The 1978 Mazda RX-7 was powered by a rotary engine and this little sports car was Mazda’s most famous sports car for years to come after that. The RX-7 represented the rotary engine’s first major triumph and its acceptance in a mass produced global car.
The RX-7’s light, aerodynamic sports car body was designed to take advantage of the rotary’s tiny packaging and relatively large power output, and the chassis gave the RX-7 the roadholding to match its power. The lead designer for this iconic car was Matasaburo Maeda, and today his son Ikuo is credited for designing the Mazda RX-8 and the Mazda2.
