December 22, 2002 | Manntis
The Early Years Dr. Wankel, "the father of the rotary engine”, was born August 13, 1902 in Lahr, Germany. He was the only child of Rudolf Wankel (1867-1914), a senior forestry official who was killed by shrapnel in World War I as an Oberleutnant. Although his family's poverty (due in part to his mother's status as a widow) meant he had to go to work and could not apprentice or follow further full-time stu...
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May 18, 2010 | Manntis
Veteran Mazda engineer Hiroyuki Matsumoto is the new head of the carmaker's European research and development center. Matsumotois, 47, succeeds Norihiro Tomita, who has led the unit since May 2007 and now returns to Mazda's headquarters in Japan to take up a management post in the company's vehicle development center. Matsumoto, an engineering graduate of Kyoto University in Japan, joined Mazda's product develo...
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February 22, 2010 | Manntis
The conflicts between Carroll Shelby and various kit car makers are well known and sometimes seem never-ending. Massachusetts-based Factory Five Racing has been at the forefront of the lawsuits with Shelby, and the two have been in battling it out in the courtroom for a decade. The initial lawsuit, filed in the year 2000, resulted in a settlement that barred Factory Five from using the terms "Cobra, 427 S/C, She...
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January 25, 2010 | Manntis
The 2010 Mazda RX-8 carries forward its recent makeover, keeping the 2nd generation RENESIS rotary engine, world-renown handling and four-door flexibility. Updates over the 1st gen RX-8 include dual outlet exhaust, LED taillamps, widened fenders and large alloy wheels wearing performance rubber. As before, the body cleverly hides a secondary set of doors that access the rear portion of the cabin. Xenon projector high...
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January 7, 2010 | Manntis
Problems with the development of Mazda’s next generation of rotary engines are delaying the launch of the new RX-7 sports car, according to sources close to the company. The fourth-generation RX-7 was originally scheduled to be unveiled at last year’s Tokyo show and go on sale this year, but issues facing the new 16X engine forced the company to scrap that schedule. The car’s release date is now unknown....
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Known as an 'FB' type due to its VIN number, the 1984 model (P130) was introduced in October, 1983. A new 4-speed automatic with lock-up torque converter became the optional transmission on the GS and GSL, replacing the 3-speed. And the rear suspension was revised by relocating the lower trailing...
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Known as an 'FB' type due to its VIN, the 1983 model (P130) was virtually unchanged from 1982. A special limited edition was announced in March, with a run of 5,000 cars (based on the GS trim level) produced in a new color called Chateau Silver, accented by red pinstriping, specially styled 5.5" wid...
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Known as an 'FB' type due to its VIN, the 1982 model (P130) was largely a carryover from 1981 with an improved engine for better fuel economy. A high output audio system called "Black Dynamite" was an option. General Data Models: S GS GSL Engine: 12A (1146 CC displacement) r...
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Known as an 'FB' type due to its VIN, the 1981 model (P815) appeared in August 1980. The rear and tail lights were redesigned eliminating the "Baroque depression". The new urethane bumper covers not only updated the look of the car, they dropped the drag coefficient by .02 for a .34 Cd (equivalent t...
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Known as an 'SA' type due to its VIN, the 1980 model, like the 1979 SA, had exposed steel bumpers and a high-mounted license plate located in an indented part of the rear of the car famously criticized by Werner Buhrer of Road & Track magazine as a "Baroque depression." This model (P642) had a f...
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Known by enthusiasts as an 'SA' type due to its VIN, the 1979 model (released in 1978) was the first of the RX-7 line. The SA had exposed steel bumpers and a high-mounted license plate located in an indented part of the rear of the car, famously criticized by Werner Buhrer of Road & Track magaz...
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Required Parts • OEM S2000 button • auto relay w/4 blades (Radio Shack, 30 amp minimum, around $5) • spool of 20 awg and 12 awg wire • assorted wire butt connectors (some with and some without insulation) • various wire taps and blade connectors • very small shrink wrap • moun...
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Trying to follow all those lines under the hood can be a challenge - and trying to follow them on a black and white line diagram is not much better. Hopefully this will help: ...
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