So, this is my 1000’Th post.

I have been here for just over a year and thought that my 1000’Th post should have some “import” to it.
(No pun intended)

I also find it ironic that I am getting to this point just as the very last RX-7 rolls off the line in Japan.

I have been working on it now for almost a week, gathering my thoughts, and researching my facts.
I have also reflected on why I am on this forum and what these strange humming little cars mean to me.

First, let me say something right here at the top (a part that I know will be read, even if the rest of this post is ignored).

This forum, despite its “quirks” is an EXTREMELY valuable source of data.
I would not be where I am today with these cars without this forum (seriously).

I have started my own RX-7 e-mail lists, have read and posted in other forums, and by far, this one is the largest, most central place I can think of to go for RX-7/Rotary information.

When meeting another RX-7 owner on the street, I usually strike up a conversation with them.

I feel perfectly safe referring to it as “The Forum”, expecting that if they are on the Internet, and have an RX-7, they are certainly aware of this resource.

If they are not, I quickly find a pen and jot down WWW.RX7CLUB.COM, and say…”See ya there!”

I have enjoyed being a contributing member, and hopefully any help or advice I have shared has been valuable.

MOST IMPORTANTLY I would like to point out:

I was laid off my engineering job 7 months ago.
In that time, I turned to this board, and offered my rotary repair services to those that needed help.

I have maintained a good stream of work, and made several new friends along the way.
Currently, I owe my present livelihood and the very roof over my head to those that responded and most of all to those that run this gathering place.

Bravo gentlemen, and thank you...

(One request though… I would like to see the “self-gratifying” squirrel animation put to DEATH (removed)… its just gross.)

really guys.

Now, if you choose to read on, (and I sincerely hope you do), you will no doubt see that I have a few opinions here, and am not going to hold back on expressing any of them.

We all “know” certain people here by name and reputation, and think that we have them sized up pretty good.

Well, I thought that I would take this opportunity to say a few things that would let you know EXACTLY where I stand and how I think about my (our) hobby.

It would seem that the Import “scene” is becoming a real “500lb gorilla” to those that have been in the performance and racing industries.

One could equate it to the civil rights movement (although clearly, its not nearly as important of a social change).

People hate change.

I see a lot of posts on this forum daily.
I will read most, respond where I can, and when I have time.

However, more and more, I see posts more centered on modifications that are in my opinion, ridiculous.

While there are those that will post replies flaming the guy that wants “hiper-blinkers” or Altezza taillights, I have heard a million replies by those out there that say, “it’s their car, and so they can do with it what they like.”

And they are COMPLETELY right.

All I can say to that is, that I agree... BUT...

Don’t some people know that just because you CAN do a thing, doesn’t mean you SHOULD do that thing?!

My father called it “Birthday Fever” (Hopefully you get my point)

I mean, what about buying an RX-7 and putting Honda tailings on it?
Why?!

All to often I see cars driving around and I can tell IMMIDIATELY by the look of it, that wether or not they knew it, the owner wanted ANOTHER car but could only afford the poor “bastard-of-a-bolt-bucket” that he/she is driving now.

It’s been modified to an ungodly state, and possibly even gone so far as to have been made to look like the car the owner REALLY wanted in the first place.

Ultimately, looks like 5 pounds of ****, in a 4-pound bag.

This is just one of the components that make up the look called “RICE”.

There’s that word… Rice.

Folks, Rice is not just driving/owning/modifying/rebuild/repairing an import.
Why do I get called a Rice-Boy just for driving an import car?

Me? Rice?
Who said that?!!

Certainly they weren’t talking about ME!

How can people who want to drive nice, strong, (import) cars, with true performance goals, avoid being lumped in with those that “RICE” their cars?

I have been DYING to quantify this term so that I can be held EXEMPT from it!

Well, it started with various racing modifications and show car “visual effects” that were produced for use in these arenas SPECIFICALLY.

Then, some people went about displaying these ”looks” on the street.
After all, the show car mods, lights, etc., looked cool and attracted attention in the tradeshow.

