THE LISTING

About this vehicle

1998 Mazda RX-7 FD3S Type RB Bathurst, 5-speed manual, showing around 96,000km / 60,000 miles and freshly imported from Japan.

I won it in a competition from Australia, and before I carry on spending money getting it exactly how I want it, I thought I’d see if anyone fancied taking it on as it sits. Funds are tight and I’ve got other things needing them (house, family stuff) so would rather not feel guilty about keeping hold of this.

It is currently not UK registered. The import/NOVA side is sorted and it essentially needs an MOT and registering with DVLA. Being over 10 years old there’s no IVA to worry about, so anyone familiar with importing older Japanese stuff will know the score.

It starts, runs and drives and has done very little since arriving in the UK.

• Type RB Bathurst

• 13B-REW

• 5-speed manual

• Approx. 96,000km

• Fresh Japanese import

• HKS exhaust

• HKS coilovers

• HKS intake pipework

• APEXi induction filter

• RE Amemiya front bumper

• RE Amemiya canards

• Aftermarket rear lights

• Bronze Advan RG-D wheels

CAR VX confirms it as a genuine Type RB Bathurst, 13B-REW, 5-speed manual, manufactured in May 1998.

Their competition listing stated that the car had a brand-new/replacement 13B-REW engine fitted in 2023. I didn’t commission that work myself, so I’m passing that on as previous documented history rather than claiming I personally have an invoice for an engine build, but that is how the car was publicly advertised before I owned it. The same listing also specifically states the HKS exhaust, HKS coilovers, RE Amemiya front bumper/canards and aftermarket rear lights, all of which are still present on the car.

There’s also HKS intake pipework and an APEXi cone filter visible in the engine bay.

There’s a decent paper trail with the car rather than its history just starting when it arrived in the UK.

The CAR VX mileage records show:

• 71,000km – 2020

• 72,300km – 2021

• 77,800km – 2022

• 95,882km – May 2024

• 95,910km – December 2024

CAR VX reports no odometer rollback problem. I’ve got the CAR VX report and Japanese auction information which will go with the car.

The car presents really well in the flesh and the paint is generally good.

It was originally silver and was subsequently resprayed white in Japan. This is reflected in the auction history, where it was recorded as silver in 2021 and white by its later 2024 appearances.

The arches are nice and clean with no obvious issues around the arch lips. I’ve had the liners out myself and have plenty of photos showing what’s behind them rather than just saying they’re clean.

Nothing on the underside that worries me, very clean.

It hasn’t been freshly covered in underseal, so you can actually see what you’re buying. My plan was to get the underside properly protected for UK use once it was registered rather than just cover everything up.

There is a small amount of rust starting around the rear window area which is a job on the list.

The garage that looked over the car after it arrived also commented that it was a tidy car overall.

Obviously, it’s still a 28-year-old modified Japanese car rather than a freshly restored concours example, so there are age-related marks and bits somebody could improve as they go.

The car arrived with a spoiler fitted but I removed it after finding that water was getting into the boot around the mounting points. That’s also why there are currently some fairly industrial-looking big bolts/washers covering the old mounting holes. Spoiler and hardware will come with the car.

They’re purely there as a temporary way of sealing the holes and keeping the weather out rather than being some questionable styling decision.

It leaves the next owner with the choice of fitting another spoiler, reinstating the previous setup or properly deleting the holes.

It was a Grade R car. I’m not trying to dress it up as an untouched Grade 4.5 collector example.

The CAR VX report records previous collision/repair history and shows auction entries in 2021 and 2024. It was recorded at USS Tokyo in December 2024 as Grade R at 95,910km, with the repair history noted as repaired.

The earlier 2021 auction also records the car as Grade R and repaired.

Anyone genuinely interested is welcome to see the auction information and CAR VX report and inspect the car properly.

I’d rather be completely upfront about that than have somebody turn up expecting a museum piece.

It was advertised for the competition at the time as an RNation 1998 Type RB Bathurst with the replacement engine and modifications listed above, with the replacement engine only a few thousand kms ago.

Safety Drive valued the car at AUD $90,000 for the purposes of the competition. I’m obviously not suggesting that’s what it’s worth in the UK, but suspect a bit of money was spent on it over there.

It’s just a nice bit of history to have with the car rather than another anonymous FD that’s changed hands half a dozen times with no paperwork.

I’ve accumulated a few bits while I’ve had it which can all go with the car:

• Spare headlight units/assemblies, one used, one pair brand new, and a new plug/wiring end for one side

• Spare spark plugs (need a clean up)

• Spare battery

• Replacement washer bottle (current is cracked)

• Any other bits I’ve accumulated for it by the time it goes

I’d rather they stayed with the car than start selling everything separately.

The car is not currently UK registered or MOT’d. The import/NOVA side has been completed. Certificate and NOVA to hand.

It needs putting through an MOT and the DVLA registration application completing. As it’s over 10 years old it doesn’t require an IVA. My intention was simply to MOT it, register it, get some protection on the underside and start using it.

I’m not desperate to get rid of it, but before committing to insurance again etc in the next few months thought I’d see if anyone wants it. Too much fighting for my time and money.

It’s a really cool-looking late FD, has an interesting history, plenty of decent Japanese parts on it and presents very well.

There’s still stuff I would do if I were keeping it, but adulting comes first.

Vehicle specification

• Make: Mazda
• Model: RX-7
• Year: 1998
• Mileage: 60000
• Transmission: Manual
• Fuel Type: Petrol
• Body Style: Coupe
• Colour: White

Important information

This vehicle is advertised by an independent eBay seller. The information shown has been taken from the seller's listing. Please review the original eBay advert for the complete description, condition, history, photographs and terms of sale before purchasing.