When we launched Speedhunters back in 2008, our goal was to showcase car culture in its broadest form. But if there was one scene the world couldn’t get enough of, it was Japan’s. One article that stuck with me from those early days was by our Japan editor, Dino Dalle Carbonare, covering a dark blue Zimax Mazda FD RX-7. A true Wangan racer, it featured a full RE-Amemiya body kit and a side-ported 13B rotary built for high-speed highway runs.
So you can imagine my surprise when, at the Risenation event, I stumbled upon an almost identical RX-7 but in white. The resemblance was uncanny, but there was one key difference: the suspension setup and wheels. For the show season, the owner Craig, opts for air suspension, but when it’s time to hit the track, the air ride is swapped out for PCR coilovers with Bestex springs. Everything else underneath? Pure performance.
And then there are the wheels, arguably the car’s biggest statement piece. A proper set of Volk Racing GT-C wheels in 18 inches, a timeless JDM icon in their own right.
The exterior modifications list is long. The RE-Amemiya AD-GT body kit alone consists of 15 separate components, including a carbon bonnet and multiple front and rear canards. A set of Craft Square carbon wing mirrors rounds off the look. An absolute must-have on any RX-7.
But what you don’t see is what truly makes this car special. Zimax is renowned for building rotary engines in various stages, tailored to customer needs. Lurking beneath the bonnet is a Zimax Racing Spec-III Side Port 13B, boosted by a Greddy TD07-25G turbo. Side-ported rotaries, also known as Street Port engines, feature modified intake and exhaust ports for improved airflow and power delivery.
The result? A machine that embodies everything we love about Japanese tuning culture. Brutal performance, unmistakable presence, and a heart that beats to the rhythm of a Wankel. Absolute perfection.
#sideport #streetport #mazdarx7 #rotary