When it all started, these mods, were universally expensive and were produced & installed by very skilled people.
Some could easily be called artists, and this work would always cost lots of time and money.
(An example would be that neon would have to be cut, drawn, filled, and sealed by hand.)

Same with most any other appearance or performance “mod", all of the work, crafted by skilled hands.

Others saw a cool performance mod to a racecar, couldn’t afford the real thing, but could fake it.
(Out came the Bondo, fiberglass, wire mesh, etc…)

Now, you can buy cheap imitations of parts, scoops, fake disk brakes, and cheap fakes for the racing mods right off the shelf.

I have recently seen all the auto parts stores replace most or all of their performance part isles with all “APC” neon shifter *****, sticker bins, fake carbon fiber radio *****, LIGHTED EXHAUST TIPS, etc.

All designed to mock up something that your car just "isn't".

(I would never buy any piece of APC crap, but I would LOVE to own their stock!)

So, lets break out the definition of "RICE" as it is meant today by most that use the word.
In other words, modifications in the hands of a hormonally/mentally imbalanced “in-DUH-vidual”:

Rice = cheap, fake, gaudy (overly flashy)

Examples:

· TYPE "R" sticker on your Dodge Neon.... RICE
· Sticking one windshield wiper halfway up the windshield... RICE
· Do your “Gumby pants” make it hard to shift?
· Do you have scoops on your car that do NOTHING (like have no mechanical purpose)?
· If any of your “mods” involve intentionally hiding a similar, lesser part?
· If you have stickers that even most Asians don't get (or for parts you DON’T HAVE).
· An exhaust tip diameter 3 or more times your actual exhaust diameter.
· If you have “powered by (anything)” anywhere on the car.
· If you've spent more on stickers than you did on actual performance parts.

So often, I see people driving these CIRCUS FREAK VEHICLES, with tachometers bigger than their head, screwed to the dash with wood screws.

The shift light is working, but they’re in denial about the fact that their car is an AUTOMATIC!

And some cars have more lights on them than those ships from “CLOSE ENCOUNTERS Of The Third Kind”!

Meanwhile the next car drives by in the parking lot and I see the guy peering through the letter “O” in the HUGE “Honda” logo taped diagonally across most of his window.

FREAKSHOW.


I have nothing against making your car look nice.
But as a rule of thumb, if its sold in the isle of an auto parts store, its bolt-on, mass produced, and designed to attract those that are trying to make their cars "pretty" (like a $10 ***** is “pretty”), then forget it man.

This goes for those cheap chrome accessories for V8s and those fake braided hose covers too!
I’m not going to pretend that just IMPORTS are capable of being in this category.

Hell, I know some PEOPLE that would fit into the RICE category!

RX-7s to me, have an fascinating heritage, a past born in racing, conceived by the best engineers, built almost as if to defy those that said it would never work, necks were stuck out, people were wowed, and the later versions were eventually considered so exotic they wriggled out of the US market altogether!!!

If you want insight into what would be attractive, yet remain in the realm of reason and good taste, (especially the kind of thing that would make an RX-7 look nicer), then think about what Mazda MIGHT have done if your 2nd gen were released today?

How would it look?
What would they have done?

Start your ideas from here.

I think that if you give yourself a chance to read the history of these cars, learn about the creators, look at the projects that these engineers and engineering teams are working on now, you will "get" the idea of what performance mods you could do, that no one else has, and wish they did.

That's the difference between Rice and Nice.

Ultimately, I prefer to think of it this way...

Does your car say, "HEY, LOOK OVER HERE, Im HERE ITS ME HI HI HI!"
(Like a self important 9 year old walking into a room of other self-important 9 year olds.)

Or…

Does your car make people say, "Hey, did you see that car?"
Perhaps even, "what kinda car is that... That’s cool".
(Like walking, handsomely dressed, into an "event" nonchalantly, not caring what anyone thinks, but secretly you know you look good.)

You know, the kind of thing that makes you think of the car for a while after it’s gone.
When was the last rice car you thought of for an hour after you saw it?

I'm talking about "Flash-in-the-pan" vs. genuine style.

Is this making sense?

