✦ Shifty Estimate
$12,500
▼ 15.5% · 12 mo- 12 months median
- $12K
- Sales, 12 months
- 29
- Original MSRP
- $6,395 · ▲ 95% since
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1978 Mazda RX-7
1978 to 1985 · Coupe
Price history
Recent sales
29 sales on file
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Every sale for this exact market, with the chassis behind each number. Drop your email and you are first in.
Specifications
- Engine
- Twin-Rotor Wankel, 1.1L Rotary
- Power
- 100 hp
- Torque
- 105 lb-ft
- 0 to 60
- 9.2s
- Top speed
- 117 mph
- Transmission
- Manual
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Original MSRP
- $6,395
Common questions
How much does a Mazda RX-7 cost?
A 1978 Mazda RX-7 cost $6,395 new. Over the past 12 months, 29 have sold publicly at a median of $12,000. The Shifty Estimate for a well-kept example is $12,500. Cars have changed hands anywhere from $7,250 to $21,700, depending on mileage, color, and history.
What is a 1978 Mazda RX-7 worth today?
The Shifty Estimate is $12,500, down 15.5% over the past 12 months. Confidence is high: 29 public sales in a year gives a firm read.
Is a Mazda RX-7 a good investment?
It has appreciated 95% against its $6,395 list price. Values are down 15.5% over the past 12 months. The caution is spread, not direction: across the sales we have on file, prices ran from $7,000 to $29,000, and mileage explains most of that.
What has a Mazda RX-7 sold for at auction?
The 3 most recent public sales we have on file:
- $22,750Jul 31, 2026Light Beige · 79,000 mi
- $10,750Jul 21, 2026Sonic Bronze Metallic · 5,375 mi
- $9,500Jul 20, 2026White · 6,000 mi
The first-generation RX-7 proved that rotary power could create a pure sports car experience. Mazda's 12A Wankel engine delivered 100hp in a perfectly balanced 2,300-pound package, creating one of the most rewarding driver's cars of the late '70s. The FB chassis featured near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution and sublime handling that embarrassed more expensive European rivals. Pop-up headlights and clean Giugiaro-influenced lines gave it timeless appeal. With over 474,000 produced across eight years, early RX-7s remain accessible, but pristine examples are increasingly sought after. The rotary's unique character—smooth power delivery, distinctive exhaust note, and rev-happy nature—creates an experience no piston engine can match. Collectors appreciate the FB's purity compared to later, heavier generations. Watch for rust in rear quarters and ensure the rotary has been properly maintained, as rebuilds are inevitable but worthwhile for this rotary icon.