Performance Players - 1993 Mazda RX-7

Crucial to keeping an RX-7 cool is proper airflow through the restrictive stock radiator. If airflow to the radiator becomes blocked even momentarily, it could spell disaster for the sensitive rotary powerplant. With the newfound intercooler sitting in front of the radiator, a larger unit from Koyo was installed to make efficient use of the diminished airflow.

Rodriguez is the kind of guy that likes his cars mean and loud. Just have a look at the open turbo under hood, which he claims will "suck the meat off your T-bone steak." But the RX-7 is different from other cars in more than just the issue of cooling. Without proper silencing on the exhaust, the car is decidedly roarty - hearing one pass on the street, you might feel like you're in the pits at an IMSA race. After hearing an uncorked RX-7 at Singh's shop, Rodriguez was convinced to weld a Magnaflow muffler in line with his GReddy 3.5-inch titanium exhaust.

With the mack-daddy engine up and running, Rodriquez's attention turned to keeping the car right side up. Tein Super Race coilovers were contracted in rates that he colorfully describes as "enough to make your kidney stones become sand." Rotary Performance anti-roll bars were used on the front and rear to keep the car level during cornering. Finally, Rotora 14.5-inch brakes were implemented up front with a 12.5-inch complement in the rear.

Having had his fill of performance upgrades, Rodriguez wanted something that would set his mistress apart from the 10 other running RX-7's on the road. Where normal people think body kit, wheels and tires, he thinks more along the lines of Veilside Fortune kit and Work VSXX wheels with about eight inches of lip in the rear.

Installing the complex fiberglass kit was a daunting task handled dutifully by the guys at DTM Autobody in El Monte, Calif., taking five agonizing months to complete. When it was done, the candy brandy wine widebody emerged proudly. The last step taken to differentiate the RX-7 was a custom interior done in Ferrari biscuit leather with red stitching to match a carbon-fiber dash.

Maybe it's irrelevant whether or not boosted rotaries are time bombs because Rodriguez will likely be done with this one by the time you read this article. But if the modified car player still owns this car by the end of 2007, we'll know that this is one mistress that isn't going to get played.

By Bradford Elsinore

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