June 2009 Ride of the Month - $100T2 (Winner of the Vert Face-off)

[Phoenix7]

Year, model, mods, etc:
1988 'Vert.

Exterior: Body colored moldings.

Interior: Grant steering wheel, short shifter.

Electronics: DVD playing headunit (DVD MP3s pwn all! One disc, 800 songs FTMFW!) Screen for DVDs in glovebox. Pair of 12" Fosgate subs in the trunk in a custom box. Separates in the doors.

Wheels, Suspension: ADRs, 18 x 8 front, 18 x 9.5 rear, Potenzas (225/40 front, 255/35 rear), coilovers all the way around, strut tower brace.

Performance: 5th/6th port sleeves removed, full Racing Beat exhaust, header, etc. Intake. Basically everything you can do to an NA other than nitrous or a port.


Questions to the owner:

Q: Congratulations for winning Ride of the Month! Tell us about how you acquired this car?
A: I was driving down the highway in my old T2 project and saw a guy in an NA coupe. We ended up getting in touch and I traded him that T2 for the 'vert straight up. I won that trade, that T2 needed a lot of work.

Q: How did you first become interested in modified cars? Have you had any previously?
A: A guy who worked for my Dad back in the mid 80s had an 82 RX-7 with a 13B, Dellorto, streetport, nitrous, etc. One ride in that, and I had to get an RX-7. I've had 10 or so since then.

Q: Whats the biggest reason you chose a rotary powered car to modify?
A: Because the chassis is such a capable design. The Mazda guys definitely got the design right, and it responds very well to mods. Plus, it still looks good 20 years later. My wife and I constantly get compliments on it.

Q: Is this car your daily driver? Do you participate in any form of racing? (Drag, Auto-X, etc)
A: No, I only drive it about 6 months out of the year, it's stored during the winter. Lowered + coilovers + low profile tires + rear wheel drive + snow is a bad combo. I don't do any racing right now, might get into Auto-X at some point, but not with this.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your car?
A: Taking my kids out for rides in it. They love to go around with the top down!

Q: Do you have any future plans for the car, or any car?
A: It needs more power. In a few years, I'm probably going to have it taken apart down to every last nut and bolt and do a complete restoration/modification. In the meantime, I am looking for another RX-7, a coupe, to drive when it's not sunny and 75 out.

Q: Any other hobbies besides cars?
A: Sports and playing with the kids... That's about it.

Q: Anyone you'd like to thank?
A: My wonderful wife who not only understands (and tolerates) my RX-7 obsession, but also helps work on them. The total restoration will be for the car to become 100% hers. Then, I get an FD.

And, thank you to everyone on the forum. I know a lot about RX-7s, but it's because I learned most of it from the guys around here. One of my favorite things about RX-7s is the tight knit community and how we all try to help each other.

Q: Anything in the pipeline for another ROTM win?
A: You never know, the bar is pretty high around here... There are a LOT of nice cars on this forum, it's tough to win ROTM. Since my next rotary will probably get some sort of ridiculous engine swap, probably not. As much as I love RX-7s and rotaries, I also like to make things "mine", and that generally involves thinking WAY outside the box.

Additional Pictures?