Shinka Sighting!
We have a Shinka sighting! No, not a Pagani Cinque, but a rare 2005 Mazda RX-8 Shinka Edition courtesy of BringATrailer.
Gotta love the 2+2 four door styling of the RX-8.
The Shinka was a special version of the Mazda RX-8, a car I feel has sort of fallen off the radar for a lot of people. Shame because it’s a brilliant handling, 2+2 rear drive coupe, with neat features, especially the rear doors, and that absolute spin cycle of an engine: the 9,000 RPM redlining 1.3L Wankel rotary.
Tidy engine bay. There’s a Wankel in there some where….
The Shinka came around in 2005 as a special edition featuring the fetching combination of a Black Cherry Mica exterior paired with a Light Parchment interior. This combo was the only one available in 2005.
The CarFax shows a history of living in Michigan and Ohio it’s entire life and considering this, the lack of rust or corrosion is absolutely shocking. Props to the owner for keeping it clean.
Condition of the interior looks good. Love the rotary bit in the headrests.
The included scan of a Road and Track article from 2003 is a nice touch, and a reminder of how cool these cars were when they debuted. In an earlier article from June 2002, Sam Mitani boldly stated: “I believe this is the prettiest car to have ever come out Japan…ever”. I personally think the third generation RX-7 holds that title, but the RX-8 is right up there.
With only 1,357 Shinkas produced for the North American market (and who knows how many left, you’re not going to see many of these around. Now’s the chance to snap up a cool, unique, gem of a sports car for likely under five figures.