FC3S · FC3C
Mazda RX‑7 FC import check
FC3S is the factory model code for the Mazda RX-7 FC, built for the Japanese market from 1985 to 1991. Other versions carry FC3C. Every genuine car has a chassis (frame) number that starts with its code, such as FC3S-. That number is the one thing that links its Japanese history to its UK records.
FC3S at a glance
- Model code
- FC3S
- Make
- Mazda
- Model
- RX-7 (FC)
- Body
- 2-door coupe
- Built
- 1985 to 1991
- Engine
- 13B-T (1308 cc turbo rotary petrol)
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Japanese trims
- GT, GT-R, GT-X, Infini
- Chassis number format
- FC3S-nnnnnn
From our own model library, compiled from public sources and not yet checked against a second source. UK records sometimes drop the hyphen or the leading zeros of the serial; our check allows for that.
Reading the FC3S chassis code
- FC3S is the coupe and FC3C the cabriolet. The later RX-7 is FD3S.
| Code | What it is | Engine | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| FC3S | RX-7 (FC) | 13B-T | 1985–1991 |
| FC3C | Cabriolet | 13B-T | 1987–1991 |
Have a chassis number? The chassis decoder reads it for you.
Is it a genuine FC3S?
Most UK FCs were sold new here with a 17-character VIN. A Japanese import has an FC3S- frame number.
If you paste the advert into the free check, we compare its wording with the chassis code. An advert that says “RX-7” on a car whose chassis code isn’t FD3S, FC3S and FC3C gets flagged.
Known problems to check on an FC3S
- Rotary apex-seal wear: ask for a recent compression test
- Overheating from tired cooling systems
- Rust in the rear arches, sills and around the sunroof
- Turbo wear and oil-metering faults
These are common issues for the model, not facts about any particular car. Ask the seller about each one.
Before you buy
- Start it from cold and listen for hard starting, a sign of low compression
The FC3S on a Japanese auction sheet
- The sheet names the car RX-7 or サバンナRX-7 (Savanna RX-7).
Most imports were bought at a Japanese auction, and the inspector’s sheet records the grade, mileage and every mark on the body. Ask the seller for it, then run it through our auction sheet translator to read it in English and check the chassis number and mileage against the UK record.
Recalls in Japan for the FC3S family
Japan publishes every recall with the chassis numbers it covers. Run a recall check with the car’s chassis number to see whether any apply to it.
MOT record in the UK
Mazda RX-7
- 14% of 1,131 first MOT tests failed in 2024 and 2025, 57% lower than the UK average for cars of the same age.
- Most common advisory: Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive (7.5% of tests).
- Most common failure: Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (1.6% of tests).
All three generations, imported or sold new in the UK.
All Mazda RX-7 MOT statisticsFrom DVSA’s anonymised MOT data, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Kilometres, miles and the first UK MOT
An FC3S sold new in Japan has a speedometer in kilometres. When it is imported, the speedometer is either converted to miles or left in km, and the first UK MOT should record whichever the dial shows. Mistakes here are common, and they’re where mileage problems hide.
We put the Japanese auction mileage and every UK MOT reading on one timeline and check the crossing: whether the readings agree after converting, whether the km figure was written down as miles, and whether the first UK reading is lower than the car had already done in Japan. See an illustrative example.
Questions
What is the chassis code for the Mazda RX-7 FC?
FC3S, with FC3C for other engines or drive layouts. A Japanese-market Mazda RX-7 FC has a frame number that starts with its code, then a hyphen and a serial number. You’ll find it on the V5C and on a plate in the engine bay.
Which years was the FC3S built?
From 1985 to 1991, with the 13B-T (1308 cc turbo rotary petrol) engine and RWD layout.
What should I check when buying an FC3S?
Rotary apex-seal wear: ask for a recent compression test. Overheating from tired cooling systems. Rust in the rear arches, sills and around the sunroof. Turbo wear and oil-metering faults. Start it from cold and listen for hard starting, a sign of low compression. Also check that the Japanese auction mileage lines up with the first UK MOT, because km and miles are easily mixed up.