheels when downshifting. Promoting a smooth slow down and the correct gear to accelerate out of the corner. I have been driving every manual car like this my whole life. On the track/racing & during my every day driving.

[@PhilStewart-xf9rp]

I learned to drive in an 81 gs that was bridge ported had a twin 48 side draft weber carbs, wide body kit and an old school 911 style "whale tail" ran low 11's in the 1/4 got my D.L. , SCCA license. My dad was an engineer for Mazda in the early to mid 80's . I have had all kinds of cars from 347 stroker fox body, Sr20det s13, 280zx turbo(lots of boost) 1st gen miata with 5.0 swap and my favorite car as far as driving dynamics has been and always will be 79-85 RX-7. They can be driven sideways in complete control. .❤❤

[@The0Advent]

This video is one of the reasons i bought an FB

[@jef722]

I used to own a Kawasaki KR1-S 2 stroke and the Mazda is the closest thing that reminds me of it on 4 wheels.The sound and the power delivery are so similar,incredible! Superb video btw.

[@peterdaviesracing]

Coincidentally, while watching the Spa 24 Hours, I was reading about this victory :) Although there's a details that should be mentioned: Beating those cars with bigger engines got a tiny bit easier as I read that it was raining the whole race, so the favourites couldn't use their advantage to the fullest. Became rather a disadvantage in slippery conditions. Not to mention Walkinshaw and Dieudonné were no sunday drivers either! Nevertheless, great victory for Mazda :)

[@WEIMYBIMMER]

Rotary engines are very fast , specially in drag racing ......

[@raymondfrankwick6965]

I had mine on some lonely CALIFORNIA roads between LA and Frisco. '78-9 The one and only, pre-elementary-math-functioning, PIAGETIAN "one-one correspondence", architecture, is a symbol of my birthday. HALF of its only four siblings are born on special days, too. ⭐B. St. Patrick's Day, Diane. ⭐B. And, April Fool's Day, Cynthia.

[@irsever]

Amazing car, and the presenter surprised me with his driving, definitely worthy of the nomex

[@thetreblerebel]

The Mazda Rotary Engine is a powerhouse!! Amazing but development is now dead...wonder if an alternative fuel and more engineering it could make a come back...

[@MercSLRFan]

Voiceovers guys? Ever heard of them? They represent the opposite of shouting into a cheap lav mic.

[@chipattack912]

Alin Marginean nah, the raw excitement of him driving the car is better to hear

[@francescocosentini9264]

I had about 5 of these cars .. i still own one 1980 ,.. very good condition,. Fun to drive

[@jimpauldenieva5427]

For every rotary video posted, it is a given that someone would list all the engine's problems. All this engine's problems are already obvious, and even more so when everyone repeats them over and over again. Please shut up, we know all about the flaws (no thanks to you), but we appreciate the engine for the reasons it was truly built for. So please stop trying to enlighten us soley on the car's problems..

[@ariffinrazack7748]

I find myself coming back to this video a lot. Love it.

[@bohemianracer]

I bought an 82 race car, with a full roll cage, fuel cell. Now for some reason it doesn't want to start. I turn all the switches wait a few seconds for the fuel pump to run a bit pump the throttle a few times, it turns but won't start. Don't know what to do.

[@dondonian5364]

see how fucking big that muffler has to be? really killing the beautiful sound it could have

[@thyone2669]

Dondonian I think it sounds better than that blunderbuss it has on it now :P haha

[@BauTekIndustries]

Thanks, now I have rotary blue-balls. *starts revving out of corner* oh yeah, here comes the noise *Mr. Meaden starts flapping his gums over the sweet rotary sound underneath* NOOOOOOOOOOooooooooo.... :P

[@MrMeoow91]

I can't believe this car still uses the stock radiator...

[@madfzr]

I turned up speakers it was just this guy blabbing ugh

[@Th3_0_h8]

I just traded my Harley for a 79. Currently having issue with idle when first starting it. Probably old gas since it sat for a year. Love to get it to idle and get it out on the road.

[@ashy_gee6]

I love love love this video, my mind keeps telling me shift and I keep hearing 3 -4k rpms left until change. How would a double clutch rotary sound. God I hope a RX9 or 10 come out.

[@gamerscockpit]

Why the shit tyres?? Surely slicks are the go.

[@domino-86]

man I love the fb, and the rest of the rx7s

[@pereldh5741]

Why do you brits call it Rotary and not "Wankel" like everybody else? Err.. Oh.. I see.

[@gavinivers8941]

It looks very standard because it was built for Group 1 , which was a FIA standard production class.

