MAZ1986 - 1985 S3

[DC_MXV]

After 5 years SORN I have booked an MOT for next Monday. If all goes well back on the road on 1st August!

Main issue that has stopped the car has been a carb problem and I recently bit the bullet and bought a modified working Nikki from the US. This has mechanical secondaries and no choke. I had to modify throttle lever to RHD spec and change brackets to allow correct connection of throttle cable.

Car would still not fire up and I then diagnosed 2 spark plugs not firing. Fitted an old set of NGK BR8ET and engine fired up straight away. I decided to change all of key electrical components so one Rock Auto order later I have new coils, distributor cap, rotor arm and plug leads. New plugs should arrive tomorrow.

Whilst car has been off if the road I have also completely refurbished all brake cylinders and fitted a new master cylinder.

I have also fitted new tyres all round. Decided to go with Avon ZT7 185/65x14 as I think they are a good compromise for the type of motoring I will probably do and are almost the same rolling radius and sidewall height as a 205/60x14.

I am looking forward to getting out and about again as this is the longest period I have not had a rotary on the road for 33 years.

Dave

[ian65]

Welcome to the forum Dave
Great to see your car on here and also to see it going back on the road.... I remember a time when photos of it were everywhere and after it featured on the tv it came up in loads of internet searches! It inspired me to try to get my car looking as good. Nice to see it back.

[DC_MXV]

Thanks Ian. Yes there are a few pictures of the car around. This is mainly because it was used for a photo shoot for a Classic Cars magazine article. This was done in the National Motor Museum studio. As such the pictures are all in the museum photo archive (motoringpicturelibrary.com) and as such are available to purchase as stock FB images by publications. I am often amazed where the images pop up.

If all goes well I may try and go to Gaydon in mid August.

[DC_MXV]

MOT passed with no observations so roll on Saturday for tax and a few miles to get used to the car again.

[Threesevens]

Happy days. Would be good to see some photo's

[DC_MXV]

I was planning to take some decent ones on Saturday when I get on the road. I have these from the garage yesterday as a taster.

[Casey]

Looks in really good condition, based on those pics

Whereabouts in the UK are you?

[spirit r]

Lucky man! Cool colour combo green/grey and i like to see the old rotary owner club sticker. Let me remember the old days in Haddenham on Jimmy's farm

[DC_MXV]

Whereabouts in the UK are you?

I am in Bath

Cool colour combo green/grey and i like to see the old rotary owner club sticker. Let me remember the old days in Haddenham on Jimmy's farm

Yes I am lucky Mazda ran out of the Brown interior near the end of production so car was fitted with the grey/black interior.

Old sticker is for the American RX7 club which I was a member of back in 1987/88 before there was any real UK club. Car was at Haddenham on several occasions. First time in 1995 was with the previous owner and it had reg C845TGX

[ian65]

How many years ago was this? Seems like yesterday!