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But the Mazda RX-7 broke the mould: it looks great, is blisteringly fast - and if you're unlucky can be wallet-destroying. But look after an RX, and Stuart Milne reckons it'll give you the most fun you'll have with your clothes on.

I remember the first time I saw an RX-7. As it blasted past me, it had the kind of looks I'd only seen in books busting with pictures of supercars.

And it sounded like a fighter jet about to blast off.

Unfortunately, these were the days before the internet, so I searched for any scraps of information I could find. Apparently it had a Wankel engine, which in my formative teenage years was the source of much amusement.

I also found out it was rear wheel drive and exceptionally quick considering its tiny 1.3-litre engine.

But after catching the Ford bug, which meant lusting after various Escorts and Sierras, my RX-7 itch went away.

That was until someone shoved a picture of the third generation RX-7 under my nose.

I was blown away.

With curves, swoops and bulges, the Gen 3 looked every inch the Italian supercar.

And it went like one too. This oriental masterpiece officially packed 276bhp, but it wasn't uncommon for owners to find they had more than 300bhp on tap.

That was thanks to a twin rotor Wankel engine and a huge turbocharger.

And yes, you did read that right. The best things about the Wankel - or rotary - engine is its ability to put out huge power from a tiny engine.

But as the saying goes, you don't get owt for nowt and the trade off was a massive thirst for super unleaded. But with a 0-60 time of just 5.3 seconds and a top speed of 156mph, owners didn't complain.

In fact, most RX-7s now produce even more power. They caught the eye of the Japanese performance enthusiasts, and tuning parts flew off the shelves and onto the rotary engined rockets.

It's not uncommon to see one that produces twice the power that it did when it left the factory and sporting chunky bodykits and huge wheels.

So what will an RX-7 set you back? You can get an early 80s model for about £1,500, rising to more than ten times that for a last-of-the-line model.

If you're going to take the plunge, you must buy the best you can afford, and make sure you've got an exit strategy if you get big engine problems, because they can cost a fortune to maintain.