Looking back on the vehicles I have owned, I can see that I have always gravitated to the unique and rare kinds.
My first cars were common, but after lots of repairs and some custom electronics work, they were unique enough to qualify as the coolest car that I had seen at the time.

Since then, I have restored several muscle cars, mainly 1960s Camaros and ‘70s Chargers…

Then, while taking a friend to a used car lot to get a truck, I saw it.
A 1991, black/black N/A RX-7.and it had one of those “rotary engines”… wow!
(I actually saw a white 1990 first, but its engine blew pulling out of the parking space on my test drive!)

I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE HINT!!!- :rofl

It’s true; the enigmatic nature of the RX-7 rotary is my attraction, plain and simple.

Not many own them.
Fewer understand them.

And, so, I considered mastering these cool looking cars….

(To be spoken in a booming/echoing voice from the sky)
“A challenge before God and all mankind!”

The PERFECT car for me!

BUT… I had no IDEA what I was going to do if/when it began to “act up”.
So I hit the ‘net, and was researching for MONTHS.

After about two years of ownership, I thought I knew a lot, but then, I found this forum, and then the bolts REALLY started flying.
Now I have built several RX-7s, repaired many more, and now can even rebuild their engines with (relative) ease.

I know what I bought, and why I drive it.
I know where my machine came from, and why it was built the way it was!
I can certainly say that I KNOW why the RX-7 is special, and why it is unique.

Maybe you should too… (Read on…)

With my 1000th post ironically coming just as the last few RX-7s roll off the assembly line in Japan, and in all likelihood never to be built again.
I wanted to reflect on the origins of these cars and try to put their role in automotive history in perspective.

The Mazda RX-7 sports car was the result of a remarkable combination of unlikely concepts and coincidences, which somehow fell together to create something really great.

The people in this story are so different, and the twists and turns so strange, that you might be tempted not to believe a word of it.
Yet, the car with an engine that many proclaimed would never work, built by a company that was founded to make FAKE CORK, quickly became one of the most successful sports cars the U.S. has ever seen.

First, lets talk about a man we all should know the name of…

Felix Wankel

Felix Wankel was born on August 13, 1902 in Germany's Black Forest.

Poverty stricken in his teens, (and though very bright), he didn’t continue his education much beyond high school.

His first real job was in publishing, but he had always been mechanically inclined.
After a few years, he lost his publishing job during a long recession, and he decided to open his own workshop.

(Gee, this sounds familiar!!!)

There, he began to develop and perfect an engine that didn't use pistons, but instead used “rotors”.

His shop provided him with a living doing other engine work, but he continued to pursue his dream of building a “rotary engine”.
He thought that this engine would have several advantages over piston engines, like smaller size, lighter weight and a simpler design.

Throughout the 30s’, Wankel requested patents and built prototypes.
At the same time, he dabbled in local politics, (which was a dangerous thing in ****-Germany), where he lived.

He was even thrown into prison by the *****, but after his release, he contributed to the German war effort, and by the end of World War II, he was a once again a prosoner.
A P.O.W. in FRANCE!!!

After he was released in France, he convinced the German firm “NSU” to look at his rotary engine research.
Working with NSU, he was finally able to build a decent rotary engine in 1957, (ALMOST) solving, a bunch of technical problems that included sealing and lubrication.

Wankel began to publicize his new engine everywhere.
Manufacturers from all over the world were interested, and one of them was Tsuneji Matsuda, who had taken over his fathers company when his father, Jujiro, died in 1951.

Matsuda feared that the Japanese government was setting the economy on a course that would eventually spell the end of his fathers company.
You see, after the 1st world war, real cork was more available and they couldn’t sell the fake cork they had been manufacturing, they started making those 3-wheeled “trucks” (that are more like motorcycles).

While these “trucks” were popular in the East after World War 1 and all the way until the end of World War 2, (and later seen in many Viet-Nam War movies in the U.S. J), Japan was under major economic stress after losing the war. These trucks were not selling well.

The reorganization of the nation's industries, had Matsuda thinking that building vehicles with the breakthrough “rotary” engine would ensure his company continued success.

He struck a deal with a reluctant NSU, and then waited while the German company failed to provide the promised engines and technology. When the NSU engines finally arrived in Hiroshima, the Mazda engineers were shocked.

