With the recent turn of events, that being that I have the change to get an fb, I have been looking into mods.

I love all the rally cars they had of the fb. I haven't done a whole lot of research but so far I have found nothing on the group b body kit. I assume they were custom, but does anybody make a replica kit? I live in the desert (for the most part) and I love camping. I figure if I had a rally build I could have fun on and off road, seeing how I would camp in the desert (and would not be able to hit the dirt with a lowered car).

I just would like to know if these body kits exist anywhere or if they were all only by Mazda. Thanks everybody.

 

First off, welcome aboard!

The 1st Gen Group B cars were fielded by many different teams, all backed by Mazda to some degree. In the US, Rod Millen had a Rally car that used a GLC front-wheel drive transmission that somehow mated to the rotary engine along with rear drive to effect 4 wheel drive operation. I never saw any schematics of that, but would like to see the specifics. The car performed well and were reliable offroad, but not a lot of ground clearance as you can imagine. Google 'Rod Millen RX7' and you should be able to come up with some leads. Good luck,

 

Somebody made it at one point. There was a kit on eBay a few years ago.

 

There's a shop in france building faithfull replicas of the group b rx7's. They have ALL the parts in their catalogue but they are asking drug money for them.

As to the Millen car, i believe the transfer was from an existing AWD car and he had the engine overhanging the front axles something horrible to accommodate the front axles. Pretty cool, but yuk front weight bias.

 

Millen's one-off RX-7 looks for all the world like it used an Sierra XR4x4 transmission. (same as Cosworth Escort) It did not use an GLC parts. Or 626 for that matter I'd like to find where that rumor started, probably the same place as the rumor that the FC and MX-6 are on the same chassis.

It can't possibly BE an XR4x4 trans because those weren't made when the first 4wd RX-7 showed up. The actual trans looks like a smoothcase with an alternate tailhousing.

Millen's 4wd was NOT a Group B car. If it wasn't homologated in document B255, it wasn't legal for Group B. US rally is somewhat unusual in that we don't require homologated vehicles, we're very run-watcha-brung.

 

If the body kit components are less than $20k shipped they're a deal... if they are "faithful" then they will be every body panel on the car save the roof, and complete doors.

I admit to ignorance as to if the MRTE cars had carbon fiber/Kevlar panels or fiberglass. I still have not procured the homologation documents yet. I search about every six months or so.

"The Millen car" had significant engine setBACK. It had a slight rear weight bias with two people in the car despite all of the extra running gear up front.

Here. I found the image I was thinking of.



Now of course this has ****-all to do with Group B since all B cars were rear wheel drive.

The Group B cars, of course, had a significant rear bias, with the fuel, oil, and washer fluid (!) tanks in the trunk, as well as putting the oil cooler inside the rear spoiler. MFR peripheral port engine with the dry-sump oiling system.

 

Probably was said off the cuff from one of the Millens and was repeated thereafter.
The 626 front end is quoted in both Brian Long's book and Connie Goudinoff's (later Mrs. Downing) book, Mazda Motorsports. A single sentence, but I'd think they did a tiny bit of research.

Interestingly, in IMSA GTU the rotary 626 did start as an FC RX-7 chassis, but being a tube frame it was "easy" to just attach different body panels and rearrange the tubes. Like how Speedsource's GrandAm RX-8 became a 6.

 

Maybe they meant 626 front spindles...

 

the June 1984 Motor Trend Magazine has a road test of the millen car.

there were/are two. they started with the existing car, put the 4wd in it, and then built (or were going to build) a second.

engine is 8" further back, 2.5" toward the passenger side, and 1.5" lower.

the front diff is an Alfa Romeo, everything else is a 626 (they mention the uprights), they say transmission is a weissmann, which has a transfer case built in, but pic looks like smooth case to a transfer case.

brakes are 10.5" vented front and rear using 4 piston Girling calipers, dual masters and a balance bar

1/4 mile on pavement was 13.3@104mph and on dirt 14.15@100mph...

that all being said, Millen ran SCCA

 

So is there any link to their catalog? I really just want the fenders and spot lights. I don't want to replicate the group b cars but just use some of the parts for my own build. I like the wider wheel clearance.

 

Sorry, for some reason i remembered the 4wd FC with the front axles rear of the engine. My mistake. Peak Performance: Resurrecting An Iconic Rx-7 - Speedhunters

Here is the link to the French Group B cars. SMG Team Click on where it says "Nouveax! Le Catalogue!"

 

Le Catalogue? What the hell is THAT???

 

I think its french for "The Catalog", could be wrong tho.

 

Its french for Uranus.

 

Jeez, you people, have you no culture?

 

*Chortles* Classic.

 

I think love motorsportd in aus does replicas from originals.

 

http://www.specialstage.com/forums/forumdisplay.php#/forumsite/21166/topics/82098?page=1

Not sure if that's legit

 

Bad link, it doesn't work.

 

Legendary 1981 Championship Mazda RX-7 $7K

Sorry, that was from my phone.

 

pretty sure that is the early car that was essentially a ford escort underneath.

 

It looks like the car I remember seeing at 100 Acre Wood in that time frame. Same decals and all.

It was a 4wd and awesome quick.

 

Through 81 he was 2wd with a car prepared mostly like a mk2 escort. This was when Bufhfam was in a TR8. Then Buffum got into the quattro for 82 or 83 and Milen built the 4wd car to compete. Millen didnt own the 81 championship car.