The start of the FD was the 3rd generation of Rx-7 and this one carried the name of Efini RX-7 in Japan while elsewhere it was simply called Rx-7.
The major selling point of the RX7 at the time was the shape.
Curved Doors and vented outlets!
door mounted mirrors and crazy door handles! The car has some pretty ground breaking design elements in a time when duel exhaust tips were a premium item.
Utilizing the rotary engine to the maximum, is this real sports car adopting the 13B type 2 rotor rotary engine that generated 255 horsepower with the addition of a sequential twin-turbo system. Front and rear double wishbone suspension was made utilising aluminum that decreased unsprung weight substantially.
The front and back weight distribution was 50:50 allowed by the front / midship relationship of the engine location. Power to weight ratio achieved 4.90kg/ps with the light weight version which is 50kg lighter, including the aluminum bonnet.
The front lip was an option as was the rear wing although included on Type R models as standard.
Many other option packages included sunroofs and rear window wipers. Cruise control, bose acoustic wave audio systems.
Only one style of wheel was available, 16" lightweight alloy wheels.
Best fuel economy was 7km/l which was not great but for a sports car, it was still pretty good. Available versions twere the “type X”, “type R” and “type S”. The type R was a 5 speed manual only, while the others versions had options of a 4speed AT.
The type S was the entry model and had less power and usually distinguishable by the single oil cooler.
Started at 3,700,000 Yen while the optioned up models with leather interior in the Type X started at 4,400,000 yen which was pricey indeed. But this was at the height of the Japanese economy.
Production of the FD had begun and what was to follow just refined this awesome machine.
Introduction colours were.
Brilliant Black, the amazing Montego Blue Metallic, Vintage Red( The colour most faded in the world.) and classy Silver Stone Metallic.
Competition Yellow Metallic was the most desirable.
White was not offered on the initial batch.
Russ
Type R E-FD3S 1308cc 3 5MT FR 4Seat 7.3km/l 3,850,000Yen
Type X E-FD3S 1308cc 3 5MT FR 4Seat 7.3km/l 4,340,000Yen
Type X E-FD3S 1308cc 3 4AT FR 4Seat 7.0km/l 4,440,000Yen
TypeS E-FD3S 1308cc 3 5MT FR 4Seat 7.7km/l 3,600,000Yen
TypeS E-FD3S 1308cc 3 4AT FR 4seat 7.0km/l 3,700,000Yen
The FD Rx7 is now almost 20 years old and there has been numerous changes to the basic showroom supplied models over those years. There have also been more than a few special versions that have sat beside the stockers on the showroom floor. Whether you have an FD3s already and want to know a bit more about it's origins or you are looking to buy one. I hope this reference can give you a bit more info than your tanulated model listing. Check through the old archives and your trace the FD history from the first FD3s Efini version in1991 to the final Spirit R in 2002.
