Showing just 30,919 miles at the time of consignment, this 1988 Mazda RX-7 Convertible hails from the first year of production and retains its original red paint and charcoal leather interior. Powered by the 1.3L rotary engine with a dual exhaust system and a 5-speed manual transmission, the sporty two-seater convertible coddles occupants with factory air conditioning, power windows, power locks, green-tinted glass and an updated Clarion AM/FM/CD stereo system. Drivers will adore the power 4-wheel disc brakes, cruise control and full instrumentation. Rolling on Goodyear Eagle tires with silver-painted basketweave alloy wheels, the car is complete with the original window sticker, books, receipts and a clean CarFax. Mazda introduced the RX-7 sports car for the 1978 model year, updating it in 1981 and 1984. Very successful, an all-new RX-7 would be introduced by the end of 1985 with a new, modern, fluidly styled body. From the onset, the new RX-7 was designed with a convertible in mind, complete with special door pillars, door sills of thicker steel, heavier A-pillars, a reinforced central tunnel, a special front and rear crossmember, and specialized rear side frames. The convertible top would be one of the most unique designs the industry had ever seen. Built as a drop-in unit, the top is fitted with an electrically defrosted glass rear window and allows drivers to opt for either a fully open-top or a removable center section. The top even has a windblocker, which has been said to be an industry first. Mazda invested heavily in creating a convertible that would give motorists the sporting, open-air experience that had been lacking for a number of years in an affordable sports car. Introduced for the 1988 model year, the RX-7 convertible held an MSRP of around $20,500, well below other two-seat convertibles such as the Chevrolet Corvette, Porsche 911, Mercedes-Benz SL or Cadillac Allante. It would remain in production through 1991, with around 22,000 built. Available with either an automatic or manual transmission, the North American market would not receive a turbocharged version, but in some countries, that was the only engine available.
