Keeping a car on the road for 25 years is an act of love. All models require maintenance to keep them going. After over two decades, a person knows the vehicle inside and out. Plus, the owner understands the machine’s quirks and accepts them.
However, nothing lasts forever. What happens when the time inevitably comes to get rid of that old automotive friend? It’s only natural to want the vehicle to go to a new owner who has the same respect for the machine. An elderly Japanese woman just happened to find the perfect steward for her 1999 Mazda RX-7 when she decided it was time to part with the iconic sports car.
Giving A 25-Year Old Mazda RX-7 Back To The Automaker
Naoko Nishimoto is an older woman from Nagasaki City, Japan. In 1999, she bought a Mazda RX-7 and kept it ever since. When Nishimoto turned 80 on December 18, 2024, she decided it was time to stop driving.
The Nagasaki Broadcasting Company reported about Nishimoto and her RX-7, and the story went viral. About 400 people contacted her to express interest in buying the car from her. The perfect new owner appeared when Mazda contacted her about acquiring the vehicle for the company’s collection as a public relations vehicle.
The video (above) is adorable. There’s something charming about seeing an 80-year-old woman driving an RX-7 and shifting through the gears.
The ceremony took place at a local Mazda dealer. The automaker’s president Masahiro Moro sent a message to Nishimoto during the handover ceremony. The company’s chief of product public relations was there to take the keys.
Next, Mazda will send Nishimoto’s RX-7 to the company’s headquarters in Hiroshima for maintenance. Then, it’ll become part of a fleet in Yokohama and will be used at events and in media appearances.
25 Years On The Road But Low Miles
Before handing over the RX-7, she took it for one last drive. Judging by the video, she kept the car in perfect condition – an especially impressive feat given this model’s mechanical quirkiness.
Despite owning the car for 25 years, Nishimoto kept the mileage low on this RX-7. She only covered 48,156 miles (77,500 kilometers) over the years. In the video above, Nishimoto said she regularly used the car from Monday through Saturday.
An FD RX-7 in Good condition is currently worth around $42,600, according to Hagerty. Given its low mileage, impressive appearance, and fascinating story, we could see Nishimoto’s car having even more value.
It’s not uncommon for older Japanese people to give up their licenses. The country has a program that increases cognitive testing for drivers starting at age 75. There’s also a social trend in the country where elderly folks give up their licenses voluntarily, according to Nippon.com.
TopSpeed’s Take
This is just a charming story. Nishimoto looks so happy when she’s behind the wheel of this RX-7. It’s reassuring to know that the car is now going to a good home.
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