Ok this post is going to disturb the purists….. If you are a person for whom the notion of an engine swap from a different auto manufacturer is the stuff of nightmares then please look away now….
This is an argument which has gone on for decades, even into the early hot rod years. For some people the notion of a Chevy engine in a Ford Hot Rod is a show of poor taste. …Same goes for the wave of Honda S2000 engines which are finding their way into AE86s… Horrid! Sacriledge! Sin!….. V8 into a S13 drift car? Argh!!! Noooo!!!!
Well, from what I can tell, in New Zealand there seem to be a lot of people who think differently. They seem to take great pleasure to install offbeat and unexpected engines into their automotive builds… let's have a look at some examples from Saturday's "V" 4&Rotory Nationals show.
The most prevalent engine swaps were the Rotory converted Mazda 323s and 626s….
There were many clean examples of these cars on display…
A lot of these cars had retro style Modgie wheels, but many also ran large alloys… I can't say I totally like this look tbh…
…. I am of the camp that thinks older cars should have wheels which suit the character, size and era of the automobile… In my mind, a large alloy better suits a newer car…. Go on, call me a traditionalist…
I do have to commend the builder of this car, for the clean engine bay… The car looks absolutely mint.
So I don't think the purists would have any issue with adding rotary power to an existing Mazda yes? We are all in agreement about this?
Well from this point, things start to get a bit more nutty… it seems like there is a quotient of Kiwis who take great pleasure in dropping rotary engines into all manner of cars… Take this Mitsubishi for example….
If Antonio was in a grave he would roll over now…. Yes in the heart of this Corolla beats rotory power….
Same goes for this very clean Celica…… oh the pain!!!
Datsuns are not exempt from the rotary treatment…. The rim style on this car is typical of this part of the world…
This is one clean AE70 Toyota Corolla engine bay…. The car is owned by a friend of Mad Mike's… you may recognize the digital camo from Mike's previous FD livery….
Unfortunately for me the overall effect isn't working as well as it could. Sorry to be a little critical as this build could be so strong with a few changes…
Let's just quickly compare to a similar model of car from the Tokyo Auto Salon… Here we have a different philosophy of wheel type….
For me this is a question of proportion and scale…… you should also factor in visual modifications which carry the spirit of the particular car's era…. Agree? Disagree? Am I out to lunch in my assessment?
Of course, rotory transplants are not the only type of engine swaps happening in NZ. This is Fanga Dan Woolhouse's Nissan RB26 powered Holden Commodore drift car… That's a bit mad no? Normally you'd expect a V8 to be powering this type of car.
This drift spec FD bucks the rotory transplant trend with a rather surprising engine swap…. this RX7 is powered by non-other than a 2JZ straight six… This perhaps seems a little illogical to my mind but there you go…. Perhaps the owner wants big power more than the weight handicap from this engine type.
Twin Turbo Lexus engine in a Mercedes? No problem!…
Now that I've suitably offended the majority of our readership, let's get back to the rotory transplants and the ex-Mad Mike Rotary "808" wagon…. to my eyes this was the most successful and integrated conversion style car at the show.
The front has been converted to a RX3 face to match the rotory transplant….
Mike says it develops around 350 hp or so…. I'd love to see a video of this car doing a burn out competition…. anyone have a youtube link they can share?
One thing that interests me is to see how governments in different parts of the world deal with car modifications… The New Zealand system looks similar to Germany…. you modify the car how you like, then take it in for government inspection to register the upgrades. While Germany issue papers for the car mods, NZ goes one step further and gives you an official plate. You can see the overall specs of the car here…
1976 RX808 model…. you can see the face conversion has been registered as well as the chassis upgrades to house the rotory engine…. and he is running 7X13 inch rims….
This is much better than the California system don't you think? Heh heh heh….
:R
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
Good to see you came to the Nats, was quite a good show. You get any pics of the 20b pp turbo blue rx3 with no bonnet? My friend would love them as it is his car.
Found a wee vid of Mad Mikes old 808. It was blue back then and wore the FURSTY plates that the RX7 also used.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB87XnSEe8I
I agree with you on the wheel style comments, Rod. However, I have seen a few vintage cars pull off the big wheel look. I love wacky engine swaps as long as it's not a small block Chevy. Nothing against the engine, it's tried and true, but it's far from original. I really like that Celica, and that 510 is nice, too except for the wheels.
