The FC Mazda RX-7 Convertible was the Miata before the Miata

When the Mazda Miata debuted in 1989 it was heralded as a rebirth of the once-common British-style roadster. But Mazda may have already been attempting to resurrect that segment before the MX-5’s arrival. The FC Mazda RX-7 Convertible was described as the closest modern convertible to those roadsters when it debuted in 1988.

“The industry has yet to fill the void left by the passing of the traditional British roadster,” said Motorweek host John Davis while introducing the FC droptop. “Big Healeys and TR-6s will never return but now there is a convertible that comes close to giving the same kinds of sensations.”

The power top and added structural reinforcements added 378 pounds compared to the fixed-roof FC. Handling suffered a bit, with Motorweek noting that it exhibited more understeer than its non-convertible counterpart. That contributed to “cutting a bit of the crispness” off of the RX-7’s nimble feel. However, as the review said, the lack of precise dynamics was what made it feel like a British roadster, in which the effort required to toss the car around was part of the charm.

The 13B rotary made 146 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque, propelling the car from 0-60 in 9.2 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 17.0 seconds at 82 mph. Braking, thankfully, was surefooted and not something the FC convertible had in common with British roadsters.

Nor was the interior, in which available leather sports seats, powerful sound system with optional headrest-mounted speakers, and strong ergonomics made the cockpit livable. “The RX-7’s dash is one of the best designs on the market and has had a strong influence on dash designs by other manufacturers,” Motorweek noted.

In addition, the RX-7 pioneered some droptop-specific innovations to make the driving experience more pleasurable. It was the first convertible to have a wind deflector, which could be raised between the seats to reduce turbulence in the cockpit. The folding fabric roof had a hard center section that could be removed while the remainder of top stayed up to create a targa mode. Motorweek said that wind noise in this mode was almost unbearable, which may explain why we’ve never seen an FC Convertible deployed in this fashion.

The 1988 RX-7 Convertible started at $21,550, with a single option package that boosted the price to $24,050. Accounting for inflation that would be $57,360 and $64,010 in today’s dollars. Unfortunately, the turbo convertible offered in Japan never made it here, likely because it would have been too expensive for the US market to bear.

Motorweek concluded the review by once again stating how the RX-7 Convertible captured the magic of the British roadster without dealing with agonizing repairs. That sounds a lot like what the press would say when the Miata debuted a year later. Incidentally, it sold for $13,800 ($35,010 in 2024 dollars). And let that sink in for a moment. Mazda, by no means a large car company, once built two convertible sports cars at the same time.