Beasts Of The East: 10 Asian Cars Which Deserve A Restomod

November 29, 2017

Mazda RX-7

Years produced: 1978-2002

Now, I want to preclude this by saying that I fully understand that making a restomod RX-7 would be a colossal pain. That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done. The RX-7, particularly early models, is a car that I’ve had a soft spot for for a long time now. Partly, it’s because of the ambition that went into it. It’s driven by a Wankel Rotary Engine, part of Mazda’s attempt to make such an idea practical. Sadly, it wasn’t, but it’s still a fascinating historical curio. The small engines which powered the RX-7, as minute as 1.2 liters, were ferocious. That’s the reasoning behind a Wankel: small displacement, big performance. These could hit 60 in anywhere from 4.5 to 8.9 seconds, depending on the model.

Aside from the strangeness of the engine choice, they also looked wonderful. I challenge anyone who cares about sports cars to look at an early-model RX7 and not feel something. The problem is the maintenance. Wankel engines are rare, and that means so are parts. You can get them, but be prepared to pay a fortune. The work required to repair one is specialised too. Even if you’ve been working on engines since you were tall enough to reach, they’re built very differently. If you’re not a sentimental person (read: not me), you’d be well-advised to do a Mazda and remove the Wankel. Just put a V6 or a V8 in there (being mindful of weight distribution,) and take that gorgeous car to new heights.

Battle of the Pony Cars: Camaro vs. Mustang

October 29, 2025

The battle between the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro is the biggest, most lasting rivalry in American car history. These two cars didn’t just…
Read more
The RM32 Ford Fastback Mustang Build Breakdown

October 24, 2025

The Ford Mustang: Historic Start The Ford Mustang is one of the most iconic muscle cars in American history, capturing the imagination of car enthusiasts…
Read more
6 Things to Consider: Keep Your Classic Muscle Car Original or RestoMod it?

October 15, 2025

When tackling the big question that has become a debate on the internet: Is it better to keep your classic muscle car original or turn…
Read more

Show more articles

Become a Car Club Member

Car Club Members Get Entries to Win, Discounts in our Shop, Discounts with our Preferred Partners and more!

Membership benefits

By joining the RestoMods Car Club Today, you will receive amazing perks plus 15 bonus entries into our sweepstakes for every month you are an active member

Auto Discounts:Curated Discounts From Your Favorite Parts Companies
Restomods Monthly:Monthly Magazine With The Latest Industry News
Classified Ads:Get Free Postings seen by 300,000 enthusiasts monthly
Car Show Tickets:Check out the biggest vintage car shows on us.
Exclusive Car Deals:First chance to purchase any prize cars not selected