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Driving along Cliff Road, North Beach. It was slightly overcast but pleasant driving in the convertible. South Beach glamour short. This photos were taken prior to the header panel, front bar and front underskirt being replaced. South Beach carpark. Enkei Shurikens.
These were taken at a local car club meeting my son attended. A member of the club is a professional photographer and liked the car. This weekend there are two club meetings with the first on Saturday likely to include a number of FB RX7s and R100s, RX2s, RX3s, RX4s and perhaps an RX5, but only one Breezy. I can't wait to see the old time Mazda rotaries.
I just purchased these outer tie rods from Sparks Surplus in Texas. They are Perfect Circle Brand which is 555 Brand OEM from Japan. I got them for a really good price and company always has quality parts for sale
These came from Thailand, 3 x pairs of 555 brand inner tie rods at a really good price. I was fortunate to come across them and Thailand is a good place to find old parts as Thais are really into old cars.
Good news with my other RX7, it will be completed on 19 Sep 25. I will be pleased to have it back. The repairer has been sick but an engine built by him has some prestige. He has worked over the years on a number of RX7 race cars including the Yellow Pages car which is currently for sale for $162,750 USD or $250,000 AUD.
The red/orange car below is one of 10 Allan Moffatt specials produced for homologation purposes by Mazda. There were 10 Series 1 or SA cars produced in the distinctive colour schemes of red/orange and blue/white. These are a very collectible cars and the red/orange cars are particularly striking vehicles. These cars were produced without radios or aircon and had black vinyl seats, a sun roof and 3 piece 15inch Simmons wheels. There was also a special badge produced on the rear C pillar. The car is fitted with the very aggressive front airdam and rear spoiler.
The lower car is one of 2 x Series 2 (FB) Sports model cars imported from Japan and used as promotional cars by Mazda for the Allan Moffat team. Notice the car is fitted with the Series 1 (SA) front airdam, wolf racing seats and rear spoiler. The car in the backyard is one of the two cars about 10 years ago. I was offered the car for sale at a very reasonable price but at the time the thought of a complete restoration was overwhelming (as well as the cost). Again these are examples of Mazda Australia motoring history.
Note the Series 1 (SA) aggressive front air dam on a Series 2 (FB) car. You can see the brown wolf seats in the car. This is one of the two cars a few years ago. I was offered it for a very modest sum but with a family and kids it wasn't viable. Today I'd jump at it but the owner wants to keep it.
The red/orange car below is one of 10 Allan Moffatt specials produced for homologation purposes by Mazda. There were 10 Series 1 or SA cars produced in the distinctive colour schemes of red/orange and blue/white. These are a very collectible cars and the red/orange cars are particularly striking vehicles. These cars were produced without radios or aircon and had black vinyl seats, a sun roof and 3 piece 15inch Simmons wheels. There was also a special badge produced on the rear C pillar. The car is fitted with the very aggressive front airdam and rear spoiler.
The lower car is one of 2 x Series 2 (FB) Sports model cars imported from Japan and used as promotional cars by Mazda for the Allan Moffat team. Notice the car is fitted with the Series 1 (SA) front airdam, wolf racing seats and rear spoiler. The car in the backyard is one of the two cars about 10 years ago. I was offered the car for sale at a very reasonable price but at the time the thought of a complete restoration was overwhelming (as well as the cost). Again these are examples of Mazda Australia motoring history.
The last car with the full flare kit is known as the Mazda RX7 Mirage. There were 25 produced plus the white prototype built by Penfold Mazda in Melbourne. I have included a photograph of the prototype earlier in the thread. These cars were built for homologation purposes and the bodykit was adopted from the prototype (from memory). This car in the photograph was restored and sold at auction a few years ago. It is on Youtube if you google.
Note the Series 1 (SA) aggressive front air dam on a Series 2 (FB) car. You can see the brown wolf seats in the car. This is one of the two cars a few years ago. I was offered it for a very modest sum but with a family and kids it wasn't viable. Today I'd jump at it but the owner wants to keep it.
The Mazda RX7 Mirage of which 25 plus the Penfold Mazda prototype were built. They came without aircon, radio and had black vinyl interiors with apparently an extended gear shifter for racing. Note the cut outs around the windows and the edging. This car was restored with a 12A monster port engine.
This is the blue/white variation of the Allan Moffat Special (AMS). Note the front air dam has been changed. The car was for sale! This image provides a good view of the AMS badge specially designed for these cars.
This is the car that was featured in Fast Fours and Rotaries magazine with the title "California Dreaming" which I have posted on the first page. It was a private conversion and subsequently moved to Perth, Western Australia. I remember reading comments from a mechanic who advised it underwent a lot of work as it had a 13BT engine. It is an impressive vehicle and would be cool to drive today!
This convertible came up for sale a few years ago. It is a Series 3 conversion and was in very good condition. As an aftermarket CCA conversion, an engineer's report was required to established registration in another state for interstate purchasers. These are not cheap around $1500 USD and the motivated vendor did this himself for purchasers. My convertible was sold new by Mazda as a convertible so an engineer's report was not required to establish registration in NSW and the ACT.
