Mention the word "rotary" to someone with a little knowledge about cars and chances are they'll talk about Mazda's legendary rotary motor; for the not so bright, or those that still live by candlelight, they might talk about rotary phones or even Saturday night bingo at the Rotary Club. For the fortunate people that do know about its incredible past, the rotary engine represents an idea created and fostered by Dr. Felix Wankel.
The rotary engine's performance and upgrade capacity has made it a popular choice for many horsepower enthusiasts. The racing scene is full of backyard superheroes that have turned into rotary gods. The likes of Adam Saruwatari and Abel Ibarra come to mind, along with the whole Puerto Rican posse that seem to be turning out some of the quickest and most radical rotary-powered rides ever seen. From the distinct high-pitched wheezing of side-stacked turbo mufflers on RX-2s at the street races to Saruwatari's wheelies, rotary fans and enthusiasts are here to stay and the popularity is sure to grow.
While the power potential of the rotary engine is a serious subject, another important aspect of that engine is the bodies it has been attached to, in particular the RX-7 model. From inception, the styling of the car has always held a certain following, and each new generation creates a flurry of new disciples.
One of those disciples is Les Wong from Elk Grove, Calif. His 1993 Mazda RX-7 (R1 edition) features a fresh new look, which brings a second wind to the non-production vehicle. The addition of an APEXi front bumper blends well with the new RE Amemiya front spoiler and adds depth and character to the front end. As you follow the lines down the side of the vehicle, you'll notice that the sides have been adorned with matching RE Amemiya side valances and a rear valance, which hangs off the stock rear bumper. The stock hood found a new home in the trash can and was replaced with a Run Racing hood along with accompanying Run headlights. The Run Racing Products, which happen to be JDM, were imported by Quin at JHK Auto Magic in Los Angeles. The headlights allow for a little more aerodynamic efficiency, while giving the car a custom look that is imitated by many in design, but not in quality, function or fit. The lights are complemented by a set of FET/Catz driving lights in the bumper as well as JDM taillights and emblems all around. The exterior mods provide a smooth and well-rounded look that is easily appreciated, respected and recognized for its attention to detail. While choosing the right body kit to compliment the car is a task in itself, the most important element has to come from the installation and preparation of the body. Brian at Image Paint and Body put the beautiful rotary together, which included paint and bodywork as well as the lighting install.
When it came to engine modifications, Wong chose to go to one of Sacramento's most reputable speed shops, Motorsport Dynamics. While the modifications performed on the car were minor, the setup is one that will offer the utmost in reliability while still having some fun on the streets or track. The 13B engine is force fed through the factory twin turbo setup. Cooling the intake charge is a GReddy intercooler, which then shoots up the APEXi twin intake. With the shift of each gear comes a burst of air that from an APEXi blow-off valve. From there, everything is pushed in and cranked out in factory form with the exception of the exhaust gases, which are discharged through an APEXi dual N1 exhaust system.
A set of Yokohama AVS is wrapped around a clean set of Mazdaspeed/Volk MS02s. The rims, which measure in at 17x8 in the front and 17x9 in the rear, are covered with 235/45-17 and 255/40-17 rubbers, respectively. The rims feature a bad-ass look that takes a no-nonsense approach to Wong's plate, "LAP TIME." The suspension sports H&R springs that work well with the stock R1 struts and front upper stress bar.
The RX-7's awesome outer personality is equally matched once you step inside. The interior gives its driver a feeling of confidence and comfort coupled with all the goodies of modern day technology. For instance, take the in-dash MP3 player, which is a Kenwood Z919 MP3 player from Japan and is an added bonus that'll let Wong play his CDs full of music downloaded straight from Napster. C'mon, you know what I'm talking about, we all do it. As a friend (whose name we won't mention) said, "It's the best way of having a distinguished collection of music (more than 4,000 tracks) by just using his 'Mexican Express.' He never leaves home without downloading from it." But hey, who doesn't? Did I mention that Eric Valdes from AEM said that? (Oops, we slipped).
Well, regardless of your preference for acquiring music, the MP3 player is definitely a unique add-on that is coupled with a Sony CDX-M650. The Sony head unit is used because of the MP3 player's non-functional tuner that does not receive North American radio frequencies, a small price to pay for the flexibility it granted. The units are linked to a Sony Xplod XM405EQX, which is custom-mounted in the rear hatch. The amp powers a set of Kicker Components mounted in the front door as well as a Polk Audio sub box. Paul Vina and Terry S. performed the simple and tidy install at Paradyne Car Audio.
The rest of the interior is home to a comfortable setting complete with a full serving of diagnostic goodies like the pillar mounted APEXi boost gauge, AVR boost controller and Blitz Dual turbo timer. The mild mannered interior is graciously topped off with an RE Amemiya steering wheel and Momo shift knob to help keep the pilot under cool, comfortable control. While the setup isn't the most extravagant, it's definitely one of the most functional, as too many toppings can often take much of the flavor out of whatever it is you're trying to complement.