When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Inside scoop: Next year there will be Japanese cars included at the Monterey Historics. Our time is finally at hand!
They officially announced it yesterday.
"Following a record-setting 2025 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion last month, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca has announced that Japanese motorsports heritage will be the featured theme for the 2026 edition, scheduled for Aug. 12-15."
The dwindling numbers have made the value of the remaining FD go way up. I am thinking of selling my 93 and went to Hagerty to get a conservative value and then to the online car auction sites to see what people are willing to pay. I was amazed at how expensive these cars have become. I bought my 93 in 1999 with an engine that was going bad for $15k. I put in a replacement engine from RotorSports Racing and added just about every bolt-on go fast accessory you could buy. Now cars like mine are going for $50-90k. Go figure.
Well... I can personally attest there are two less Montego blue FD's on the road today. So 13798. But in a way I have resurrected one of those Montego blue cars so, 13799??
I know locally there are two "lifers" that have FD's. They'll keep them up and running till the reaper takes their souls.
I do like the influx of RHD cars to America. Just because America has less stringent authoritarian disgusting emissions laws. And typically American's have more disposable income and time to fix these cars. Meaning more FD's will be saved from oppressive overreaching governments. That being said RHD RX7's in my personal opinion are awful just cause of the steering gear going through the turbos.
Dumb question, but what's the issue with that? Overheating the power steering pump?
I'm on my 3rd RHD FD and I've honestly so far never experienced a lot of the issues I've seen complained about when it comes to FDs, despite always buying the cheapest/ragged out version available at the time. I think the dual oil coolers, lack of pre-cat, and maybe better maintenance environment contributed to fewer serious issues (people also don't typically seem to go for high HP over here either, being satisfied with milder single turbo builds and maybe 350-450hp so that probably helps).
He exaggerates. The steering column goes by the turbos not through them. It makes it annoying to remove the turbos, but there are no heat issues that I have heard of.
Dumb question, but what's the issue with that? Overheating the power steering pump?
I'm on my 3rd RHD FD and I've honestly so far never experienced a lot of the issues I've seen complained about when it comes to FDs, despite always buying the cheapest/ragged out version available at the time. I think the dual oil coolers, lack of pre-cat, and maybe better maintenance environment contributed to fewer serious issues (people also don't typically seem to go for high HP over here either, being satisfied with milder single turbo builds and maybe 350-450hp so that probably helps).
Its just an annoying thing for me. Its like Honda making the throttle cable for the LHD Civics instead of routing a new cable specifically for LHD cars. I can't recall which Civic did that, but it was the damndest thing when I saw it.
I just hate to see an engine bay all cramped up on one side with a naked A/C compressor sitting on the other side.
Don't get me wrong I've been tempted by the JDM market. But to be honest, if I bought one I'd LHD swap it in a hurry.
Last edited by Qingdao; Sep 15, 2025 at 03:04 PM.
Reason: superfluous words.
