Today's RX7 is supposedly hiding an asp under its hood. Hopefully its price wont also come up snake eyes.

S&M, you know what that is? Sadism, the first part, is when you like inflicting suffering on others, like selling someone an old Italian car. The second half, masochism, is when you gain a certain sort of satisfaction from your own suffering, like the inevitable breakdown on the short drive home in the old Italian car you just bought.

Yesterday's was in such nice shape that it might just break the S&M mold so you might just want to put down the cat-o-nine-tails and stick the gimp back in his box. Oh but first tell him that the Lancia came away with a 72% Nice Price win, it'll make him so very happy.

The work of the design house Zagato is usually noted for the company's iconic double bubble roofs.…

Do you know what makes me happy? Yes titties and beer do go a long way toward bringing a smile to my face, but what I was referring to was correct and descriptive car classified ads, like the one for today's 302-rocking . I mean, just look at that ad, it says right there that this is a 'rear wheel drive car.' That kind of says it all, don't you think?

Okay, so that's just the cherry on top of this red rocket's sundae, and it's likely that mill that powers those rear wheels that gets your attention. Now, loathe be it of me to speak ill of the achievements of the dead, but gosh darn it, as a rule Felix Wankel's rotary engine just doesn't have much poop off the line. It may have one of the best power-to-weight ratios of any internal combustion engine, but when it comes to pounds and feet, those weird triangular pistons just don't make the grade.

Fortunately for today's non-Spanish inquisition, this RX7 has a mill that's a total Torquemada mama. Claimed to come from a 1990 Mustang, and to have been 'remanufactured' since its de-mustang-iffication, this Cobra-edition 302 V8 should put out something in the neighborhood of 225-bhp and 300 ft-lbs of Chubby Checker's favorite dance.

Here's the thing though, the fly in the ointment, monkey in the wrench, turd in the punchbowl as it where; to the best of my knowledge there was no Cobra in 1990. That kind blows my praise for the accuracy of the ad out of the H2O. Regardless, the Ford mill does say Cobra on its intake, and that's good enough for me. Also pretty good is the fact that the Ford engine seems to have brought along its 5-speed playmate.

The installation looks remarkably factory with none of the anodized billet this and flailing wires that which usually define the conversion category. Just on a casual observation however, that radiator looks somewhat diminutive for the task.

The rest of the car looks to be fully up to task, the paint (which appears to be a respray) is in good shape, at least as best as we can tell from the pics. In fact, aside from the goofy rear spoiler spoiling the looks out back there's nothing to call attention to the fact that this Mazda now rumbles rather than whines.

It's also a convertible version of the FC, the only edition of Mazda's big sports car to come topless, and that means it has the cool surrey top, only not with the fringe. There's a pair of roll-over hoops beneath that top just in case you fail to keep the shiny side up. Mileage is claimed at just over the century mark.

The seller is asking $6,995 for this push rod-powered former piston twirler, and it's now time to decide whether that's a deal. What do you think, is this V8 RX7 worth a Lincoln-shy of seven grand? Or, is that a price that you think needs to be torqued down?

You decide!

out of Utah, or go if the ad disappears.

H/T to Alfalfa Romeo for the hookup!

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