Have you ever scrolled down further than you should on your Instagram feed?
Sometimes, you get lucky, stumbling upon a long-horned cow enjoying a dust bath in South Sudan or a family of baby bears frolicking in a forest, completely oblivious to the camera. I try to like as many of those posts as possible to keep the algorithm privy to my tastes in mindless joy.
On the flip side, there’s the car-related nonsense. I’m not talking about wild stunts like putting a jet engine in a kei truck, but rather the endless opinion-based debates. A lot of it tends to be pretty negative.
When I met up with the owners of this FD3S Mazda RX-7 – Masa and Yukimi-san – it reminded me of something I’d seen deep in my feed one day. I must have been scrolling in the lavatory for quite some time.
“We used to build [street] cars to impress girls; now we build cars to impress middle-aged men”, the post read, accompanied by a picture of a group of enthusiasts gathered around an engine bay.
This raises an important point. The tuning scene often feels male-centric, and while there are plenty of skilled individuals across the hobby, the car community can get caught up in who’s worthy of approval. I think the real joy comes from building a car that reflects your personal vision.
So, how do you do this? Masa-san may have found the perfect recipe.
Stripped-out interiors have their appeal, but unless you’re specifically going for that minimalistic vibe, it’s nice to have a space that feels complete and comfortable. After all, you’re the one who has to live with it.
Another common pitfall in the Instagram car culture is the notion that unless you’re running a WEC car on the street, your build isn’t legitimate. It’s easy to get lost in that mentality, but ultimately, it’s your car, and that should matter most.
Wheels and tyres? That alone probably doesn’t qualify, but when you start modifying your cross member to fit 18×11-inch RAYS Volk Racing TE37SAGA wheels wrapped in 295/30R18 tyres, as Masa-san has done, you’re creating something special.
And if you start adding elements from TCP Magic to your bodywork and finish it in a custom cyan hue, the car is uniquely yours.
Masa-san has also equipped his RX-7 with Kei Office DG-5 coilovers. These might be a little on the stiff side for everyday use, but he can live with it. The passenger seat is a reclinable Bride Stradia for extra comfort, while the driver gets the more race-oriented, fixed-back Bride Jeeg.
Under the hood, the Mazda’s original 13B Turbo engine has been tuned to a respectable 330hp by Knight Sports, a rotary specialist in Otaku, Tokyo. An A’PEXi Power FC sends the firing orders and a Kakimoto cat-back exhaust provides an aggressive note.
Maybe the FD3S RX-7 is just inherently appealing. It’s compact and sleek, with a wrap-around interior that feels snug and luxurious, like a well-tailored jacket.
When building street cars, it’s refreshing to find a balance between looks, performance and comfort, and Masa-san’s RX-7 has all three. Maybe I’m getting older, but ensuring that the car is enjoyable for yourself – while also being able to share that experience with friends – is a top priority these days.
Toby Thyer
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tobythyer.co.uk