BEHIND THE GARAGE DOOR
Humble beginnings and careful neglect have produced one of the best RX-3S around
Mazda enthusiast Ryan Dunn has a knack for locating cherished examples of this Japanese marque but his latest acquisition will take some beating. This Mazda in outstanding condition has taken a different route to restored glory.
As you will know, RX-3S are now commanding eye-watering prices. Of course, the most highly prized are those rare examples that have led a sheltered life, or have by some other means avoided the rough and tumble destiny of most sports cars. This car’s story fits both categories.
“It was stored in a barn down in Southland from about 1975 to 1995,” says Ryan. “Some guy bought it and did the full restoration on it himself, then sold it to one more guy, and then it came up to my area in Auckland and an old guy bought it.”
STRAIGHT COUPE
Eagle-eyed Car Jammers will note that this Mazda was registered as a Mazda 808 in Invercargill. It was in that guise it avoided the attention of boy racers, and it is in Ryan’s hands that it has morphed into its much more desirable RX-3 replica specification.
The full bare-metal restoration and respray meant that it was in great shape when its previous owner received it. He did little with the car and stored it in his shed for some years, adding new chrome bumper bars and other pieces. “I had been trying to buy it off him for years,” says
Ryan. The elderly owner finally agreed to part with it and a deal was done.
The full RX-3 specification naturally includes a complete RX-3 interior re-trim. The RX-3 seats were recently recovered by Kass Prujean at KP Upholstery in Tauranga.
“I’ve changed all the wheels, painted all the grilles, put louvres on it. It’s still basically black plates, 85,600km genuine on the clock, which is really low for a car like that. It’s absolutely one of the best cars I’ve ever seen, better than my old R100. It would have to be one of the lowest kilometre ones around in the 10 years I’ve been looking.”
Detail pieces added include the new nose-cone trim now added to the front of the car — the eyebrows.
“I’ve still got the sill chrome and shark fins here but they are not on the car. I’m too scared to drill them into the car,” he says.
ENGINE OPTIONS
The sparkling red body colour is now set off by period Cheviot 13x7 Hotwires fitted with new 215/50x13 Bridgestone Eagers. The car is now at a stage where Ryan is pretty satisfied with it.
“Not only is it immaculate, but it is very nice to drive. No rattles and shakes,” he says.
An over-fuelling carburettor issue has now been sorted on the 12A rotary bridgeport engine fitted with a 48mm ADA carb and five-speed manual gearbox.
“Although it’s a bridgeport engine, it’s not too loud and it’s nice and smooth driving, and easy on fuel. I did about three hours’ driving around Auckland the other day on $50’ worth of petrol, so it’s not too bad.”
Although it could be for sale, Ryan is content to drive it at the moment and has plans to fit a new 12A peripheralport engine.
Readers of New Zealand Classic Car may recall a Behind the Garage Door segment back in Issue No. 336, December 2018, where we recounted Ryan’s one-lady-owner Mazda 808 sedan, and also his amazing rebuild of his R100 Mazda. Appraised post-restoration by Mark Joblin at NZ$120K, the car was involved in a rollover incident in January 2019. Fortunately Ryan was okay following the accident, but the car was very second-hand. “I sold the R100 to a guy in Hamilton who repaired it and then sold it in Australia for I believe around A$150K over there,” he tells us. “These little cars are getting very valuable.”
If Ryan believes this RX-3 replica is in even better condition than his noexpense-spared R100 restoration, it is a good one indeed.