The Right Rotary | 1972 Mazda RX3 Coupe [With Video]
Words Jules Ferguson Photography and Videography Luke Ray
For someone who’s new to rotaries, the first things that you would notice are the noise and the smell of the unburnt fuel and pre-mix oil. The way they rev and accelerate like a sports bike brings a smile to your face that you just can't fight. On top of it all, you're being propelled down the road by two spinning triangles. There's nothing else on the road quite like them. I'm Jules and I drive a 1972 Mazda RX3 10A Coupe.
I think it's quite important to have a hobby or a passion aside from your everyday work. So, most weekends I'm out in the country, tearing down forest roads, getting the most out of it. It's a great reset for your brain.
Whether it's a trip down to the shops, a car meet or a show, chatting to strangers about the car or how they own one or they knew someone that owned one… It's always a thrill to be out in it. This one's the keeper.
I purchased this car about fourteen years ago. It started out as a quick sand down ready-for-paint project, which then turned into... Remove the motor, cut the whole front bent end off the thing and replace it. Find more filler and dents, push it back in the shed and forget about it kind of deal.
In 2019, I pulled it back out and dropped it off to Daron Walls in Heidelberg West for bare metal resto and I had it back home in under a year. I started the assembly right away.
My plan for the car was to be a period correct RX3 street racer that you would find in late 1970s Japan. The RX4 13B Bridgeport motor was built by Jed Simmons, making 230 horsepower with a Mabre twin IDF Weber and manifold set up. The exhaust is a full two-inch siamese system with AES resonators and rear muffler fabricated by Axentak of Laverton, Melbourne.
A few other upgrades on the car include a Supra five-speed, Wilwood front brakes, Hilux LSD with rear discs, coil overs on the front and reset rear leaves. Wheel-wise, I went with some SSR Jilbas which are wrapped in Dunlop Direzza Motorsport tyres.
The interior is completely stock with re-trimmed seats, rare and correct original wheel with gear knob and a new old stock original radio, which makes you feel that you've stepped back in time every time you sit in it.
It's been such a long process from the purchase date, but the timing sort of worked out in my favour as I was able to share the build and my passion with my son and my daughter who got to see the entire process. That was pretty cool because now they've formed a connection with the car, which is now a family heirloom.
Follow Jules: @jdm_rx3.
