What kind of car do you think of when Bonneville Salt Flats top speed records are mentioned—is it a purpose-built missile on wheels or maybe some heavily modded Americana? Well, you should know that JDM toys have had plenty of good runs on the white surface over the decades. And one of the Japanese cars that took home more than one record is the Mazda RX-7. Well, this second-gen example is getting a streamlined conversion in for the street and, until the futuristic-looking makeover is ready, a digital artist has prepared a stunning avatar.
Mazda went from the hardcore sports car nature of the first-gen RX-7 to a more relaxed grand tourer approach for the second iteration of the Wankel-powered sports car, which was build between 1985 and 1992. However, the carmaker installed independent rear suspension and rack and pinion steering, thus seriously improving the handling. And this example takes that to the next level by gifting the machine with a streamlined body that will make people look thrice once completed.
Sculpted in fiberglass by an enthusiast named Brandon Berry (@kristianolafbernhardbirkeland), this FC-generation Mazda RX-7 not only brings a pointier nose but also introduces front and rear wheel covers. And, for a full custom look, it adds spice via a hood scoop and an elongated rear spoiler giving off longtail vibz.
From a “modern classic” widebody to a futuristic one
Back in 2018, the aficionado showcased the already-modded RX-7 to Instagram, with the 400 wheel horsepower toy sporting a molded widebody, a style experiencing a resurgence these days.
Nevertheless, while that simply looked like a respectable project, the kind that used to make car meets go round in the 2000s, the makeover currently being handled by the man is on a totally different level.
Visualized with the help of the blue shape in the third Instagram post below, the garage-brewed fiberglass transformation seems to pay tribute to Bonneville Salt Flats top speed runs. For one, U.S. tuner Racing Beat achieved a long-standing class record with such an RX-7 back in 1986, when it hit 238 mph (383 km/h).
Then again, those covered arches—yes, the front wheels can turn—bring a futuristic twist to the project. And, along with the work-in-progress headlights, this sends the car straight onto the Cyberpunk scene. It also reminds us of Audi’s 2004 RSQ concept or the one-off Rolls-Royce Wraith that West Coast Customs built for Justin Bieber.
With the enthusiast also building a C4 Corvette into an aero titan, there are still some steps to cover before the RX-7 reaches its final form.
The gritty rendering portraying this RX-7 project
Meanwhile, though, digital artist Alexandre Gouraud (@al3x.blend) has released a rendering based on this build. The dystopian style of the CGI perfectly embodies the style of the real car.
As for how the digital RX-7 would turn, the builder explains it all in the said Insta post. It seems the artist dreams of linking the front wheel covers to the knuckles for a flush look.
“@al3x.blend has me dreaming about attaching front wheel covers to the knuckles so they can be flush with the body and turn with the wheels. It’s just so complicated… maybe on the 2.0 build,” the aficionado explains.
