RX2 of the week

[Jamie R]

Coz one was partially rusted away

Not as funny as it sounds.  Once upon a time I used to work for people whose job it was to disguise the ravages of the journey on new Japanese car imports. Very few of them arrived without damage or rust after their long sea voyage with little or no protection from the sea air. We often had to swap brightwork that had begun to rust en route.  These were Hondas but Mazda cars must have come the same way and the shipping was expensive so corners had to be cut to make the retail price point.  UK buyers would have been horrified to know their new pride and joy had already had a 'glass out' respray to repair rot that had started in the A-post even before delivery.   

On the assumption that the RX2 boot shut line is key I was going to say one...no idea what the tell is elsewhere

I'm not at all surprised to be honest. Making cars for your own market is a very different animal to suppling product overseas.
We realise this with our own work.

Back in the day the realisation of this was probably a lot less or the processes not put in place to combat issues.

For relatively small car companies these needed measures were a huge on cost.

Still, it kept you employed at the time


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Eccentric shaft]

Thanks, Jinx: that's an important part of the story. Add to that how Mazda were "saving" on paint back i the day. Quite a few vulnerable surfaces on the Rx2, such as where bonnet hinges meet the bonnet (and where the boot lid meets the hinges) never saw factory paint. For this reason there were instances when the bonnet came loose at speed because of rust in the bonnet mountings! 

Back to the pic:
Of the 9 cars on the photo, 2 have their rear doors clearly visible. That leaves 7. The sedan air vents are on the front of the C-pillar, near the gutter, whereas the coupé has two vents either side of the rear window. That is certain identification of one more sedan and two coupés.
3 sedans and 2 coupés so far, then. And the 4 remaining ones? Look at the angle of the front windscreens - that should leave only one car unidentified. 

[Eccentric shaft]

For the upcoming week, a modified 1973 coupé of a shade somewhere in between Jamie's and Clive's chosen favourites 
Suddenly started craving some Coleman's mustard with my bangers and mash...

[Eccentric shaft]

Whoops, I forgot it was Monday! So not much happening down in this corner of the forum. Well for this week we have a nice collection of Rx2 race cars.

[Eccentric shaft]

Week 13 is here. Matt black and modified.

[Eccentric shaft]

This immaculate 1973 sedan showed up first in NYC, then it travelled to Europe, before ending up down under. Hopefully no Simmonds wheels will ever get near it!

[clive]

Wow not sure I have ever seen one quite that factory

[Eccentric shaft]

A Puerto Rican 73 coupé in that stunning blue metallic for week 15 and as a special easter holiday treat: the famous C&D rx2 Race Car.
Happy easter everybody! 

[clive]

Good post, didn't realise that the Car and Driver RX-2 still existed.

[Casey]

Great photos - wishing you a Happy Easter too 

[Eccentric shaft]

Whoops! Forgot it was Monday yesterday. We like our Easter hols in Norway, and that includes a second Easter day. So Tuesday is this week's Monday. This week's Rx2 is a 1973 Coupe that was up for sale on Evil Bay a few years back. Looked really good apart from one detail: the owner had hacked away the slam panel to fit an oversize aluminum rad. I mentioned this on a message to the seller, and the picture magically disappeared. I can only assume the same didn't happen to the damage! 

Anyway, apart from the Frankenstein style surgery, a lovely car in a stunning colour. Enjoy!

[Eccentric shaft]

Week 17. Herschel Orange 1973 coupé.

[Eccentric shaft]

Green 73 Coupé US-spec. Nicely restored. Came up for sale a few years ago with a blown engine. Somebody got a bit over-excited, perhaps...

[Eccentric shaft]

More 1973 coupé. This time in Herschel Orange:

[Eccentric shaft]

Just what you want to discover when you lift that tarpaulin:
-a lot of work!