Instead of a breakthrough, the engine was a nightmare of vibration and combustion chamber leaks

But Mazda had committed itself to the new technology.
Scrapping the project now would have caused the company to “loose face”, and that could single-handedly kill the company all by itself.

In an attempt to salvage the situation, Matsuda turned to an engineer named Kenichi Yamamoto to lead the rotary engine project.

Though not thrilled with the job, Yamamoto worked hard, and eventually succeeded where all others, (including NSU and Wankel himself), had failed.

He and his team built a reliable rotary engine. A key difference from the NSU Wankel designs was the rotor seals, which had always been a problem.

Mazda dropped this new version of the rotary engine into the Cosmo, which debuted at the 1964 Tokyo Motor Show.
By 1971 Mazda had built 200,000 rotary-powered vehicles, ranging from sports cars to trucks.

Then the Gas Crisis hit in the 70s.

Rotary-engine vehicles had poor fuel economy, and got a bad reputation, and sales plummeted. This left them scrambling for a solution and Mazda returned to the tried and true piston-engine.
The car that kept them afloat was the GLC (stood for “Great Little Car”)
This car was instrumental in reviving their fortunes.

Still, Mazda engineers were LOVED rotary concept.
As the company got more financially stable, they launched a new program that would continue where the Cosmo left off.

Code-named “Project X605”, the project resulted in the RX-7.
The first prototype was completed in 1977, and in April 1978 the production RX-7 was introduced as in 1979.
(YAY… the 1st gen is born – ain’t it cute? jyawwwww)

Led by Moriyuki Watanabe, the RX-7 was designed from the start to be light, simple and "international."
Because of this, Mazda was able to price the new vehicle a lot lower than the competition. (Porsche 924 and the Datsun 280Z)

They sold like hotcakes. (relatively speaking)

The car offered a very simple design, the car was spartan with a pair of bucket seats, steering wheel and round gauges. The cargo bay, big for a sports car, was accessible through a large, rear glass hatch.

What the RX-7 didn't have was just as important as what it did.

Of course, the RX-7's key point was a “12A” two-rotor engine, it produced just 100 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, but eventually modifications improve it to 135 horsepower.

While this wasn’t extremely impressive, the engine weighed about 300 pounds and the car itself weighed just 2,300 pounds, so its power to weight ratio was very high.

Though the RX-7 was popular all over, it really struck a chord in the United States, where more than 375,000 “1st gen” cars were sold by 1985 before a redesign in 1988 (the 2nd gen cars were sold 1988-1991).

All in all, half a MILLION “1st gen” RX-7's were built.
This makes it the best-selling rotary-engine car of all time.

This is how it all came to be.

I could go on about the 2nd and 3rd generation vehicles for HOURS; each has a long story of its own.

For a better idea of these cars origins and design philosophies, find one of those RARE out of print books by Jack Yamaguchi:

2nd gen cars:
Title: RX-7
Author: Jack Yamaguchi
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Copyright ©: 1985
ISBN: None

3rd gen cars:
Title: RX-7
Author: Jack Yamaguchi and John Dinkel
Publisher: Ring, Ltd.
Copyright ©: 1992
ISBN: 4-947659-01-7


So after having now read the history of your car,
I ask you…

Why do you have an RX-7, and what do you think of your car now?

Are clear taillights really an IMPROVEMENT?

Personally, I will continue to rebuild these cars back to the best condition that I can, limited only by vehicle availability, money and time.

I have 5 restorations under my belt so far, im looking for more every day.
So, five more of these little beasts back on the road and it doesn’t seem like much, but I’m not going to let that stop me.

I know im fighting a losing battle, the market is shrinking, and so is the number of RX-7s.

Every day more and more meet their doom by sheer accident.

But then there are the ones that meet their end in the hands of someone more willing to gut the “weird rotary” out of it, and put in a V-8.

Some people have rock gardens to help bring order to their lives… I have RX-7s. (Go figure)

I find joy in doing my part to restore and/or maintain pieces of mechanical history that really had an impact on the world.
I have loved working on old cars and planes.

