Developed under the development code X605, the first generation RX-7 was introduced in March 1978 with the Series 1 type (1978-1981). It supersedes the earlier Mazda Savanna (RX-3) model.
It use Mazda's SA platform, and equipped with 1.2 litre water-cooled naturally aspirated 2 rotors rotary engine (engine designation code 12A).
The Series 2 type (1981-1983) was later introduced with various improvements. The Series 2 type model also has four-wheel disc brakes and clutch-type LSD as optional.
The Series 3 type (1984-1985) was introduce and comes with 1.2 litre turbocharged rotary engine in Japan (designation code 12A Turbo) and 1.3 litre naturally aspirated rotary engine (designation code 13B RE-EGI) outside of Japan.
The car quickly become a hot topic when it was announced during the supercar boom in 1978.
Production run of this model ended in 1985, with FC3S superseding it.
See also
FC3S - Second generation RX-7
FD3S - Third generation RX-7