Great Taste, Less Torque: 2005 Mazda RX-8

They say less is more.  But who are they?  Does that apply to torque from an internal combustion engine? And have they ever driven a Mazda RX-8?  With 232 horsepower the 6-port Renesis has a decent amount of thrust at redline, but with only 159 ft-lbs of torque, this isn't exactly a tractor...but if you like your engines to be piston-free...the RX-8 was the last hurrah for Wankel's legendary rotary and they aren't getting any younger. Find this 2005 Mazda RX-8 offered for $5500 in Santa Clarita, CA via craigslist.

High Watermark or Just High? 1985 Mazda RX-7

A few years ago I would have said that ten large is a stupid sum of money to pay for a first generation RX-7...but I don't know these days.  Classic cars are getting gobbled up my well heeled millennials, grubby fingered gen-Xers, and greedy boomers...but the RX-7 has been cheap for years.  Maybe it's time the spinning apex seal clubber gets its time in the sun?  Or you could at least own this low (53k) mile example and drive it till the miles put it in line with the rest of the market. Find this 1985 Mazda RX-7 offered for $9800 in Arcadia, CA via hemmings. Tip from BP.

Save The Rotary Wagons: 1976 Mazda RX-4 Wagon

I'm posting this next car for all of the wrong reasons.  It isn't really a good deal.  It will cost the next owner more money than it will ever be worth.  And it will probably cause more heartache than a teenager on methamphetamine...but this car needs to be saved.  I guess this is a charity case.  This is a car that needs someone with more money than sense to keep it from going to the boneyard, because how many RX-4 wagons are left in this world? How many more manual gearbox Japanese wagons with rotary engines exist? Screw the whales, save this manual gearbox equipped rotary powered wagon. Find this 1976 Mazda RX4 Wagon offered for $3,500 in Tracy, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck. 

Rotary Pimp: 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5

Mazda has a tendency to use the RX prefix in its rotary powered  cars, so when the replacement to the limited edition (and extremely collectible) first generation Mazda Cosmo was introduced in 1972, it was called the RX-5 for the US market. It was Mazda's entry into the personal luxury coupe market, and slightly missed the target for what buyers were expecting.  The result were poor sales when new and now you hardly ever see one on the road, but the few that have survived will make for an interesting conversation piece with anyone you might meet at a gas station or Japanese auto repair shop. Find this 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 offered for $3900 in Dublin, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Rotary In The Sidecar: 2001 BMW Motorcycle with Sidecar

Motorcycles aren't exactly the safest mode of transportation...even small contact can have huge consequences (which is why people in 4 wheel vehicles should always give them plenty of room), but at least the motorcycle is small and maneuverable.  However, if you add a sidecar to a motorcycle, you still have the same crash exposure, but now lack maneuverability and agility of a normal bike, so its probably more dangerous...BUT...if you feel the thrill of danger beckoning you like a winged siren, you might want to consider upgrading to a turbo rotary powered motorcycle where the engine is in the back of the sidecar.  Find this 2001 BMW Motorcycle with Sidecar offered for $14,900 in Half Moon Bay, CA via craigslist. Tip from Kevin who found it on Bike-urious.

Join The Rotary Club: 1988 Mazda RX-7 Convertible

The second generation Mazda RX-7 was known as the FC and over 270,000 examples were built in Japan from 1985-1991 for worldwide consumption.  The FC was, of course, powered by a Wankel rotary engine and featured the athletic reflexes matched by few cars in the 1980s. If you can live the eccentricities of the odd spinning thing under the hood, these cars are sublime to drive.  Find this 1988 Mazda RX-7 offered for $2,500 in Burien, WA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

The Juice is Luce: 1976 Mazda RX-4

This next car comes as a tip from JB1025 who writes: Just don't see many of these from the mid 70's too bad for the automatic but owner has a 5 speed to go for extra green $$$$$. Personally, I think it is funny how much these look like the similar vintage Isuzu I-Mark. Find this 1976 Mazda RX-4 offered for $10,000 in Portland, OR via craigslist.

