---
title: "There’s a Louisiana Barn Packed With Rotary-Powered Cars and They’re All For Sale"
description: "Bring extra apex seals!"
date: "2021-02-05"
modified: "2021-02-05"
authors:
  - name: "Peter Holderith"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/peter-holderith"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/39111/theres-a-louisiana-barn-packed-with-rotary-powered-cars-and-theyre-all-for-sale"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "For Sale"
  - "News"
---

# There’s a Louisiana Barn Packed With Rotary-Powered Cars and They’re All For Sale

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2021/02/rotary-barn-lead.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Unfortunately, there are no new rotary-powered cars for sale today, largely due to emissions regulations. [Wankels](<https://www.thedrive.com/cars-101/38493/rotary-engine>) are typically dirty-running engines, which is why it's taken so long for Mazda to bring one back, even [in range-extender form.](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/36961/mazda-is-really-actually-bringing-back-the-rotary-engine-as-an-ev-range-extender-for-real>) But none of this means you can't buy a used rotary car to buzz around in. There are still plenty of those—[and new rotary parts](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/38239/mazda-rx-7-parts-are-back-in-production-and-they-go-on-sale-in-february>)—around for you to tinker with.

If you're tired of seeing [FD RX-7s](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/31809/watch-the-worlds-first-four-rotor-awd-mazda-rx-7-rip-around-the-block>) go for stupid amounts of money at auction, well, we've found a barn in Louisiana that you might be a fan of. According to the listing, there are [tons of rotary-powered cars stashed inside its walls,](<https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/908758619889883/?ref=category_feed&referral_code=undefined>) so there's bound to be something you'll like.

![message-editor%2F1612537894374-inlinea.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1612537894374-inlinea.jpg>)
**Kasey Lodatto via Facebook**

Only a few images of the owner's stock have been posted, and the condition of the cars varies wildly. There are dusty Mazdas, there are [destroyed Mazdas,](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/38550/kid-test-driving-a-manual-mazdaspeed3-absolutely-obliterates-the-clutch>) and everything in between. The listing also says there are a few "Rotary Toyotas and Datsuns," which, seeing as neither company ever produced a Wankel engine, must mean they're [swapped.](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/32386/no-ferrari-did-not-send-a-cease-and-desist-letter-to-this-rotary-swapped-456-gt-builder>)

A careful look around the images will also reveal a few other non-Mazdas that may or may not be rotary-powered. There's a classic Mini, what looks like [a VW Bug,](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/39077/happiness-is-a-swarm-of-vw-beetle-off-roaders-bouncing-across-the-nevada-desert>) and maybe, just maybe, a [Suzuki Samurai](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/38758/watching-two-geo-trackers-balance-on-a-giant-seesaw-is-utterly-terrifying>) stuffed into the back right corner. Forget the cars, though. I wonder if that sweet box fan is for sale...

![message-editor%2F1612538438286-a.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1612538438286-a.jpg>)
*Kasey Lodatto via Facebook*

![message-editor%2F1612538442123-b.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1612538442123-b.jpg>)
*Kasey Lodatto via Facebook*

![message-editor%2F1612538446305-c.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1612538446305-c.jpg>)
*Kasey Lodatto via Facebook*

![message-editor%2F1612539670958-rotarybarnlead.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1612539670958-rotarybarnlead.jpg>)
*Kasey Lodatto via Facebook*

Most of the rotary-powered cars here appear to be first and second-generation RX-7s, also known as the FB and FC, respectively. One of these cars—it looks like an FB—has been redone with a huge widebody kit. It's unclear if it has any other modifications beneath the bulged-out body, but I suppose you'll have to just mask-up and sniff around there to find out. The mask is both because of the pandemic, and what looks like the six-inches of dust covering everything in this barn, of course.

If you were asking me what to get here, I would say one of the two [Rotary Pickups.](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/31130/retro-mazda-b-series-concept-truck-has-an-rx-7-turbo-engine-and-matching-jetski>) They were only made between 1974 and 1977, they look great, they have a bed for all your plywood-carrying needs—I think they're your best bet. I mean, you could try to restore one of the 70 other vehicles in this barn, but some of them look a little far gone. At least the black pickup outside is parked in a driveway, implying it's moved under its own power recently. That's a promising sign.

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## Author
Peter Holderith is a former staff writer for The Drive. He enjoys covering the regular news cycle, writing reviews, and hunting down long features on obscure pieces of automotive history.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-h-5ba447192/>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/_baldtires>)