Jonny Smith, the host and creator of The Late Brake Show, has a series on his channel called “Barn Finds.” And as you might have guessed, he scours the UK looking for incredible cars hidden away, usually with the intent of helping them find a new home.
This latest episode sees him track down a 1983 Mazda RX-7 FB, a classic car that, while more common in the United States, is super rare in the UK. It was extensively used by its owner, Bev, as a daily driver from the late 1980s onwards before it suffered a worn synchro in second gear.
Hiding Away For Some 30 Years
The garage door hasn’t opened in 20 years, and the RX-7 hasn’t seen the light of day for 30 years. The reason the garage door hasn’t opened is that it fell on Bev’s head!
Bev bought the RX-7 in 1988 simply because she liked how it looked and because it was an interesting car, and upon laying eyes on it, Smith can’t believe that it has been sat, under covers and boxes, for at least 30 years or so.
Smith then explains to us that thanks to rust, and an almost fear of the rotary engine, this RX-7 in particular has become a very rare car in Britain.
Attempting To Get It To Start
Bev is hoping the RX-7 could go to someone who can restore the car to its former glory, and to someone who knows what they are doing with this stunning car.
Jonny enlists the help of Josh Scott to get the RX-7 going again, and it’s a car he has only ever worked on twice before. The guys run through a few engine checks, getting power to it, checking the electrics etc. They even manage to get the pop-up headlights working before they try to start the car. And on the second fire up attempt, the RX-7 fires back into life and sounds very sweet after 30 years inside a garage.
A Rare And Special RX-7
The fact that this RX-7 does indeed start means it has every chance of a second lease of life with a new owner. The interior was in pretty good condition for 30 years of storage, with mostly just a lot of dust and grime that could be easily cleaned.
Smith is in awe of the general good condition of this car, and it's fantastic to hear that rotary engine sing again. Let's hope it does indeed go to a home that it deserves.
Source: The Late Brake Show YouTube Channel