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So after a few years of living somewhat of a snowbum lifestyle, I made a decision a few months ago to give I guess 'normal' life a try and made the decision to move back to NZ and look for a 'proper' job. I'd always kept my eye on trademe over the years and once I'd made the decision to move home I thought I'd keep my eye out for an old mazda to buy. And well, I've finally got myself another old car. Was on trademe a month or two ago, I emailed the seller asking about holding the car for me if I paid a deposit, he was happy to do that. And thanks to smokin'joe on here who managed to check out the car for me in before I placed any bids on the auction. ( i still owe you some beers joe!) After he gave me the thumbs up I decided to watch and bid. Paid a bit more than I wanted, but heck, it's something I wanted, and not that its a rare car by any means, and it's not the chrome bumper earlier model, but finding one in original condition isn't too easy anymore. So now I had paid a $1000 deposit on a car in Temuka and I was in Whistler, Canada. Id been planning a holiday home in October, and figured this would be a perfect time to go pick up the car and do a road trip back to Auckland with it! So I booked a flight from Auckland to Christchurch, then a bus ticket to Temuka and met the seller to exchange my money for the car keys! The drive back was quick but awesome, would of liked to take a bit longer, but time was precious, and needed to be back in Auckland asap. The car goes really well for how many kms it's done, and being the 5 speed model made the 100-110km/h driving a lot easier. It's not too bad on gas either and the motor has a lot of pep and torque for an old girl. Met Dave (Horse25) just out of Christchurch on my drive back up and picked up some escort bits n pieces and did a freight run up to Auckland for a nice guy with a mint mk1 escort he's modified for his son. I did notice on the auction photos of the interior that there was only an AM radio, and for a 14 hour plus drive, I knew that it would not do! So I took down my little speaker and used the cigarette lighter to alternate between charging the speaker and charging my phone haha. So here's a couple more pics; Luckily my friend had a spare spot in his garage, so it's gonna sit there for the next couple of months till I'm back in NZ again; Plans so far, either get the steel's widened (i quite like the '4 spoke' design of these) or find some other wheels I like that aren't going to cost a fortune, check out the suspension side of things, new shocks, lower springs, new steering bushes etc. And that will be it for a while, engine will do me fine for now, eventually maybe a rotary, but who knows, I'm just happy to have an old car again, and hoping to get along to a few oldschool meets and events in the future.

Hea a few pics of mi car nd the project which started three years ago in jan 2010 It was first built as a road car but gave up on the idea after a few 2 many fines nd a slight prang in the rear end. Now I plan to drift it nd have only the cage left to build but I'm sure it will be under constant development for life. Specs Mazda 1979 626 rwd 2.0litre fe3n factory bottom end 272 cams Solid lifters crowner vavle springs Turbonectics T04b Turbo Link G4 Storm 044 Bosch pump Malory lift pump Rx2 twin dizzie long ratio 4 speed pan type gear box Hilux 4.1 diff Mitsubishi gto 4pot brakes , factory fronts on the rear. Custom shocks all round, custom front end, custom manifold and plenum All work done by me except for tune and head work. Current power is 317hp on 11psi will push around 20psi which mi friends is and he makes a reliable 290kw or 380ish hp. Will add pics now how do I add video ?