Mazda RX-7 SA22C For Sale — Import From Japan
In North America this generation goes by its VIN code, FB. SA22C is the Japanese code for the first-generation Savanna RX-7, launched in Japan in March 1978 and built until the FC replaced it in 1985. It's a small three-door coupe with pop-up headlights. The 12A twin-rotor sits behind the front axle line, and Mazda credited that placement with a 50.7:49.3 weight split with two people aboard. Up front there are MacPherson struts, and at the back a live axle located by four links and a Watt's linkage. At launch the carbureted engine was rated at 130 PS (gross). A Japan-only turbo version with fuel injection followed in September 1983, rated at 165 PS (gross), and the GT Turbo weighed 1,020 kg. The main updates came in October 1979, when a lean-burn engine with a catalyst replaced the thermal reactor, and in November 1980, when integrated urethane bumpers cut the drag coefficient from 0.36 to 0.34. Replacement body panels and interior trim are scarce, so buy the most complete, least rusty car you can.
Mazda RX-7 SA22C market snapshot
These numbers come from our live Japan dealer stock today. Shipped prices include ocean freight to your nearest US port plus export fees.
About the RX-7 SA22C
| Chassis | Years | Key variants | US import status |
|---|---|---|---|
| SA22C | 1978–1985 | 12A — the original | Eligible now |
Fully eligible — the entire run is 25+ years old. Eligibility goes by month and year of manufacture rather than model year, so as of today anything built September 2001 or earlier qualifies. Tell us which car you want and we'll check its exact build date before you commit. Our Mazda RX-7 import guide has more.
Mazda RX-7 SA22C variants
| Variant | Engine | Drive | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-turbo (Limited, SE-Limited and others) | 12A 1.1L twin-rotor, four-barrel carburetor, 130 PS (gross) at launch | RWD | Five-speed manual or three-speed automatic. From late 1982 the Japan-market SE-Limited added two-tone paint, four-wheel disc brakes, an LSD and leather. |
| Turbo (GT Turbo, Turbo SE-Limited) | 12A 1.1L twin-rotor turbo, fuel injection, 165 PS (gross) | RWD | Arrived with the September 1983 update and was only sold in Japan. |
Mazda RX-7 SA22C available now
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1983 Mazda Savanna RX-7 SA22
95k km · Convertible · 5-speed MT
approx. $19,453 USD · $22,803 shipped to a US port
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1984 Mazda Savanna RX-7 SA22 GT Limited Edition SA22C
92k km · Coupe · 5-speed MT
approx. $29,054 USD · $32,404 shipped to a US port
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Mazda Savanna RX-7 SA22 GT Dandora Weber Shadow
TMU · Coupe · 5-speed MT · Build year unconfirmed
approx. $28,093 USD · $31,443 shipped to a US port
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1985 Mazda Savanna RX-7 SA22 Works Specifications
TMU · 5-speed MT
Price on request
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1979 Mazda Savanna RX-7 SA22 GT
96k km · Coupe · 5-speed MT
Price on request
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1982 Mazda Savanna RX-7 SA22 GT
TMU · Coupe · 5-speed MT
Price on request
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1983 Mazda Savanna RX-7 SA22 1957 April
130k km · Coupe · 5-speed MT
Price on request
What to check on a RX-7 SA22C
- Get compression figures for both rotors. Hagerty's guide puts a healthy 12A at 75 psi or more, ideally above 85, and lower readings point to a rebuild.
- White smoke after start-up points to worn oil control rings. Check the coolant hoses and the oil cooler lines and connections for leaks too.
- Replacement panels are hard to find, so look hard for rust in the wheel arches, inner fenders, sills, floor pans, door bottoms, windshield surround, trunk floor and suspension mounts.
- Mazda changed the bolt pattern from 4x110 mm to the common 4x114.3 mm in the 1983 update, so make sure the wheels and hubs match the car.
- If a seller calls it a turbo, confirm it's the factory fuel-injected 12A turbo rather than a carbureted car with an added turbo, and that the injection system is complete.
- Interior trim parts are scarce as well. Check that the dash, seats and door cards are complete and usable.