[@teammusketeers]

thanks EVO i enjoyed this review...this is what car journalism should be....i wasnt driving the car but sure felt like i was..... #kidinacandystore #jobwelldone

[@KILLER9676]

Best review on this crazy car I have seen. Just mugged my 80 yr old neighbor and bought his 1983 for $3k (Canadian) garage kept summer driven. I agree, the heat from the engine, but has sunroof and power windows at least!. Took it to a car show today, and had the loudest car with the smallest engine! (yep put a straight- through SS exhaust). This car kicks sniot. He refers to it as like a two stroke, but technically it must be a half stroke or less (four firings per revolution). A car on steroids and a credit to Mazda and a blast to drive. Just get one!!! PS I need a right tail light if anyone has one.

[@suprchrgr70]

My brother had a '79 with '85 suspension and an engine from an '83 and that damn thing would cut perfect circle donuts...I miss that car

[@schralebaas]

♥ this! I think a similar feature on the group -B RX7 would be equally fantastic!

[@martinconlon2673]

Superb video. I would much rather see reviews of cars like this, than the completely inaccessible modern super cars that you cannot move out of second gear without being locked up. Don't get me wrong, I have loved cars all my life, and still admire what the modern world has achieved with the automobile. But an older car with sensory overload like this, when driven to the limit, will win with me every day.

[@vitamingrin1]

Tim @ RX Motors , Salisbury, for all your rotary motors - He built this one ...

[@TheFunkyair]

Just remind the old times God damn Now turbo + zf + launch control + adaptive cruise control + lane asistant Are we drivers ? Super video

[@wonderwall135]

I hear they're making a redesigned rx-7 or rx-8. probably won't be here for years though

[@supersevenn]

i have permanent hearing damage from the IMSA RX7 days. love them rotaries

[@mrjack139728]

Huh, once the car past the lancaster corner, i was like, i swear i know this track, then he went down the long straight, and i knew, its Blyton Park, raced there a couple times on track days, didn't think i'd see that track on youtube

[@dilawer321]

Sooooo much better then watching supercars, would like to see an rs500 cosworth review and a batmobile bmw

[@CrossWindsPat]

Ohhh yess!

[@TheSkywayGames]

This video convinced me to go out and buy one. I test drove a 12a in terrible condition and didn't take it. I now know rx7 is life, I just need to find a 13b

[@QuiquePR]

The best Rotary sound no turbo, ported with Webber between 7,000 to 9,000 rpm

[@tomdickie9782]

***** should review the 787B. Its by far my favorite racecar

[@TerribleTimes]

Great car! And kudos to Richard for loosing what looks to be a decent amount of baby chub ;)

[@Dhood911]

That Noise!!!!

[@AngryManSki]

more footage from the camera car would have taken this review over the top. add more of that kind of footage to the vids. really showed the dynamics of that chassis and the struggle/fight the tires of the time had. my kid loves drifting and we enjoy it together but those few secs of footage will teach him more than an hour of formula drift.. great filming........

[@lumuns3206]

i know you can turn annotations off but those pop ups about other videos are very annoying and intrusive. cant you leave links to other videos in the description and let us enjoy your videos uninterrupted?

[@gavinivers8941]

Let not forget this car also won the British Saloon Car Championship with Win Percy.

[@matthoulden3725]

Great video. Never heard about this car or it's incredible achievements until now. More of this please Evo!

[@AzrilNazliAlias]

if I premix on every refuel, will the seals last ?

[@aisrael13]

Wonderful wonderful wonderful.

[@CrossWindsPat]

Those 500 extra RPM really make all the difference in that car.

[@cobratoxic]

For me the only reason they beaned rotarys engines from endurence racing its because they have to many advantanges to the normal piston engine, and the other brands donrt want to spend more money in devolving the piston engine.

[@surewin1773]

Two drivers for 24 Le Mans?! That is impressive.

[@andresluzunaris1084]

EPIC!! These guys should review more these cars more often...what an excitment, what a machine, what a sound...just history!!!

[@uselessoutdoorsman2826]

Beautiful sa22c 🙌

[@TheoldSouth]

Talks about keeping revs up..... keeps revs down

[@maxtorque2277]

Really liked the "talking head" bit at the end, great to hear Dickie talk about and enthuse about the car!

[@mauricioalfredo83]

u.u when mazda was cool ....not that girly miata thing

[@ThreeDaysOfDan]

The miata is a legend..

[@natchand]

Seen so many people fall in love with the rotary in a situation like this, sooo much fun!

[@knonfs]

Rotary engines, not the fastest, not the greatest, but they are FUN as hell!

[@TheDesmo1212]

Amazing!! makes me want another FB:D

[@jimlynch5776]

Love car for everyone of those reasons. Hilarious to drive on track

[@blehhplehh]

i thought it was tiff needle before i checked the description

[@sa22see]

Doritos 4ever!!!🙌

[@MrMazda-ih8cw]

Great video on this "cracking little car"!

[@elonyao3894]

Rotor engine! love the sound. elaborate beauty

[@ipo7596]

You guys done the imsa rx7?

[@bunghoelio9026]

Sushi gives you tapes worms :/

[@skiptastic1000]

cool car, and has Dickie shed a stone or three??