1973 Mazda Rx-3 Savanna - Living Deviously

Architect of the under-bonnet anarchy is well-known Kiwi engine builder Stu Lawton, who campaigns a Pro Import Mazda SP20 (323) with a 26B four-rotor, twin-turbo engine under the name Lawton Rotorsport. Bridgeported Series 4 (FC3S RX-7) housings were used, with a 3mm SCR Apex seal and a full stud kit. Slotted and balanced rotors came from a Series 6 (FD3S RX-7), which also donated a cross-drilled eccentric shaft with 20B stationary gears.

Feeding the super-tough engine is a Turbonetics Super T-76 hair dryer, with a TiAL 46mm wastegate bleeding off unnecessary boost, and a custom intercooler chilling the intake charge.

But the big turbocharger and four-inch thick-like-a-can-of-Pepsi exhaust system are nothing without the ECU, fuel and spark-and Johnny hasn't skimped in this all-important area. A Microtech LT10 with an X4 16-volt ignition upgrade means no spark fade at high revs, and a hard-pumping Bosch 044 fuel pump and Malpassi regulator feed a pair of 850cc and two more colossal 1650cc injectors. A Gilmer drive system avoids undue risk of a belt slippage-a relatively small investment to protect the other big dollars put into the engine bay.

The drivetrain borrows a W57 gearbox from a Toyota Supra, using an NPC twin-plate clutch and lightened flywheel with a shortened limited-slip diff from a Toyota HiLux pickup, which also donated the car's shortened and re-splined axles. Suspension tweaking in this sort of ride can be a bit of a mission, but aiming the setup toward the strip with a ladder bar arrangement has helped keep the rear end stable. Reset leaves and tramp rods are used at the rear, with coilovers and adjustable camber plates allowing better setup options at the pointy end. Standard sway bars have been used, and the full Nolathane bushing treatment has helped keep DVS stable, even under solid acceleration.

When we asked Johnny why he chose the brake setup he did, the reply was, "they're big and apparently the 3 needed to be able to stop." DBA cross-drilled and slotted rotors, four-pot calipers designed for a FD, and rear disc brakes from a FC seem to do the trick-they are big and they certainly pull up the rampant rotary in a hurry.

But it's the show value that has been noticed this year-the car has already picked up the Best RX Engine Bay trophy at New Zealand's Four and Rotary Nationals at the end of January, thanks to some significant chrome and polishing work. Under show lights, its deep black paint and polished Simmons FR17 rims definitely caught the attention of a very appreciative rotorhead crowd. But with a serious tune-up about to take place and some more boost to be screwed out of the 13B, wheel numbers in the high 500s aren't out of the question. And by then it'll probably be deviant on-strip behavior that this RX will be getting noticed for.