1976 Mazda

This 1976 Mazda RX-3 is a right-hand-drive example that was modified to compete in the IMSA GTU class and was reportedly driven to an 11th-place finish at the 1978 24 Hours of Daytona by drivers Walt Bohren, Stu Fisher, and the seller, former racing driver Jim Downing. The car continued to be raced for a number of years before being acquired by the seller in 2002. Subsequent refurbishment work performed by the Downing race shop included repairs to the left-front fender, replacement of the fender flares, repainting the body, and installing a replacement engine. The car is finished in white with #53 Gatorade livery, and power is provided by a peripheral-ported 1.3-liter Mazda 13B rotary paired with a five-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. Additional equipment includes a steel-tube-reinforced frame, a roll cage with door bars, quick-jack front bumperettes, a fuel cell, a fire suppression system, a fixed-back bucket seat, a TRS six-point safety harness, front and rear spoilers, and 15″ modular wheels. This S124A RX-3 race car is now offered with historic photographs and a bill of sale. The car was repainted white in approximately 2014 according to the seller, who reports that the #53 Gatorade livery was applied using paint at that time. Additional work under current ownership is said to have included repairs to the left-front fender and replacement of the fender flares. Exterior details include front and rear spoilers, quick-jack brackets below the bumpers, hood and trunk latches, wheel arch extensions, polycarbonate windows, and a fuel-filling port that protrudes through the trunk lid. The staggered-width multi-piece wheels are mounted with 245/40 front and 275/35 rear Hoosier slick tires. Cooling ducts direct air to the brakes four-wheel disc brakes. The suspension features Motion Control Suspension adjustable coilovers with remote reservoirs and adjustable rear-axle links. The seller reports that a spare set of wheels and slick tires will accompany the car. The right-hand-drive cockpit houses a fixed-back bucket seat with a TRS six-point safety harness. Features include an integrated roll cage with door bars, a window net, a FireSense fire suppression system, and a battery mounted behind the seat. The seller notes that the fire-suppression supply bottle is expired and the safety harness expires in 2023. A MOMO steering wheel frames a 10k-rpm tachometer and a water temperature gauge, while the center stack houses readouts for oil temperature and pressure as well as switches for ignition and various accessories. The car does not have an odometer or a speedometer. Total mileage is unknown. The replacement peripheral-ported 1.3-liter Mazda 13B rotary engine was reportedly built by Rick Engman and installed by the Downing race shop during current ownership. Features include MSD ignition components, a dry-sump lubrication system, a Holley fuel pump, and a Weber downdraft carburetor with a K&N air filter. A replacement fuel cell was installed under current ownership. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a replacement EMCO Gears five-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. A number of photos of the car taken during the 1978 24 Hours of Daytona race are provided in the gallery below. A Gatorade Team Racing jacket is included in the sale along with spare wheels and tires, sway bars, springs, and front spoilers. This car does not have a title, and it is being sold for off-road use only with a bill of sale.