Mazda RX-7

It was the original RX-7, built from 1979-85, that put Mazda on the map in this country. The RX-7 arrived in a relatively grim era for automotive performance, and it delighted the automotive press with the performance of its 100-horsepower, 1,146-cubic-centimeter engine, designated the 12A by Mazda.
Though it copied the wedge shape of Triumph's popular TR7 and TR8 sports cars, the Mazda RX-7 was lighter, assembled better and was more dependable. And it was unique among cars in that if offered a rotary engine. 
Of course, Mazda had used the rotary engine before it developed the RX-7 -- in its Cosmo coupe, RX sedans and a small pickup truck. But it did not achieve the ideal combination until it developed the two-seat RX-7. 
Refinements tended to be minor during the run of the first-generation model, though a major upgrade came in '84, when the larger 13B engine was installed in the GSL-SE. About this 135-horsepower engine, Car and Driver said, ''For the money, there still isn't a better fling-about, redline-hungry, tire-smoking sports car to be had.''
The next generation, built from 1986-92, was a rip-off of the Porsche 944 and was not as popular as the first generation. 
It was the final RX-7 that sported the most original styling and best performance. Yet it came along at a time when Japanese sports cars were out of favor, and it also sported an unrealistically high price tag. Mazda sold only a few thousand RX-7s between 1993-95. They likely will be collector's items.