Building Beyond Approval: A Simple Yet Extreme RX-7 – Speedhunters

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Building Beyond Approval: A Simple Yet Extreme RX-7


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.

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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.

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“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.

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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.

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So, how do you do this? Masa-san may have found the perfect recipe.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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
Instagram _tobinsta_
tobythyer.co.uk





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