People think of historical things like this and talk about the muscle cars of the 1960s, and aircraft of World War 1 and 2, and these are certainly a notable series of mechanical achievements, and they certainly fascinate me.

But I think that as time marches on, and people start to re-define landmarks of mechanical excellence for the future history books, there will, of course, be several candidates…

And the RX-7s certainly qualify.

Possibly more than anyone yet realizes.
Only time will tell

 

That was better than my 1000th post




(The 12A maxed out at 101 hp. The 135 was the 13B 6 port in the -SE )

 

Jesus I am going to wait till I am at work tommorow to read this post. I can't spend 20 minutes on "my" time on this

I will comment tommorow, on company time.

i did notice your book reference though; That 2nd gen book is excelent I have it in my very hand.

 

Woah! Long *** post! I'll read it all later when I got the time. Yeah the forum could be a little better if we didn't have rotary haters like JoeD and Felix Wankel on here

 

Fine. I'll leave.

You almost made me cry.

 

Very well put. Just recently I had my girlfriend asking me what "rice" was and why I didn't think of my rx7 as rice. I explained it briefly, (Much similar to your explaination) and I think she understood. However, I believe your definition should be bought by the Webster Dictionary company and put in on of the books.

I also enjoy reading anything on the history of my beloved car. I did read the whole thing!!!

 

good post sniper. I read the whole thing
You get an A for your history report

 

Firstly, that is a great post.

Lots of information and great ideas. I read it all.

This is one of the most truthful and inforitive posts I have ever read. It reveals what is wrong with "rice" and why it gets made fun of so much. Young drivers care more about what their car looks/sounds like, and they care very little about how the car performs.

The story about Felix wankel and history is great. I really believe the rotary engine and the RX-7 will be very collectable, because it is off the beaten path. The RX-7 when it came out in 1978 must of been awesome. It reminds me of the introduction of such cars and the MG, 240z, Miata. It is an affordable car that is pure and desirable.


As for your questions,
Why do you have an RX-7, and what do you think of your car now?

I have an RX-7 because I have wanted one for a long time. My obsession started probably about 5 years ago with 3rd gens. I saw it somewhere and started reasearch. Being $33,000 in 1993, I thought I could afford one come 2001 (when I turned 16). I always thought I could get one at 16, but they really have no depreciated at all in the last 4 years. I still want a 3rd gen, but I am more than happy with my Turbo II. I really believe the 3rd gen is the best bank-for-buck out there for the used car in the $12,000-$20,000 range. Nothing can really beat the 2nd gens performance, handling and all around good balance for under $5000. There are some that can come close, but I really dont think any car is all around as good. I love my Turbo II. I got it in November, about a month after my 16th. It has been good to me. I love driving fast, thats why I dont have my license right now.

As for what I think now, my RX-7 can take turns great, feels connected to the road, like a true sports car should be. The power to weight ratio is good, and it feels great to drive, especially at the limits. All great sports cars share these characteristics. The RX-7 is a great sports car, and unlike most GREAT sports cars (Ferrari, for example) it is very affordable.

That is why I love my RX-7.

Thanks again for the great post

 

Well written. This forum has also been an invaluable tool for me also. I knew nothing about what a rotary engine was before I found this site.
Thanks everyone.

 

I just finished your post. Very nicely written. A good use for your 1000th post.

 

Great bit of info there A wonderful choice for a 1000th post.

One thing, I think you had a typo where you said 2nd gens were made 88-91, instead of 86-91.

 

Maybe some "yankee" will read this and realize the errors of his ways, I hope so.

Well written,

 

wow what a post ! i couldn't agree with you more about "ricing" out an rx-7. everytime i see one with decals, veiliside body kits or top fuel dragster sized wings it makes me sick.

 

Bravo! I have a headache from reading now!

 

Good post, lots of history.

"Why do you have an RX-7, and what do you think of your car now?"

I liked the body style for the 2nd gen. I first seen it at a L.A. auto show in '86 (or '85). It was Mazda's premier car. Looked AWSOME!!! ...as time goes on... I finally bought one, a GXL about 4 years ago. I found not only did I still think it looked slick but it hangs on turns better than any other car that I had driven!!!

