Mazda has built some of the most driver-focused sports cars the world has ever known, from the lightweight MX-5 Miata to the iconic, rotary-powered RX-7. But a recent Cars and Bids auction shows just how far the nostalgia tax has spiraled out of control. A 1997 Mazda RX-7 Type RS-R 30th Anniversary Edition attracted a top bid of $40,500 on Cars and Bids, yet still failed to meet its reserve. Even at that level, it would have traded above the model’s historical norm. Once upon a time, ’90s JDM sports cars were about punching above their weight and undercutting rivals. Those days are clearly over.
When $40,500 Isn’t Enough
Cars and Bids
Cars and Bids
Cars and Bids
Cars and Bids
On paper, bidders weren’t completely irrational. Classic.com reports that the average FD RX-7 now trades just over $41,000, placing this car squarely in line with the broader market. Even the limited-run RS-R 30th Anniversary models tend to land in similar territory. Finished in striking Sunburst Yellow, fitted with tasteful upgrades, and offered with a U.S. title, this example had plenty working in its favor, especially with tariffs on Japanese imports.
But this wasn’t a collector-grade time capsule. The RX-7 showed visible wear, had been repainted, and raised questions over its true mileage. While the listing claimed 84,400 miles, Cars and Bids user @jvita3 uncovered evidence suggesting it has covered more than 115,000 miles. None of that stopped bidders from charging past $40,000 anyway, only to discover the reserve sat even higher.
The JDM Price Upward Spiral Is Real
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This third-generation RX-7 is simply another data point in a market that has gone fully off the rails. Classic.com shows that the average Nissan R34 Skyline GT-R now exceeds $134,000, the average Honda NSX climbs past $80,000, with pristine NSX-Rs changing hands for more than $400,000, and twin-turbo Mk4 Toyota Supras nearing $100,000 – some sell for nearly a quarter-million dollars. Even Han’s Tokyo Drift RX-7 sold for an eye-watering $1.2 million, pushing values further into fantasy territory. Looking at the bigger picture, a $40,500 RX-7 almost feels reasonable, which is exactly the problem.
If you wanted to stick to a classic ’90s JDM sports car, you could have bought two second-generation Toyota MR2 Turbos for similar cash. Or you could have saved money and bought a newer, faster, more reliable MX-5 Miata for $30,430. If that’s not enough to convince you the RX-7 is way out of its league, its top bid was just $1,500 shy of a new, overpriced Honda Prelude.
When Nostalgia Beats Logic
Cars and Bids
Cars and Bids
Cars and Bids
Cars and Bids
At some point, enthusiasm stops being passion and starts becoming denial. $40,000 is already a steep ask for a three-decade-old sports car with a temperamental rotary engine and expensive upkeep. With Mazda confirming an RX-7 successor is on the way, values of the originals are likely to inflate even further. The fact that this example still didn’t meet its reserve perfectly sums up today’s JDM market: logic has left the building, and nostalgia is fueling the fire.
