1993 Mazda RX-7 - Single-Minded

Schultz went through the task of pulling the rotary engine for a full rebuild, a job unfortunately all too familiar to any third-generation RX-7 owner. The motor was dropped off at Pettit Racing, where the engine was street-ported and reassembled to pristine working order. Since the rotary was in pieces anyway, Schultz took the debt-inducing path to insure the engine would hold up under stress. Keeping the hard-working rotary cool is the key to longevity. With a bigger intercooler and radiator already in place, the next thing to keep cool was engine oil. Fitted with a Ground Zero aluminum oil pan and GReddy oil filter relocation kit, the engine sheds heat with dual Mocal 25-row oil coolers. Out of a MagnaFlow midpipe and GReddy titanium exhaust, this RX-7 now puts out more than 400 wheel hp and lives to tell about it.

Modulated with a Mazdatrix stainless-steel braided clutch line, the transmission is fitted with an AADCO lightweight flywheel and an ACT Extreme clutch. Power flows abundantly from this Mazda, and now that the drivetrain is built to hold it, the only thing going up in smoke are the Toyo Proxes T1-S tires. Wrapped around 19x9.5-inch front and 19x10.5-inch rear Volk SF Challenge wheels, tire vaporization is only a simple press of the right pedal away. When it comes time to stop those rims from spinning, braking duties fall to the superb stock system, fitted with Hawk HP+ brake pads, Goodridge stainless-steel braided brake lines and Motul 600 fluid.

Lightweight and agile, the FD3S RX-7 is regarded as a giant-killer on track, with unmatched handling and balance. Schultz turned up the heat on his Mazda with a series of choice track-ready modifications. Tein HA adjustable coil-overs are responsible for the menacing stance, with Rotary Extreme toe links and trailing arms sharpening up the response. For stiffening, Schultz made use of a front GReddy tower bar, and a JDM transmission brace, differential brace and solid engine mounts. Never one to stop when things are only "good," Schultz removed his power steering for better feedback and to shed the weight. Remember, this is still a daily driver and one never knows when hooliganism might rear its ugly head.

Stocked up on huge Volk wheels with a custom offset, Schultz's RX-7 packs a widebody kit rarely seen stateside. Catching a glance of the Kazama Auto Service widebody in a JDM magazine article, Schultz crusaded to find the one kit he deemed attractive enough to make him dump his half-molded C-West coating. Four months later, he was at the body shop sanding his car to fit his own Kazama Auto widebody. Installed along with JDM front signal lights, taillights and side marker lights, the widebody and Knightsport side mirrors were coated in Daytona blue paint from Nissan's 350Z. Accented with a Mazdaspeed 15th anniversary wing and a RE Amemiya AD9 hood, this 12-year-old Mazda has been officially declared drool-tastic.

Blatantly obvious to passengers the second the doors open, the Kirk Racing roll bar shows just how serious Schultz is about rotary performance. Cinched into GReddy harnesses and Recaro SPG bucket seats, both driver and passenger are locked-in for one wild ride. From the first spin of the Momo Champion steering wheel and the first grab of the GReddy shift knob, any fighter pilot will be able to tell where this RX-7's heart is. Defi 52mm boost, EGT and oil pressure gauges are littered throughout the cockpit, while Kenwood speakers blast tunes out of a Kenwood head unit. Not a single sense is spared.

As a lifelong third-generation Mazda RX-7 fan, Schultz has finally achieved his and many others' dream. We all need single-turbo power, simplicity, a clean widebody and a completed dream car in the garage. Schultz is going to realize this, too-once his credit card bills go away.