An ex co-worker of mine (retired now) and I struck up a conversation after he found out I loved RX-7's. I've come to find out that he used to work on the Mazda IMSA GTU crew when the Akai RX-7 was running the 24 & 12 hour endurance races back in the 80's. I picked his brain as much as possible and he also told me that he was storing a car for a friend. "Wilma" 1 of 3 1979 Akai RX-7's built for the Daytona 24 hour race! I was so excited! I went over to his place earlier today and took some pictures and picked his brain some more.

I wanted to share. I'm going to spend some more time there and take some suspension geometry readings to be able to recreate what I can on my track car. Even though it had been sitting for a while, it was BEAUTIFUL! He's been storing it for a while, so I want to see if I can get me hands on it from the owner. It would be a great car to take to the Walter Mitty. I'll take some more pictures later and post more. Hope you Enjoy.

 

Holy crap awesome find! Get more pictures and specs if you can. What are the switches for on the right of the driver?

 

well one says ignition...fuel pump, and lights..starter...wipers, trans and diff coolers..the rest are all warning lights..

 

WOW.. that is one bad *** car.

 

We're not worthy! Wow. I can't even imagine being so close to something like that, and it not in running condition. Did I notice a Pport?

 

Stuff I noticed:

Seam Welded
No caster offset in the camber plates
The watts center pivot was moved down a good 4 or 5 inches
Points distributor
Those crazy super small fan belts and pulley grooves

I love the coil relocation.


-billy

 

Old school perfection!!!

Also looks like it's setup per factory comp manual specs

 

Yes, talking to the guy who set it up, it's all Mazdaspeed or Racing Beat parts.

Stock RX-7 body which was acid dipped. I even saw that vin plate still on the car.

Camber plates with no caster. They actually removed the control arms and shimmed the bushing in order to move the arm a little more forward.

The engine is a PP 12A, dual ignition. Seam welded with the cage welded to the strut towers. Stock tall radiator with an oil cooler in front - which surprised me. Under the axle exhaust. Rear end has an unequal length panhard bar. Rear diff cooler built into the rear spoiler. 22 gal fuel cell.

I love the body kit, it looks wonderful!

I really want this car. I'm going to ask the owner next week.

 

 

i know this is kinda like taking a stab in the dark, but what would a reasonable offer even be for a car like that with: a. all the money in it, b. the heritage behind it, c. the fact that i can only imagin it appreciating.

 

now thats the body i want to put on my car. i've been looking every where for it and its there right there. i have to get sanctioned first to race before i can buy it though. thats the only way Mazdaspeed will sell it to me. and i have to run some sanctioned races first and show them that i ran said races.

 

i want to take that car to the track. i wonder how well the engine has held up though. does it even start?

 

wow nice find man.. wheres does those two lines go from the pass door?

 

awesome find!!!

 

I love how the mirrors have little supports. Very nice car.

 

Looks like a fast machine!!!

 

How fast would that be?

 

I like the alt. location can you get some pics of how they relocated it?

 

That

 

is

 

Awesome....

 

I'm going to go back there next week and we're going to try to jack the car up and put it on stands in order to get under it. I'll take measurements and a lot of pictures of how the suspension is setup and also take additional pictures of the inside and engine bay. Any info requests? I'll take a list with me to be able to get the info needed. Just let me know.

 

Did 79's have a rear LSD option? That car doesn't have the normal "fill" hole. I see that they must have needed the diff cooler for the LSD clutch pack.

I think it'd be great if you could get the car outside right at sundown and get some high res images for us.

 

If you score this car you will be one very......very......very lucky person.

HOW DO YOU PEOPLE FIND THESE UNBELIEVABLE CARS!!!!!!!!!!.......NO FAIR!

Good luck on getting the owner to part with this car.

 

We need to take up a fund for this car and buy it collectively as the 1st gen section.

You REALLY need to get your hands on that car if you can. That would be so cool if he would sell it to you. Then you would actually have time to take it apart methodically and post up all the specs and build strategies. It would be like our insider look after finally seeing all those far away pictures in books and magazines.

Good luck, and score that AKAI for us!
Jamie