RX-7 Color Overview

There is a lot of RX-7 info on the Web, but it proves quite a puzzle to work out what paint colors should be used to make an accurate RX-7 model kit, so I compiled an overview by type and by year of all factory applied colors, 75 distinct exterior colors sofar.
I'm not sure the info on this page is of any use to an owner of a full-size RX-7 as all color info is listed on the cars data stickers or the VIN tag.

Sources

Most of the info listed here comes from Mazda manuals and sales brochures, with info from PaintRef.com Automotive Paint Cross Reference filling in the blanks.
Color samples are an approximation and for reference only. As computer screens have no way to depict metallic colors, I've added 'metallic' (or 'mica') to the names where appropriate.
As a rule of thumb for older Mazda paint codes: if the code is all letters it is a solid color, if there are numbers in the code it is metallic/mica (some exceptions in these lists are Pure White A3D and Brilliant Black A3F, which are solid colors and Noble Green VQ which is metallic/mica).
All metallics and mica paints have a clear top coat, as do a number of solid colors such as Brilliant Black PZ.

Note that not all colors were available in all countries and some colors have different names in different countries (e.g. color RH is called 'Sunrise Red' in most countries, but in Germany it is called 'Kirsch Rot').
The lists are probably not complete yet.

These lists only contain colors that are listed in official Mazda documents, however Mazda has always been willing to fulfill customer requests (e.g. a 2001 RZ painted 'Innocent Blue mica' with silver RZ badges, despite being only available in 'Snow White mica').
Some RX-7 websites mention 'Deep Purple Pearl E9' as a 1993 FD color, however this was a limited edition Astina/323F (Creon edition) color that I have not found listed in any FD documentation, this might be another special request by an FD customer.

Paints for plastic models

For a polystyrene or resin model kit it is usually best to apply a suitable primer base coat (e.g. Tamiya gray or white primer) and then apply a thin top coat of automotive paint, I've added all Motip/Dupli-Color Auto-Color matches I could find, as I get very good results using this paint on model cars.
I've provided some model paint alternatives just in case model paint is preferred, I plan to add more whenever I find good matches. Please note that these are close matches, rather than exact matches.
Zero Paints offers a range of automotive scale model paints that are accurately matched to more recent Mazda paint codes (from 1990 to current).

Interior

For the interior colors I only listed the factory code and the base color, as not all materials have the same color, pictures of various RX-7 interiors can be found on my RX-7 interior pictures page.

Wheels

Wheels on Rx-7 SA/FB were usually painted in a bright satin aluminum finish with dark recesses painted in Tornado Silver metallic K8. Wheels on RX-7 FC and FD were usually finished in gloss silver laquer, some US dealers offered brightly 'chrome' plated wheels.
More detailed info on most factory wheels can be found on the RX-7 kit wheels page.

Trim

Please note that on a real RX-7 items such as window trim, windshield wiper arms, etc. are finished in satin black, most model kits indicate to paint these items flat black.

Rx-7 SA, 1978

Interior colors

Notes: At initial release in Japan, exterior colors and interior options were limited and tied to versions.
Four versions were available: 'GT', 'Custom', 'Super Custom' and top specs 'Limited'.
'Custom' always came with all black interior with all vinyl high-back seats,
'GT' always came with all black interior with vinyl high-back seats with plaid cloth inserts,
'Super Custom' came with beige or red interior with vinyl high-back seats with plaid cloth inserts and
'Limited' came with beige or red interior with deluxe seats (adjustable headrests) with plaid cloth front and vinyl backs.

Rx-7 SA, 1979-1980

Notes: ¹ to celebrate 10 years of Mazda on the US market, 3000 '10th Anniversary Edition' Rx-7 were made in 1980, based on the 'GS sunroof' version.

Interior colors

Notes: This is my first attempt to 'map' the 1979/80 interior colors, finding consistent color samples proved difficult and sofar I haven't worked out what interior colors were available with each exterior paint code.
The specs were changed repeatedly, limited editions got special interior colors and on top of that there were four types of seat upholstry available: covered in all vinyl (black, brown or beige), vinyl with cloth plaid insert (black, bronze, red or beige), vinyl with velours insert (black, brown or wine) and all cloth (beige or red plaid, 'Limited' editions only).
Specs of seat upholstry were improved slightly ahead of the rest of the interior, at serial 535839 (prod date mid-Dec 1978), at this time velours inserts became available.

Rx-7 SA/FB, 1981-1983

Interior colors

Notes: Sofar I haven't worked out what interior colors were available with each exterior paint code.
There were two types of seats, each with two types of seat upholstry available: high-back seats were either covered in all vinyl (black or brown) or in cloth velour (black, red, or brown) and high spec versions (GSL, SDX) were fitted with a new seat design with adjustable headrest, covered in either cloth with plaid insert (black, red or brown) or leather (brown, red or tan).
The old style high-back seats were discontinued for 1983, after which all four upholstry options became available on the new style of seat.

Rx-7 SA/FB, 1984-1985

1984 Rx-7 (Euro specs) in Two-tone Gold metallic

Interior colors

RX-7 FC, 1985-1988

Notes: ¹ to celebrate 10 years of Mazda RX-7, 1500 '10th Anniversary' RX-7 Turbo II were made in 1988, all painted Crystal White.

1988 RX-7 10th Anniversary RX-7 in Crystal White

Interior colors

RX-7 FC, 1989

Interior colors

RX-7 FC, 1990-1991

Interior colors

Notes: From 1990 on, Brilliant Black Convertibles got the option of a black interior with tan leather seats, tan door inserts and a tan soft top (code FE1).

RX-7 FC Convertible, 1992

Notes: ¹ In August 1992 a 'Final Edition' version of the Convertible was launched, available only in Brilliant Black or Shade Green with gold colored BBS wheels, available in Japan only and limited to 150 cars, these were the last FC models ever made.
Black interior with tan leather seats could now be ordered with Brilliant Black and Shade Green.

Interior colors

RX-7 FD, 1991-1993

Notes: ¹ the 'hiref' (High Reflection) paints were created by applying a thicker layer of paint, the body was rotated during drying. The extra thick color coat resulted in a smoother, more glossy finish. After 1993 the High Reflection paints were no longer offered.

² Montego Blue is a multi-layered paint consisting of gold-colored flakes suspended in a clear dark blue paint, this makes the paint coat look a dark metallic green in bright light.
Montego Blue was also used on special editions of the MX-5 Miata and on Xedos models.

In the early 90ies Mazda had switched to water-borne paints. Early on several colors had adhesion issues resulting in excessive stone-chipping, in particular Competition Yellow.
Mazda used Competition Yellow mica paint for the RX-7 only and as this color was costly to apply (3 different colorcoats), it was discontinued at the end of 1993 and replaced with Chaste White.
For the other colors Mazda initially changed the light gray primer coat to one matching the top coat color, this did not reduce chipping but made the chipped off paint harder to notice.
Some time later the adhesion problems were solved.

Interior colors

Note: carpets, roof liner, dashboard, door handles and center console are always black, the door inserts and seats are covered in leather of the indicated color with matching cabin trim.

RX-7 FD, 1994-1997

Interior colors

Note: Interior colors are identical to those used for 1991-1993, but better quality materials were used.

RX-7 FD, 1998-2000

Interior colors

RX-7 FD, 2001-2002

Interior colors

Notes: 2001 RZ came with red Recaro bucket seats in all-black interior.
Spirit R Types B and C came with red leather seats and red carpet as standard, Spirit R Type A came with red Recaro bucket seats in all-black interior.

The Change Log page lists all changes to this page since its first publication.