Our heads all turned as we heard the old clunker Ford Falcon pull up behind us at the photo shoot location. "Ay, did you just take it out of the garage," asked the sea-sprayed fisherman behind the wheel of his rod-laden car. He continued enthusiastically "Beautiful car; I don't think I'd ever take it out of my garage - those young kids would be into it". He certainly wasn't the stereotypical rotary lover, but I think he summed the blue sporty pretty well.
When we first saw this 1978 Series 1 Mazda RX-7 at a recent car show, it hit us out of the paddock. But what we really loved was the attention to detail inside the cabin and the masterful creativity.
Daniel Curyer has owned the car for around six years, having bought it as his first car - it's always hard to get rid of your first car isn't it? When it came into Daniel's arms it was a "stock standard dunger", in need of major modification to suit his intentions. After the original motor spat the proverbial dummy an imported 12A turbo motor was dropped in for a heap more motivation. Suspension, interior and bodywork came in various stages after the motor was done. Over a total of two years the whole car took on one helluva transformation!
We'll begin by telling you about the interior - arguably the focal point of the car. Daniel's brother has been in the interior trimming game for about 6 years, and doing the brotherly thing, helped Daniel out with his interior make-over. The blue/silver colour theme is evident throughout the car with a tasteful amount of each in all the right places - no dorky looking 'we'll spray that and see how it looks' to be seen here! The fitted pair of Recaro reclining front seats has been subjected to major changes. Blue wetsuit material was stretched over the seats and contoured into shape to eliminate any folds or kinks. In the centre of these another grade of wet-suit material is inserted, with a rotor symbol and 'AMT' cleverly embroidered into the backrest.
The elaborate door trims took to less than 12 hours each to get just right and are built up using the centre section from a Mazda MX-5, overlain with a custom panel to fit the outer limits of the bigger RX-7 door. Three pieces have gone into each trim, and they are both draped with blue wetsuit material around the outer edges accompanied by a different grade of silver material over the MX-5 section. Wetsuit material was even used to cover the hood lining, which we were told was a major task.
The entire ceiling is covered by a single piece of material stretched and contoured to suit the terrain.
Other interior features include a GBR wooden steering wheel (soon to be replaced), Pioneer CD/ tuner with 6-inch splits and 6x9s in the rear, Autometer boost and oil pressure gauges, and racing pedals. The battery is located in the luggage area, and the straps from the front 3-point harnesses reach back there too.
Under the long hood is the 12A turbomotor we mentioned earlier. But it really looks like a 13B doesn't it? That's because a 13B series 5 ported intake manifold has been mated to the engine using a special adaptor plate. Mildren Race Engineering built up the engine using standard (low compression) rotors and seals and got the engine to really breathe with extend ports in the housings. The rotary traditionalists would love the big brap-brap-brap of the little powerhouse.
On the exhaust side REVS put on a high-flowed 13B turbo unit that spins up and produces boost as early as about 2000 revs, with a peak of 16psi. To the back of this is a 3-inch mandrel exhaust system with a single Exhaust Technology 4-inch Rotaflow muffler. With combined turbocharging and extend porting, the motor really hauls in the higher rpm range. Daniel usually likes to have changed to another cog by around 8000 - just to be safe.
A big diameter Bosch competition blow-off valve dumps intake air on gear changes, having been drawn in through a K&N filter. The filter is cleverly located behind one of the ducts in the font air dam. The front spoiler is also perfect for getting airflow to a pair of 13B turbo intercoolers which have been welded together and mounted in the centre of the air dam.
A Haltech F7C fuel-only computer is wired into the car and fires a system of 13B turbo injectors and a secondary set of 12A turbo injectors, the latter brought into action under boost. So yeah, there's enough fuel going in... The cost-effective choice of a Mazda electronic dizzy with twin coils has been used to keep control of the ignition side of things.
The nice flowing body lines of the early RX-7 have been kept but enhanced with a Mazfix front bumper skirt to bring the nose a little closer to the turf and a mild rear spoiler from a Corolla. To fit the 4WD bonnet scoop, just about half of the bonnet needed be 'glassed to create the integrated look. And after a Series 2 bumper was bolted on, the car was finally sprayed in Chrysler Neon blue acrylic with a bit of lightening tipped into the mix. Four colour coats and four clear coats were applied by what is described as a "back yard" bloke - but the result is very spectacular indeed. Equally spectacular are the FR17 Simmons wheels combined with 215/40 Goodyear Eagle F1s at each corner.
When we saw the Mazda at the car show it sat really, really low - especially at the rear - but Daniel says he replaces the ultra-low springs with a more practical set up for the road. This consists of lowered King springs and Konis at the rear and King shocks and angle-grinder modified front springs. To attain legal accreditation with the turbo engine, RPM Performance Centre upgraded the brakes to four-wheel-discs with the fitment of the rear axle from a Series 2 '7 with discs on the ends and a 3.9:1 LSD diff centre.
And the thing is goose bump quick too, with a low-12 second quarter mile capability anticipated for its next outing. Lets all hope no one gets too scared in the passenger seat and ads a third colour to the interior!
Contacts:
AMT (Affordable Motor Trimming)
+61 8 8374 1828
RPM Performance Centre
+61 8 8277 2266
Mildren Race Engineering
+61 8 8443 8299
REVS (Rotary Engine Vehicle Specialists)
+61 8 8326 7700
Exhaust Technology
+61 8 8272 7500
Maz-Fix
+61 7 4632 5224
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