Mazda RX-7 FD3S
Import a Mazda RX-7 (FD3S) from Japan, found at auction, scanned before it ships, and delivered with a report anyone can verify.
- Built in Japan
- 1991–2002
- Engine
- 13B-REW twin-rotor sequential twin-turbo rotary, rear-wheel drive
About the FD3S
The FD RX-7 went on sale in 1991 under the Efini brand and ran until 2002, ending with the Spirit R. It uses a twin-rotor sequential twin-turbo rotary engine and rear-wheel drive in a light chassis.
It is one of the most celebrated Japanese sports car designs. JDMBuySell’s June 2026 demand index ranked it second only to the R34, with inquiries up 250% in 30 days. Late Japanese-market cars and trims carry a premium, and service history drives value more than anything else.
The FD3S raced as well as it sold. Japanese Wikipedia credits it with overall wins in the Bathurst 12 Hour production race in 1992, 1993 and 1994, and GTU class wins at the Daytona 24 Hours in 1992 and 1993. RE Amemiya ran FDs in GT300 until 2010 and in the D1 Grand Prix from 2004. About 53,000 were built, and the last car, completed on 26 August 2002, was kept by Mazda for display.
- Power
- 280 PS at 6,500 rpm (manual, 1999–2002)
- Torque
- 314 Nm at 5,000 rpm
- Weight
- 1,280 kg (Type RS, 2000–02)
- Gearbox
- 5-speed manual
- Drive
- Rear-wheel drive
- Earlier output
- 255 PS (1991), 265 PS manual (1996)
- Built
- about 53,000
Can an FD3S come in?
Both countries count from the month on the build plate, so a car can become eligible part-way through a year. We check the plate on every car.
Quebec registers right-hand-drive cars only at 25 years. Every other province follows the federal 15-year rule.
US sourcing is planned for 2027, once a customs broker confirms the duty rate on Japanese classics. Enquiries are welcome now.
Which cars roll in next? See the 2027 US calendar and the 2027 Canada calendar.
What to look at on an FD3S
The model-specific weak points we look for in the auction sheet, the photos and the scan.
Service history
Rotary engine condition drives price. Ask for full maintenance records.
Compression
Have a rotary-specific compression test done on every rotor face.
Sequential turbos
Worth checking the vacuum hoses and solenoids that control the two turbos.
Heat damage
Worth checking the wiring harnesses and coolant tank for heat damage.
Rust
Worth checking the rear arches and the spare-wheel well.
Spirit R
Worth authenticating Spirit R trims from the chassis plate and documents.
What we check on every FD3S
The auction sheet, in full
Every line of the original Japanese sheet translated: repair marks, rust notes, interior score.
The build plate
The month of manufacture decides eligibility, so we read it off the car, not the registration.
Mileage against the records
Dash and ECU against the auction sheet and Japan's inspection history.
Flood and accident history
Checked before export, while a claim is still possible.
A full diagnostic scan
Every module read inside the auction's 5-day claim window, so a hidden fault goes back to the seller.
Underneath
Chassis rails, floors and suspension, where snow-country salt does its damage.
What landing one costs: see the worked examples; an enquiry gets you the figure for this car. New to auction sheets? Read how to read one.
What an FD3S costs
Published figures with their source and date. Prices move with condition, mileage and grade; an enquiry gets auction results for the car you want.
| What | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Japan used-car average asking price, 1997–2002 Mazda-badged FD Carsensor, Oct 2026 | about ¥6.63 million | Carsensor , Oct 2026 |
| Japan used-car average asking price, Oct 2000–Aug 2002 builds (incl. Spirit R) Carsensor, Oct 2026 | about ¥8.43 million | Carsensor , Oct 2026 |
| FD3S export listings, median asking price (293 listings) JDMBUYSELL, Oct 2026 | about US$36,100 | JDMBUYSELL , Oct 2026 |
| Median sold price, 24 seller-reported sales Nov 2023–Oct 2026 (not verified) JDMBUYSELL, Oct 2026 | about US$32,750 | JDMBUYSELL , Oct 2026 |
Figures as published by each source; not offers from us. Landed cost in Canada adds shipping, duty, GST/HST and provincial fees.
FD3S buyer questions
Can I import an FD3S RX-7 to the US yet?
Cars built up to October 2001 pass the 25-year rule now. Later cars, including the 2002 Spirit R, qualify month by month until production ended in August 2002, so they all clear by August 2027. Canada accepts every FD under its 15-year rule.
Which FD should I look for?
Manual cars from January 1999 make 280 PS, against 255 PS at launch, but the Type RB kept 265 PS. The Spirit R final edition, 1,500 cars in Type A, B and C forms, carries the biggest premium, and Carsensor shows 2000–2002 cars averaging about ¥8.4 million in Japan.
What is the main running risk?
The 13B-REW rotary. Insist on a rotary compression test on every rotor face and full service records before you pay, and budget for a rebuild if the readings are low or uneven. The sequential twin-turbo vacuum hoses and solenoids also need checking.
Want an FD3S?
Tell us the grade, colour and budget. We reply with eligibility for your province or state and what these are fetching in Japan now, and contact you when sourcing opens.