In the annals of automotive history, there have been a lot of shitty cars, some decent cars, and a few damn-near perfect cars. While a lot of Japanese import enthusiasts will go straight for the Skyline GT-R when talk turns to "damn-near perfect," there is a small niche of import enthusiasts who would wholeheartedly disagree with the Skyline decision in favor of another Japanese platform--and that is, of course, the third-gen Mazda RX-7. Aside from criticism that the car can be a bit temperamental--which it can--the rotary-powered RX-7 must be considered nothing less than an engineering marvel, and its flowing, liquid bodylines--paradoxically sensual and aggressive at the same time--undoubtedly make it one of the most beautiful platforms ever conceived.
Les Wong is a dentist from Lodi, Calif. When he bought this 1993 RX-7 in 1995 the car was two years old and sitting on an Acura dealer lot. The original owner had traded the car in for a brand-new NSX, but according to Wong that person would have never dreamed what he had given up. The car had a very modest 24,000 miles accumulated on its odometer and was bone stock except for the R1 dealer package. And to Wong, it was and still is the ultimate incarnation of automotive genius.
"This car is pure genius, a car so true to form it was made exactly how the original designers planned it," he says. "No cup holders, no CD holders in the blinds--it's a 2500-lb race machine with the power-to-weight ratio of an Italian race car."
[there is a small niche of import enthusiasts who would wholeheartedly disagree with the Skyline decision in favor of another Japanese platform--and that is, of course, the third-gen Mazda RX-7]
Despite what he regards as the car's latent perfection, Wong already had plans to modify even before he took delivery of it. Still, he didn't begin work in earnest until four years later, in 1999, when he began altering the car's exterior. An A'PEXi front end along with Rotary Run Racing headlights and hood were added to the vehicle, along with styling pieces by Re Amemiya wrapping along the sides and back. Mild engine work was executed by Motorsport Dynamics in Sacramento, and Wong added a set of MasdaSpeed MS02 wheels. Since this time, the car has remained a work in progress even as it was campaigned at various major shows on the West Coast.
Eventually APEXi's Isamu RX-6 single turbo kit--which includes an RX-6 TCW76 P27 ball bearing turbocharger, full stainless steel exhaust manifold, front pipe and wastegate discharge port, Power Intake Filter kit and racing wastegate--found its way into the engine bay, along with A'PEX's AVC-R boost controller and Rev Meter. Fuel tuning was accomplished using HKS's F-CON V Pro, larger injectors, and SARD fuel pressure regulator and a Skyline GT-R fuel pump. An SR Motorsport downpipe and midpipe and Tanabe Ultra Medallion titanium exhaust replace the stock exhaust components and virtually eliminate any and all parasitic exhaust backpressure.
[An SR Motorsport downpipe and midpipe and Tanabe Ultra Medallion titanium exhaust replace the stock exhaust components and virtually eliminate any and all parasitic exhaust backpressure.]
Later, Signal Auto engineered and installed a custom V-mount intercooler and radiator setup for maximum cooling efficiency, and that custom slanted-core look that is just becoming a popular performance conversion with the burgeoning drift scene. Other engine-bay enhancements take the form of a Sun Auto HyperGround wiring system, Nology Hotwires ignition wires, Earl's lines, and lightened Unorthodox pulleys. Wong contests these mods were good for about 410 hp at the flywheel at approximately 12 psi, so he also installed an Exedy Hyper twin-plate clutch to assist the transmission in transferring the power to the ground.
As far as the syspension is concerned, Wong says chassis stiffness was never a problem with this car, but a few well-placed suspension mods never hurt, eh? Springs and shocks, already stiff on the factory RX-7, were swapped out in favor of an Endless/ZEAL Function B6 coilover system, which is six-way adjustable for custom ride and handling characteristics. Tanabe Sustec anti-sways were employed in favor of the factory stabilizer bars. Braking equipment was upgraded with Endless big brakes, which up front include cast four-pot calipers, big slotted rotors, braided-stainless lines and Endless Blue Panther performance pads. The rear assemblies also employ slotted Endless rotors, but the calipers are units from a Japanese-spec '02 RX-7 Spirit R that have been specially adapted to fit the Endless discs.
With the suspension work completed, Wong began to contemplate putting on a set of new wheels. Before he did this, he took the car to M1 Auto Paint in Los Angeles for a little custom body work, flared rear quarters that would accommodate the gigantic rolling stock he had in mind. M1 smoothed in a set of Pettit Racing rear flares and added an RE Amemiya carbon-fiber rear diffuser and Veilside GT3 wing. With the wider rear fenders now in effect, Wong bolted up a new set of Work Termist S1-C wheels, sized 18x8.5 up front and an intimidating 18x11.5 in back. These are shod in Michelin Pilot Sport rubber, 225/40R18 front, 315/35R18 rear.
The car's interior has been modified as well, as you might guess, to bring it up to level with everything else. The ZEAL racing buckets are a rare addition to any enthusiast vehicle and one of Wong's favorite modifications. They've been strapped with Takata racing harnesses and pads to keep their occupants seated in every driving condition. An RE Amemiya steering wheel, Razo shift knob and Razo pedals facilitate driver input, while various electronics provide information on and protection for the sensitive modified rotary powerplant, including an A'PEXi boost gauge and Blitz turbo timer and boost recorder.
The ICE system is comprised of a plethora of Sony goods, including dual Sony amps, Sony ES front components, a quartet of X-Plod 8-in. subwoofers, Sony ES M650 CD receiver and a Sony PS2. Kicker components ride in the rear speaker locations, and a Pioneer 6.5-in. LCD monitor provides playback for the PlayStation. The ICE system was assembled and installed by Paradyme Car Audio in Sacramento.
As you may guess, Wong's third gen RX-7 can be seen at shows all over the West Coast, kicking ass, taking names and just generally cleaning up the show floor with its competition. It's been to HIN, Revolution, Showoff, and various Mazda show and D1 events. Best of all, it's built not only to look good but to perform. If you're lucky, you may even see Les Wong out driving the streets of north-central California in his red third-gen sled; he says he's put about 10k miles on it in the eight or so years he's owned it. That isn't a lot of mileage, but you've got to give the guy credit for building a car he can drive, and for driving a car that wasn't particularly easy or cheap to build.