80-year-old woman returns her Mazda RX-7 after 25 years

This is true love for cars: An 80-year-old Japanese woman is looking for someone who wants to take her 25-year-old RX-7. Mazda is contacting her.

80-year-old woman returns her Mazda RX-7 after 25 years

Naoko Nishimoto has been driving her silver Mazda RX-7 for 25 years. In 2024, she decided to give up her driver's license - and is looking for someone who would like to take over her car. Japanese media reports that she received 400 emails. Including one from Mazda. An engineer at the brand heard about the story and forwarded it to the PR department. And so, Naoko Nishimoto's time with her RX-7 ends where it began: at the Mazda dealership.

But first: The Japanese woman is a real car fan. She got her driver's license at 21 and was initially a loyal Toyota customer. Her first car was a Toyota Publica, the small car that preceded the Starlet. When she started a family a few years later, she needed a slightly larger car. She chose a Toyota Corona. Later, Nishimoto bought the sporty Corona Coupé version, based on the Celica.

And then, at 55, she fell in love with the RX-7. But she didn't see the car in an advertisement or on the street, but in an animated film. Nishimoto watched the comic series "Initial D" with her son, which featured the Wankel-engined sports car. Then she went to the Mazda dealer. She actually wanted to order her RX-7 in blue, as it was in the catalog. But the salesman recommended the color "Highlight Silver Metallic." Today, the 80-year-old woman regrets listening to the man

Less than 76,000 kilometers in 25 years

She drove 77,592 kilometers in the RX-7 over 25 years. According to CarWatch, the car became even more important to the Japanese woman when she learned that production had stopped. In case the Mazda needed a major overhaul in ten years, she would have simply ordered a new RX-7. That was no longer possible. Fortunately, she never had any serious problems with the car.

She brings back the RX-7 for her 80th anniversary

For her 80th birthday in December 2024, Naoko Nishimoto decides to give up her driver's license. After a quarter of a century, the era of sports cars is also coming to an end. Mazda finds out about this and decides to take the car back.

The handover took place where it all began: at the Mazda dealership that sold the car to the lady in 1999 and where she has maintained it all these years. The RX-7 will then be taken to the Japanese manufacturer's development center in Yokohama. The car will be displayed at events.

Car parts AutoPower
Car parts AutoPower

Naoko Nishimoto has been driving her silver Mazda RX-7 for 25 years

But first: The Japanese woman is a real car fan