Now I have a GXL and a TII. Both need work but that's part of the journey. I think my next ride will be a FD.

 

Hm.... just read the whole damn thing. How long did it take you to type that sucker? My contacts nearly dried up in my eyes starting at the screen but were then moisturized by tears of happiness lol.

Why do I own an RX-7?

Well, I fell in love w/the concept of an engine "outside the box." I heard about it from a friend who said "you know, if you want a fast mazda, you should get a RX-7, they have a crazy rotary engine (at the time I drove an MX-6)." SO, I checked into it online and after about 2 months of research and amazement, I set out to buy one. I looked at a few before I chose the one I did. Mainly becuase of the sexy looks of the Series V. The other candidates were a '86 base and a '87 TII. I quickly tried to learn as much as I could about this awesome little car and was plummetted into the abyss of rotary knowlege when the engine let out at 108k miles. I did the rebuild myself and considered myself a rotary god... lol. That is, until I found this forum. I guess it's relly cool having a piece of mechanical history and actually knowing and respecting all the dedication and work that went into these great cars. I have put waaaay too much time and money into this thing, well, too much for a "normal" person -which I am anything BUT.

The best feeling is downshifting on a windy (whine-dee, not win-dee ) road into 3rd and getting a little chirp (yes, it's a N/A) and just feeling the wind through the windows and sunroof glide through your hair. You hear the rotary climb.. 6000, 7000, sings sweetly at 8000 *BUZZ* SHIFT and repeat. The tires remain in contact with the road the entire time and you are on rails as you zoom down this lonely twisted highway. Only you and your machine, together as one. The sun fades and your RX-7 loves every hard corner and high rev. THAT, is the best feeling in the world you can get out of these cars. I don't think I'd have that same feeling in any other car (even a McLaren F1) b/c there is not as much SOUL behind it. I love my car and always will. The sun is set and the stars come out to gaze on the freshly washed and waxed beauty you are driving in and the moon listens in awe as the revs climb even higher. *BUZZ* and you are free!

Very good definition of rice BTW.

I guess you can see why I get so pissed when people call my car a slow N/A POS. Yeah, it's not near as fast as a FD or modded up TII, and sure it'll get smoked by a new Maxima. But I guess all the rotary haters just don't ahve that connection to the spirit of the car and can only see the specifications behind it. I find that the last RX-7's will be deservedly named, "Spirit-R."

 

Dre, You sum up my love for these cars perfectly

Not only during the day, but even with the old school pop-ups...S5 FC's look so damn nice at night with their tail lights, couple side markers, and a beautiful front end. (I disabled my parking lights, so when i drive all you see is the pop-ups..looks so badass)

 

that is the best post i have ever read lots of info and it helps to explain why we should keep our cars like they are and not rice.....even though i never would anywase

 

Yeah, I'm a rotary hater. That's it. I'd better throw the rotor and housing on my desk away.

 

Great reading man

My friend owned a beautiful AE for several years that I lusted after. It was fast as hell, smooth, had tons of grip, looked great & I wanted it the first time he gave me a ride in it.

I had always been a BMW 2002 fanatic, but my green 73 was finally dying of terminal, incurable rust. When it came time he had to sell it (needed something with a back seat for his kids), I made sure I was first in line. If I was going to get something other than a 2002 it had to be another car that inspires that kind of fanatical devotion (2002 people are a lot like RX-7 people that way). I knew the RX-7 was the only logical choice.

I'm a geek & I love the techological uniqueness of the rotary engine. I love the balance of the car, the attention to detail that obviously went into designing it. I have sunk more than I paid for the car in repairs/mods, but I have not regretted it once. It's a great little demon of a car & it goes like stink

 

Why *do* you hate the rotary engine so much, Felix?

 

I dunno. Ask my 7 rotaries and 3 storage rooms of parts why. I guess its a mystery.

 

lol @ felix. you seem to be very upset over being called a rotary hater.

I wish i had a rotor clock on my desk...

 

Me too.

I have a kickass beer stein with the 1st gen RX7 font on it