1st RX-7 to make it to Cherohala Skyway Overlook
 

:driving:
I was the first one to arrive at the Overlook at Cherohala Skyway. I waited for 15 or 20 minutes and then started the drive back, when I FINALLY saw the other 7s rolling down the hill. That Pre-Production FC is pretty darn fast. :driving:

Its all Ian's fault haha althought i didnt see the Cherahola turn here sign either LOL



beautiful FC btw!


http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...9/DSC00548.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...9/DSC00553.jpg

Yes I am to blame, but you can say the car, I think its all driver :) Much Love Holly!

Back at ya Ian. I'm so glad you introduced Sam to us this year and that I got to spend some quality time with you two. Now you get to have fun making sure two 7s are ready for next year. :driving:

That's your S4 holly?

No, its her boss' car I think. SWEET car! I think I may have bugged Holly about that car a little (I asked her thousands of questions about it). Thanks for putting up with me Holly.

If anyone would please give some info on this car, like what options it came with, what all little differences it has compared to other FC's, etc, that would be cool.

Like many others I am interested in this rare car.

Some pics I took.
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...9/DSC02122.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...9/DSC01996.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...9/DSC01997.jpg

LOL, Holly I think me and Denise went through before you guys arrived because I was told at checkout that no one was driving Cherohala Skyway. I hadn't been on the Skyway since '05 and really want to drive it this year, so we left to get souvenirs and headed up there.

It's a pre-production FC made in 1985. It was originally given to a factory racer for Mazda (Holly knows his name, I forget now), who could not register it in California. He sold it to Jim Downing in 2001 (?) who was able to register it and drive it. It has been mostly garaged or under a cover its whole life. As seen in one of the pictures it has about 17,000 miles on it.

It has a mis-mosh of FB and FC parts (note the dizzy) and seems to be similar to a Euro spec FC (tail light design, dizzy, etc.). There is a weird exhaust tube, possibly for afterburn? The interior has some strange features also. There was a weird button on the passenger and driver side (pictures is passenger). I did not push it, but I'm guessing it's for the headlight squirters. If you look on production S4s (and maybe S5s) there's a dash indentation there but nothing there. Picture 2 shows how the intake hose went down lower near the airbox than on S4s. It's a small difference but noticable (at least in person, pics not a good angle).

The idiot cluster is a bit different. We're not sure what the switch on the interior does shown in the second picture. The third picture shows the random button near the left knee and the steering wheel. It has the same design as a stock S4 wheel, but none of the covering. The final picture shows the sweet seats. :)

Picture 1 you can see how the odd body kit was attached. The kit overall looks a lot like the Finish Line kit that was a factory option.

Picture 2 shows the license plate lights mounted on the bumper, as opposed to the sides and integrated into the tail lights.

Picture 3 shows the odd tail lights. On marker setting all of the red areas lit up. However, when braking only the outside top ones lit up.

Picture 4 shows the VIN code. Note that it's JMZ and 000006

Picture 5 is the front turn signals. I think this is where the previous interior switch comes into play as they can be used as fogs or DRL. Not sure though.

Pics 1 and 2 show the front bumper and how it is attached. There appears to be a normal bumper underneath.

Pic 3 shows the black accent strip added above the hatch. It was a sticker/decal deal.

Pic 4 and 5 show the offset bumper and exhaust. The bottom lip of the bumper was farther out on the passenger side and angled to stick out less on the driver side. The exhaust tips were also cut to different lengths on each side.

Pic 1 shows the bumper again.

Pic 2 is of the mirrors. It's a bad angle picture but they're skinnier front to back than normal S4 mirrors.

Pic 3 is the VIN again.

Pic 4 and 5 is the side markers. They're pretty self explanatory but thank God they didn't go with them.

I agree that the switch in the center console is for a 'fog light' function, and I think the levers on each side of the dash are for the headlight squirters (saw it in action). The dizzy instead of the CAS may not be exclusive to this FC in particular, I saw a thread on the other forum of a factory appearing FC with a dizzy out in some country oversea's (cant remember where atm)

i had a Canadian model and the headlight squirter function is built into the headlight open / close switch on the surround.

But I was in a caravan that left the gas station in Robbinsville and was the last one to leave the station. A Jeep got between me and the last RX-7, but I beat them all there. :driving: :seeya:

Glad to see you and Denise made it out again this year, although you had injuries to your 7, at least you drove it.

Holly

I think Robert has the history down. This seems to be the only time that a woman can tell a story and the man listens to every detail. :) It is my Boss, Jim Downing's car. It was given to Dave Jolly (Mazda Driver). Any very good job at describing the differences. There may be more details. I'm sure most were observed and someone will post here.

BTW, the car is for sale, if you have a serious offer over $6K. PM me and I will get you to in contact with Mr. Downing. I am seriously thinking of purchasing. I just really need to know I have support from my friends to justify me owning it. I'm waffling, saying I should not pass it up, to I would want to drive it all the time and I should only drive it to meets to preserve the history. I dunno. It does need a good owner who will continue to preserve the history.

Not yet..... Could be. :driving: You missed all the fun Hassell.

The slide buttons on driver and passenger sides are, believe it or not, Fresh Air Vents. Which is a feature I really like. And there is another button on the drivers side that is the headlight washer. It was working, I squirted a few people to show the feature.
And it has the "back seat" not one of my favorite features, but unique. It is useful, because it stops cargo from sliding forward. And it can be folded down to flat.

After further inspection, I think it was Jason that found out the support bracket was bent. It must have gotten pushed into something in the shop. Jason got under the car and straightened it out and now the tailpipes look the same length. You can notice the difference on the pics from Saturday on the US129 website. You should find them around pic 1050.

my Canadian rx7 has this as well. Most of those features this car has (and for 86 i believe this includes the dizzy) are what the UK market cars had.

Awesome, thanks for sharing the info.