Grey Zombie: 1979 Mazda RX-7 GS

I'm all about rooting for the underdog, because who doesn't love a good underdog.  But when does a dog go from underdog to total basket case?  And when does a total wreck become a project car? Find this 1979 Mazda RX-7 GS offered for $1500 in San Jose, CA.

Mazda 12A Power: 1970 MG Midget

People love to exaggerate on their craigslist advertisements. This is the lowest mile Maserati BiTurbo on craigslist or This is the nicest salvage titled M3 for sale in Ft Lauderdale...but this next seller starts with a simple statement: For Sale...the fastest Bay Area MG midget around.  Yup.  I'm just gonna nod my head and agree.  Find this 1970 MG Midget offered for $15000 in SF Bay Area, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

I Said Eunos, Not Eunuch: 1991 Mazda Eunos Cosmo

Over here on "this" side of the Pacific Ocean, it is easy to associate the Wankel rotary engine with Mazda's sweet RX-7 sports coupe...but over in the land of the rising sun, there were a few other cars that got the spinning apex seal roaster, like the Eunos. Find this 1991 Mazda Eunos Cosmo offered for $11,000 in Bonney Lake, WA via craigslist. Tip from JB1025. 

Last of the Wankels: 2004 Mazda RX-8

A Mazda RX-8 with original paint that isn't peeling AND apex seals that haven't given up the ghost...NOW that's what I call a Christmas miracle!!  Find this 2004 Mazda RX-8 offered for $5,300 in Chambersburg, PA via craigslist. Tip from Jeff S.

Trifecta of Weird: 1973 Mazda RX-2

You know what is my favorite combination of attributes for a classic car?  Fast, loud, & rusty?  Nope.  Close, but no.  My favorite is rarely scene (rare and rarely scene aren't the same thing...), common parts, and reasonable price.  This next car hits those points because -- when was the last time you saw an RX-2 on the road, 13B rotaries are scattered around like pieces of an exploded flywheel, and the asking price, albeit high, isn't classic 911 high.  Find this 1973 Mazda RX-2 offered for $13,500 in Los Angeles, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Rotary Wedge: 1980 Triumph TR7

The seller describes this next car as "not your typical 80's crappy Triumph" -- hey, that isn't really fair...okay...maybe it is. The TR7 had some sweet wedge style, but power was low and handling wasn't exactly amazing, but some car builder decided to change that. Find this 1980 Triumph TR7 offered for $5,500 in Olympia, WA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Middling: 1987 Mazda RX-7

The middle child syndrome is a pop psychology construct where the middle child of a family of three siblings feels excluded by virtue of their birth order.  The older sibling gets all the responsibility and the younger sibling is treated as the baby.  Thus it is the same for cars, where the first and third generation RX-7 is lauded and the middle RX-7 is forgotten.  Find this 1987 Mazda RX-7 for sale in Albany, OR for $4,895 via craigslist.
Tip from Rock On!.

You Spin Me Right Round: 1985 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE

The first generation RX-7 (SA/FB built in Japan from 1978 to 1985) was a interesting highlight in the sports car world of the early 80s.  The RX-7's light weight frame was propelled by a unique engine - the Mazda rotary.   Find this 1985 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE offered for $3,500 in Sahuarita, AZ via craigslist.  Tip from FuelTruck.

Rotary Powered: 1969 Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle

Remember when Mazda purchased the rights to build the Volkswagen Beetle and started shoving 13B rotary engines into version that were setup from the factory as Baja racers, and then Donald Trump was sworn in as president. Wait...that stuff didn't happen?  It was just a dream.  But you were there...and you...and you... Find this 1969 Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle offered for $6,000 in Inland Empire Los Angeles Area, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Rock On!

Resto-rotary: 1975 Mazda RX-3

The third generation (1992-1995) Mazda RX-7 was one of the best looking cars produced in the 1990's at any price level.  They were known to have temperamental twin turbo rotary engines that came fitted with an absurd amount of rubber vacuum hoses.   It is not uncommon to find LS swapped FD RX-7's for this reason.  Today's example keeps things in the rotary family so to speak.  Find this 1975 Mazda RX-3 for sale in New Haven, CT for $8,500 via craigslist.