I too agree. Nothing wrong with a modern wheel if it works with the look. The tucked 17's on old iron doesn't really work, unless you got big meats on 'em and a shortened rear (a la pro-touring). I'd totally take some medium sized wheels that are wide and good offset (15x8, 9 and even 16x9 and 10). Good stuff.
its quite weird seeing cars & features about cars from our little islands in the south pacific all over the net, especially on such a prominent site as this. it really makes me appreciate how diverse & cool our car scene is here even though we have different tastes etc, thanks rod, awesome stuff bro.
No disagreements there. We are slowly gearing more and more towards the old school + small wide wheels trend, but those sorts of cars dont attend things like the Nats, well for the moment anyway. I expect to see much more next year.
Guwwooooooh! >_<
The lancer is the most interesting find for me. Interesting show as well.
Thankfully the trend of oversized Chrome wheels is passing NZ, couple years ago most of the cars you would see would have had terrible 17" + chrome wheels.
Slowly the scene is getting better
Found one of his old V8 Hiace tow van as well
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTWXr1HnkL8
"For me this is a question of proportion and scale...... you should also factor in visual modifications which carry the spirit of the particular car's era.... Agree? Disagree? Am I out to lunch in my assessment?"
Period correctness will always reign supreme
"For me this is a question of proportion and scale...... you should also factor in visual modifications which carry the spirit of the particular car's era.... Agree? Disagree? Am I out to lunch in my assessment?"
Quite right. Hands down to proportion and scale... but when u r talking about visual modifications which carry the spirit of the particular car's era, do you mean the wheels? Cause i think newer wheels will look good on old school cars too... Just which design. I think offset and stance is the most critical.
HOE B8, classic...
It's a pity that many of NZ's rotaries are saddled with poor choices wheel-wise and the unfortunate "graffiti" style stickers. Just imagine what that white Corolla would be like with some more suitable, smaller wheels and a simple paint job, no stickers. Like that RX808 wagon. It would be great.
Do you have more pics of the MAYHEM 13B Celica? I work with the owner, its such a cool car and loud enough to cause permanent damage to your entire body. Do have to agree about the wheels though. Small and wide with lots of stretch and negative offset looks better than 18" chrome wheels anyday. Too many people want to rock the giant chromes over here. I just dont get it.
Rod - Off topic, but of interest. Any chance you'll share what lens you have been using? f/1.4? Great shots!
I don't mind rotary engine swaps: I like them actually. However, I agree with the old school rim style: it's the only way to go...big new wheels make you look like a budget boy racer in an old car.
thanks for putting my yellow 323 on. the bombing stickers are everywhere
bloody new zealand
need more photos of carls red jc cosmo. that car is so sick
carl you the man
hah
Noooo Its a sin to put a rb26 into a commy!!! that person shud b shot, then shot again!!
Well you haven't seen anything until you see this http://www.supraforums.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6136270
A Lancer EVO 6 TME powered by BMW E30 M3 S14B23 turbo engine.
The same guys also did a BMW powered Skyline
Oh, and anybody up for the rotary Mustang? http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/2122/1000042fg2.jpg
Sacriledgious i say, u prob think im sum bogan that loves his v8 this is tru but i also appreciate wat japan has 2 offer, but sum things lyk jap engines in holdens arent ment 2 b, they kinda go as well as oil and water if u kno wat im saying... it just doesnt work.... well dats my opinion neways
That Corolla from TAS is the best looking one i have ever seen....my cousin recently sold his poo brown Corolla ha!
And the Commodore with an RB26 in it?! Never heard of that before but why not!
Fangas Commodore was meant to have a v8 in it but he couldnt get sponsorship for it so it was cheaper to chuck in the rb26 he had lying around.
More of the camo blue R32 pleeeease i love that car, crazy drifter.
I agree some of the old style wheels do look better but how boring would it be if every rotary looked the same - plain paint job and old school small wheels, you dont own a rotary to look like the next guy that owns one you own it to stand out!
To what phil said about the Corolla this is the 2nd rebuild for the white dx, most rotary enthusiest would remeber it as it was the dx that caught on fire at the NZ summmer drags about 3 years ago.
It had a plain paint job ect the first time around, so can pose the question.... Why would you build a car a second time around and give it the same look? Hence why it has a totally different look to the usual plain paint job ect"
Glad I left NZ. I see the rotor culture is still all bros and hoes.