What it costs to import a RX-7 SA22C
The card prices above are what each car costs in Japan. The shipped price on a card is that car delivered to your nearest US port, with ocean freight and export fees included. We then clear it through US customs as your importer of record and handle the title, so there's no customs broker for you to hire. The full cost breakdown has the details.
Is the RX-7 SA22C legal to import?
Any vehicle 25 years or older is legal to import into the USA without meeting modern FMVSS safety or EPA emissions standards. Eligibility runs on the month and year of manufacture, not just the model year. If the exact SA22C you want is not yet eligible, we can buy it and store it in Japan until it is. See the 25-year rule explained.
How buying one from us works
We bid at Japanese auctions and buy from dealer stock on your behalf. Before any money moves, the car is physically inspected in Japan, with photos, video, and a condition report, not just an auction sheet grade. After purchase we handle export, ocean freight to your nearest US port, customs clearance, import duty, and US title, so the car arrives ready to register. Typical timeline is 45–60 days from purchase to delivery.
Mazda RX-7 SA22C FAQ
How much does a Mazda RX-7 SA22C cost?
In our Japan stock, the 3 Mazda RX-7 SA22C with a listed price run from about $19,453 to $29,054 before import costs. The median is $28,093, and the middle half sits between $28,093 and $29,054. Shipped to your nearest US port, with ocean freight and export fees included, prices start at about $22,803 and a median car comes to about $31,443. After that we handle US customs as your importer of record and title the car for you.
How many Mazda RX-7 SA22C are for sale right now?
7 in Japanese dealer stock today (3 with a listed price, 4 price on request). It changes every day as cars sell and new ones get listed.
How many Mazda RX-7 SA22C for sale are manual?
Counting the 7 that list a transmission, 7 are manual and 0 are automatic.
Can I import a Mazda RX-7 SA22C to the USA?
Fully eligible — the entire run is 25+ years old. Of the cars in stock, 6 are from 2000 or earlier and qualify under the 25-year rule now. Month and year of manufacture are what count, and we check the exact build date before you commit.
How long does it take to get a Mazda RX-7 SA22C from Japan?
Plan on about 45–60 days from purchase. The car is inspected and exported in Japan, spends 3–5 weeks at sea to your nearest US port (East Coast, West Coast, Gulf and Honolulu), and then goes through US customs, duty and title. We handle every step as your importer of record.
What do you check before buying a Mazda RX-7 SA22C?
Every car is inspected in person in Japan before any money moves. On this chassis we look hardest at: Get compression figures for both rotors. Hagerty's guide puts a healthy 12A at 75 psi or more, ideally above 85, and lower readings point to a rebuild; White smoke after start-up points to worn oil control rings. Check the coolant hoses and the oil cooler lines and connections for leaks too; Replacement panels are hard to find, so look hard for rust in the wheel arches, inner fenders, sills, floor pans, door bottoms, windshield surround, trunk floor and suspension mounts; Mazda changed the bolt pattern from 4x110 mm to the common 4x114.3 mm in the 1983 update, so make sure the wheels and hubs match the car.
SA22C or FB: are they different cars?
No, they're one generation under two codes. SA22C is the Japanese model code for the first-generation Savanna RX-7, and FB (FB3S) is how North American VINs identify it. Japanese and US cars do differ in details, including the turbo version, which was sold only in Japan.
Turbo or non-turbo?
Mazda added the turbo in 1983. Its fuel-injected 12A is rated at 165 PS (gross) against 130 PS for the carbureted engine, and Mazda quoted 1,020 kg for the GT Turbo. Whichever you choose, the engine's condition outweighs the version.
What changed during production?
In October 1979 the thermal reactor gave way to a lean-burn engine with a catalyst. November 1980 brought integrated urethane bumpers with an air dam, and the drag coefficient went from 0.36 to 0.34. Then the 1983 update added the turbo and the 4x114.3 mm wheel bolt pattern.
Other Mazda RX-7 generations
Want a specific RX-7 SA22C?
Send us the year, transmission and spec you want, and we'll find one at auction and quote it shipped to your US port or imported and titled.
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