Note the absence of "RX7 Convertible" badge on rear which differentiates aftermarket cars to the six from Mazda. Also the spoiler looks good! 12A engine
These are the new rotor housings and the PWR radiator and oil cooler fitted to the car. This RX7 is nearly 5 years older than the convertible. These are a few photos sent to me at the start of the work. I have just arranged for the car to be transported back home, which is a 2.5-to-3-hour drive. It will be completed on 19 Sep. One of the first tasks is to have the Watanabe wheels fitted😁. 13B rotor housings. Both were machined to fit 12A. Rotors and rotating gear have been lightened. Each housing was US $425 plus US$360 for machining. Total $1210 USD v $2605 for 12A housings new. PWR radiator and oil cooler. Going to the expense of an engine rebuild, it pays to upgrade the radiator and oil cooler with new hoses and oil lines. I had replaced the OEM radiator years ago with a cheaper option so a brass core really wasn't worth it. Car wash time. Entering workshop. The plates were from an RX2 Sedan I had previously owned.
This is the "new" Series 3 steering wheel for the convertible. The car has a Series 2 wheel fitted as the previous owner found it easier to see the cluster. I replaced the worn item when I purchased the car with a very good Series 2 wheel because that is all I had in the spares box. I waited for a good Series 3 wheel to be offered for sale.
The other photos are door rubbers, window rubbers, rear hatch rubbers, taillight gaskets and rubbers for the Coupe. Note the Mazdatrix packaging, the company has been excellent and very responsive to my requests, providing genuine parts which are difficult to obtain.
Series 3 wheel purchased from Canada for the convertible. Mazdatrix packing and some of the rubbers for the Coupe. In the box are parts for the horn for the "new" steering wheel. More rubbers for the Coupe A big mess of Mazda parts will come together for the Coupe.
Good news is the Coupe is completed, and the carrier has been booked to bring the car home on Friday. I have paid the remaining balance and the total for the work was very reasonable considering the work done.
On Saturday the new watanabe wheels, 14 x 6, will be fitted and on Monday morning the car will have a blue slip inspection to establish registration in my state.
I posted a photo of a Mazda RX7 Mirage earlier in the thread. There were 25 examples plus the white prototype (photo earlier in the thread) produced for homologation purposes. An example was advertised for sale today in Australia, a very nicely restored car with sale price $100,065 USD or $150,000 AUD. We believe it has been sold! A picture of a Mirage below, which is a great looking car.
A few more parts including this Genuine antenna which came all the way from Minneapolis. It is amazing how these parts survived over 40 years later.
Genuine Mazda Mudflaps. I believe these came from Washington State. Steering parts for the Coupe. All the TRW parts - inner and outer tie rods, and stabilizer bar kits came from Sparks surplus Texas. The 555 Pitman arm from a gentleman disposing of old surplus stock in Sydney😁 Genuine Mazda adjustable link rods and nuts came from Mazdatrix.
RX7 Heaven - the Coupe arrived after a 3-hour trip from Canberra. The car fired first time under full choke on the back of the truck, and it feels like a very strong engine plus the gearbox is very smooth. My son agreed it is very different being in a Series 2 RX7 than a Series 3 RX7.
I've just been out in the garage and it may be me but the smell from the engine of the Coupe is different to the Convertible! The old RX7 arrived after a 3 hour trip from Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory. It fired first time under full choke and the engine feels very strong and the g/box very smooth. The driver was very happy after I tipped him. It is around 6 hours round trip but the company is happy for the booking. The old 7 looking good but showing her age with the strips around the windscreen faded. These will be redone together with cosmetic work once I have the car re-registered Breezy and the Coupe in the garage. I wouldn't have imagined this a few years ago. There is 5 years difference between the two cars. One of the nicer Series 2 interiors, burgundy. The dash is in mint condition. The Series 2 interior - steering wheels, shift panel and gear shift ****. There is an old-school feel to sitting in the Series 2 interior that you don't get with the Series 3. Series 2 burgundy interior. Front and rear seats are perfect. The new PWR radiator and oil cooler are visible. All new oil lines and radiator hoses have been fitted. The sticker on the air filter is Reliance Automotive. There is some prestige attached to having a Reliance built engine and from start up it is obvious the engine is very strong.
I posted a photo of a Mazda RX7 Mirage earlier in the thread. There were 25 examples plus the white prototype (photo earlier in the thread) produced for homologation purposes. An example was advertised for sale today in Australia, a very nicely restored car with sale price $100,065 USD or $150,000 AUD. We believe it has been sold! A picture of a Mirage below, which is a great looking car.
The car awaiting wheel alignment and new tyres for stock rims. The tyres are cheapies as I am fitting the Watanabe wheels which have tyres fitted. The tyres on the car were around 20 years old!
Car waiting for wheel alignment and tyres. The Watanabes to be fitted 14 x 6 inch.
It was a busy day with the Coupe in the morning and then I drove the Convertible out to a car club meet. I was followed by an older driver with an immaculate FD RX- white. You can see it is a beautiful day by the beach.
Good news, the car passed its "Blue Slip" registration and hopefully will be registered tomorrow. The bad news is the alloy radiator failed, it has a leak and the radiator specialist who recored the Convertible's radiator advised it is not worth tig welding. He said return to old school - the old ways😁 The radiator has seen around 10klms since new! This is the old radiator which he will recore and recondition for the Coupe. The good news is the engine is powerful for what it is and a lively performer. Gearbox is as smooth as so the work from workshop was excellent.
The dump pipe on the rear exhaust is going. What is it with rotaries and dump pipes? The exhaust note is awesome but need to return to twin outlets stock look like Breezy. The old school ways.
Old School Radiator to be reconditioned and brass recore. Go the old school ways. You learn from experience!
. I can't wait to see the old time Mazda rotaries.
