The FC3S Mazda RX-7 typically appears overshadowed by its successor, the FD3S, nonetheless it’s exquisitely executed FCs like Saito-san’s that depart me with a tender spot for this basic chassis.

So far as street-terrorising automobiles go, Saito-san’s RX-7 is about as good for the job because it will get. So hitting the roads and lanes round Saitama is precisely what we did on this specific Saturday afternoon.

It’s not unusual to see others capturing their automobiles and bikes towards the scenic backdrops on this small, culturally wealthy city, however not at 3:00pm on a Saturday afternoon. Cruising down Saitama’s primary procuring avenue, Saito-san’s straight-piped FC nearly stopped everybody of their tracks.

Deciding it wasn’t well worth the danger of a Good Samaritan alerting the police to this rowdy, rotary-powered coupe, we headed barely out of city amongst the fields for some pictures.

The FC actually seems the half so far as time-attacking circuit automobiles go, however after an accident at Tsukuba Circuit a couple of years in the past, Saito-san has been way more conservative along with his Mazda, principally having fun with it on the road. Actually, I used to be first launched to him at Umihotaru PA, a well-liked parking space in the course of Tokyo Bay, the place Saito-san was out for drive with another FC3S homeowners.

Saito-san’s automobile has gone via a number of completely different revisions in his seven years of possession. Over that point, the originally-white Mazda slowly obtained small items of aero and misplaced items of its inside.

Dino really shot the automobile on the annual 7’s Day meet at Daikoku PA again in 2018 – comparability to the way it seems now.

One of many standout exterior upgrades is the sometimes-controversial RE Amemiya entrance bumper (with canards) and glued headlight conversion. Whereas I feel this provides loads to the aggressive styling of the automobile, others could disagree and query the elimination of the long-lasting pop-ups. The automobile nonetheless retains it steel rear fenders, however up entrance makes use of Panspeed +45mm FRP fenders to accommodate the RAYS Volk Racing CE28SLs. Saito-san runs an 18×10.5-inch +15 sq. wheel setup with 275/35R18 Dunlop Direzza ZIII tyres in any respect 4 corners of the automobile.

The manufacturing facility hood has been swapped for a Tamon Design carbon fibre substitute, which paired with the RE Amemiya headlight induction aero permits for loads of air circulate.

The rear of the Mazda follows swimsuit with an Esprit 052 GT Wing, which matches up properly with the Automobile Store Glow diffuser under. Very similar to the FD3S, FCs look nice with an in-your-face GT wing, particularly when the remainder of the automobile has been styled accordingly.

Not like most different modified FC RX-7s in Japan which run Ganador mirrors (Saito-san’s automobile beforehand too), Craft Sq. TC gadgets are a welcome change.

It’s apparent that this RX-7 has been meticulously put collectively for the circuit, and I actually hope we get to see Saito-san again on the market quickly with some regained confidence.

Regardless of the FC’s track-ready look, Saito-san has chosen to maintain the Mazda’s driveline easy. The engine is a typical 13B – the automobile’s unique unit no much less – fitted with a couple of choose bolt-ons together with an HKS front-mount intercooler equipment, HKS Tremendous Energy Movement air filter and the aforementioned exhaust. It’s all managed via an HKS F-CON V-Professional piggy-back ECU.

Behind the engine sits an ATS carbon twin-plate clutch, an FD3S 5-speed gearbox, and a Cusco 2-way LSD-equipped rear finish.

The inside is on-brand with the remainder of the automobile. There’s little left of the manufacturing facility gear, save for the sprint, centre console and passenger seat, with uncovered steel painted, a full Cusco roll cage, Momo steering wheel, and a Bride Zeta III seat with TRS harness added. The sprint is residence to 5 Defi gauges and a GReddy Profec enhance controller.

If there’s one factor I really like most about capturing automobiles in Japan, it’s the endless spots and backdrops out there, every of them setting a very completely different scene. In simply this shoot alone, we had been capable of soar between an enormous subject, a historic city, and a riverside again avenue – all inside 5 minutes of every different.

There’s one constant between all these spots that makes capturing a automobile like Saito-san’s RX-7 so nice, and that’s the distinction between the topic and the setting it’s in. Saito-san’s FC3S seems, and is constructed for the circuit, and also you’d sometimes anticipate to see pictures of it on the observe. But it surely’s the addition of some licence plates and an nearly surreal Japanese backdrop that all the time provides a lot to the authenticity of those automobiles.

Alex Pender
Instagram: noplansco