OfflineThis is my next classic car project once i get rid of the uncool cars that i need to work on before hand. last pic was a quick photochop clean up with rims attached from my cousins silvia.
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Awesome mate, good to see you stopped by. I always liked the RX4, I actually looked at getting one before I bought a 240z.
I've never driven a rotary, but recently I've been really interested in buying an R100, RX2, RX3 would get a rx4, but my first preference is the RX3 shape in coupe form.
What's a rotary engine like to drive compared with the RB20DET in your 260z?
Oh and feel free to pass this site on to anyone who you might know would be interested in early Japanese cars. It's been a bit quiet here lately and I haven't had much time to really do any further development of the site, although I have big plans in the near future.
My old man had an RX3 back when it was only 1 or 2 years old. and heard so many stories about it, not nesessary good ones.
this was before i was born. though me as 5yr kid and mad about cars, dad had a 74 hardtop 929 which i remember quite well.In mint condition. i will post a pic of it from 83.also have a VHS tape footage of it. its a blast from the past when brand new Geminis were driving on the street.
was never a rotary nut at young age. i guess my old man biased me against than. his words: "goes like a rocket guzzles more than a V8"
also the exaborant repair cost of rotary kinda sealed the coffin of getting a rotary car.
but after many years i always wanted to do up a 2 door 929/RX4.
my first rotary engine drive was in my mates S5 RX7 turbo.
to me didnt feel tourqie.used to S14 and SR20det seat squizing.
but the revs were something. it reved so freely and no vibrations at all like you will get from a piston engine.
9000rpm gear changes seemed so effortless.
after a while i did some research on the old rotary checking the mechanical aspects etc.... and got me bit more hooked. also u cannot mistake the rotary sound. its unique just like the V8 and the boxer engine. u can tell what it is from mile away. so had to have it.
mazda originaly was ment to get an sr20det but after the Z rebuild i was strongly against crossbreeding.like toyota in a Z. same as piston engine in a RX car. doesnt sound or look right.
comparing the z to rotary.the z has more pull than the rx7 did. its different experience u cannot explain or compare it to rotary just seems never running out of revs. just seems it wants more and more.
just go for a drive in one u see what i mean.
Yeah I've never been in a rotary or driven one. I was looking for an RX4 coupe like the one you acquired, but got into zeds instead, the 240z just did it for me a bit more. I still prefer the look of the early zeds, but I think the old Mazda's are pretty cool.
I would really like to get my hands on an RX3, I like the 10A front on them a bit more than the 12A one, but I've only just been observing some of these minor differences on them recently as I've taken more of an interest.
I've also thought that the first gen RX7 would make a great track car, I would race the 240z but its a bit too precious for that kind of thing and the old RX7's are relatively cheap and I think represent excellent value at this stage, kind of like a 240z / 260z was about 10 years ago.
I would like to work on a rotary too, just the fact that there is no pistons, valves, camshafts I think the design is great and all you really need to do is give them a decent port job and they fly.
A lady near me used to own an RX5 but I just couldn't understand how Mazda had designed such great cars with the R100, RX2, RX3 and RX4 and then just put that RX5 thing on the market and where did the RX6 go? lol.
Worst thing about being in Ireland is that there are hardly any old Japanese cars, and basically no early rotaries at all. I've seen a guy in the UK selling an RX3 shell, but that's about it.
Who knows if I save enough coin over here I might have enough cash for an early Rotary when I get back :).
RX3 are nice but very exy in OZ. I keep seeing this pale blue mint cond RX3 with roof racks and venitian blinds an old 80yo granny driving it. an no she wont sell it tried that. She be the oldest RX3 fanatic.
may have to track the car down again its been some time since last visit.
i loved the S1,2,3 Rx7 i preffer the S3 and hopefully one day i get to restore one. but my Fiancee doesnt like the RX7 so need to convince her more. thoough she loves the RX4.
i was going to restore the RX4 for her but since the Z bug bit her as well now she wants the 240z. only request she had it has to be red.
Not sure how the RX4 will look in red. yet to see one with nice red paint job.
this oone is genuine 74 RX4 with 13B engine ( the best of the RX4 model. Earlier ones were 12A while the later ones had the ugly down/upgrade of the lights.
The original engine bit the dust long time ago and was replaced with 1.6 929 motor. what i can see it was auto all its life but that will change.
Ive collected most of the parts for this and just waiting for time to be available to start working on it.
no chassis or floor rust. has bit around the boot and rear glass area and little bit on the seals and for some reason ive seen few rust around the driver side roof gutter.
has few small spots of rust on the doors and few spots on the bonnet.
between the Z and the RX4. Z parts are cheaper besides the literature. while mazda is opposite.
not a big fan of some mazda rotary scenes. but i do like the car. so ill be the odd one out.
if finances hold up it will be parked besides the Z's otherwise may move it to a good home.
Yeah early Rotary values are soaring, well at least they are on the up and up. There is a nice looking R100 very original on ebay at the moment starting bid price is $30,000 AU which is quite high, but honestly not unexpected either.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Mazda-R100-1970-Familia-Jap-Spec_W0QQitemZ190270434182QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Cars?hash=item190270434182&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A3|39%3A1|240%3A1318
It is a Familia - Japanese import, but I don't know a whole lot about the different versions and specs for different markets yet.
There is also a great looking RX3 Sedan with the rare Tea Cup tail lights and 10A front on Ausrotary.com - its like the perfect looking car.
http://www.ausrotary.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=161325
$27,000 AU is a bargain to me, but then again I'm thinking in Euro's.
Another great looking RX3:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30261461&l=6a602&id=1194761914
I even like the RX2 shape :)
http://www.ausrotary.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=161799
Wonder if the 240z will get upset that i've been cheating on her lol.
http://www.ausrotary.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=161663
LOL yeah keep it away from the 240z. definetly get jelous. i noticed my S14 is giving me sh%ts now since im cheating with the 260z.
ausrotary i bloked myself from that site. LOL and about to do the same on nissansilvia. ;oP
i had a 77 ser3 4 door capella with RX2 rear lights. it was a clean as car. was thinking to drop a 13b Turbo but parents talked me out of it.grrrrrr
it had a 1.6L piston with auto box. was using it as a daily car but when i got blown by a bus on set of traffic lights it was time to let her go. though it was very reliable. very clean car and original car. bit cheezed now that i sold it.would be worth lot more now.