1984 Mazda RX-7 GSL Coupe, Now Rare, Is Junkyard Treasure

Jackson Wheeler
4 Min Read


Mazda sold Wankel-engined vehicles in the United States from the late 1960s through the final RX-8s in 2011, and (while you can buy a new Mazda series hybrid with a tiny Wankel inside) we can assume the days of genuine Mazda rotary power are over.

Today’s Junkyard Treasure is an example of Mazda’s most famous no-piston vehicle: a first-generation RX-7, found recently in a Denver-area self-service car graveyard.

1984 mazda rx7 gsl in colorado wrecking yard

Murilee Martin

Colorado Auto & Parts also has a very complete second-generation RX-7 available for your parts-pulling pleasure, in addition to the 1969 AMC Rambler 440 sedan you see parked next to this car. I used to find quite a few discarded RX-7s during my junkyard travels, but now they have become quite rare.

This one has the GSL trim level, which means it’s packed with luxury and convenience features. These include a sunroof, power windows, and air conditioning, a decent deal for an MSRP of $13,085 (about $39,459 in 2023 dollars). The GSL-SE version was the factory hot-rod RX-7 for 1984, with more engine power and a limited-slip differential, and it cost $15,095 ($45,485 after inflation).

1984 mazda rx7 gsl in colorado wrecking yard

Murilee Martin

I prefer to call these engines “Wankels,” because a true rotary engine is one in which the crankshaft is fixed and the rest of the engine rotates (mostly used for aircraft applications but also in a handful of road vehicles). Mazda went with the “rotary” appellation from the beginning, though, so I’ll use their term for the rest of this article.

This is a 12A two-rotor engine of 1146cc nominal displacement, rated at 101 hp and 107 lb-ft. The GSL-SE got the 13B with 135 horses and 133 lb-ft. The curb weight for the ’84 was a mere 2380 pounds, so these cars were quick for the era.

1984 mazda rx7 gsl in colorado wrecking yard

Murilee Martin

An automatic transmission was available for $500 extra ($1507 in today’s dollars), but had few takers in a car that was all about spinning the engine to ridiculous revs. This car has the base five-speed manual.

This AM/FM/cassette radio with auto-reverse, digital tuning, metal capability, Dolby noise reduction, and a nine-band graphic equalizer was serious audio hardware for a new car in 1984.

1984 mazda rx7 gsl in colorado wrecking yard

Murilee Martin

It traveled just shy of 200,000 miles during its life. I’ve seen a first-gen RX-7 with close to 400,000 showing on its odometer, but that’s very unusual given the generally short lifespan of 12A apex seals on the street.

Why is it here? A VIN search reveals it was sold at a nearby auction service for $400 with “unknown” running condition, so perhaps nobody even tried to start it.

That’s some good tire screech for an American-market car commercial of the middle 1980s.

In its homeland, it was known as the Savanna RX-7.

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Jackson Wheeler is a skilled editor at Speedofdaily.com, specializing in automotive content. With a background in Journalism and Automotive Engineering, he combines his passion for cars with his writing expertise to deliver captivating articles. Jackson's deep knowledge of automotive technology and his racing experience make him a valuable asset to the team, providing readers with informative and engaging content.
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