rivalrx Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Build thread //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/41664-rivalrx-1972-mazda-618-coupe/ Right. I bought this last year or so from Idaho USA and now it is sitting in a barn in NZ...stoked. I need to have it complied therefore the following I'm having done at the same time as the rust needs fixingRx2 rear beaver out onBoth rear quarter rust patches sortedArea below the front and rear windscreen repaired for rustSteering column moved to the right hand side (yes LHD to RHD conversion)Steering box and idler arm switchedOnce complied it can be certed for 13b and all the other bits before being road worthy.It's spent its life in Idaho which is one of the top 3 driest states in the USA making it a perfect project. I bought it based on a few pics from craigslist so I'm stoked to land it in nz and find it's pretty solid.These were only produced in USA for 1 year making this one rare Mazda...Wikipedia says...616/618 (USA)[edit]The 616 was a major component of Mazda's United States expansion in 1971, having been preceded by its rotary brother, the RX-2, the previous year. It featured the 1.6 L (1,586 cc) engine, which was later used in the 808. The American Capella was updated and renamed the next year. The 1972 618 had a larger 1.8 L (1,796 cc) engine. Lasting just one year, the 618 nameplate was not used again in the United States and the only Capella for 1973 was the RX-2. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KKtrips Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Keep it LHD for uniqueness. They are piece of piss to drive and if you are worried about Maccas drive through - just go through backwards. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rivalrx Posted December 24, 2013 Author Share Posted December 24, 2013 HAHAHA MAckas drive through. GOLD. I have all the bits to convert it no drama and as it's not a 'minter' I dont mind RHD ing it. It can be complied leaving it LHD though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KKtrips Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Haha I'm speaking from experience... I had a LHD Austin 1300 and everything about that was fine except the first time I tried to go through drivethru and it dawned on me the logistics were not good. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rivalrx Posted December 24, 2013 Author Share Posted December 24, 2013 Crack up! The blanking holes are all there on the firewall so should be easy enough to do. I have to apologise for the 'mega upload' of pics. I have a thread that not many people looked at on another forum so I'm updating it slowly but surely. Pic's speak 1000 words and all that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rivalrx Posted December 24, 2013 Author Share Posted December 24, 2013 I will load more later as I don't want to peak too soon. I've not seen the car in the flesh as yet (should be checking it out this January. been living in London for the last 6 years so had this bad boy tucked in a shed waiting for me to get involved. I'd like to think I have 95% of the important bits to get it running....apart from an engine and exhaust that is....both reasonably important... Should be a cool head turner and fun project that doesn't cost the earth...yet I'm not planning to paint it at all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rivalrx Posted December 24, 2013 Author Share Posted December 24, 2013 I bought the car from 1 pic in Idaho Craigslist. I paid the dude and he held it for me for 9 months until I saved up enough for shipping to NZ from LA. Top man. You will see in later pics that the dude put 4 new tires on for me $100 US and they are NEW white walled 13's turned inside. So keen to reverse then on my steel rims with the chrome trim and centre caps..that or choose from the 2 sets of Mazda hub caps for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WLDRX2 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Hay Mayson, ya made it here. I can't believe you still haven't been to see the rat yet ! I would have been down to it in a flash. Bit more traffic here than KR too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rivalrx Posted December 24, 2013 Author Share Posted December 24, 2013 Hey!!!!! - maaaaate...I'm gagging to see it. I think mid january I will have a look. Need a fn garage in Auckland now...sigh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllTorque Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 This must stay lhd! I spot a CB aerial mount on the boot. Gotta get a 6 foot whip on there. Good luck with compliance. Hopefully there isn't too much hidden rust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KKtrips Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Where are you looking in Auckland? XSSteve has a lockup in Auckland that has a couple of spots to fill I think. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourfingapete Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Agree..leave it left hook....... I love seeing lil Jappas running round with the passenger driving. Freaks people out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rivalrx Posted December 24, 2013 Author Share Posted December 24, 2013 The CB areal is gone haha. Although I can picture myself chatting to the truckies "shepherd to lost sheep - got ya ears on come back" I will PM XSSteve re the lock up. I will be on the North Shore Re the LHD - let me sit in it for a bit and get the feel. Something about LHD mazdas i'm uneasy with? I don't mind chev fords but personally I would prefer RHD. Cheers for all the input and comments!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KKtrips Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 The CB areal is gone haha. Although I can picture myself chatting to the truckies "shepherd to lost sheep - got ya ears on come back" I will PM XSSteve re the lock up. I will be on the North Shore Re the LHD - let me sit in it for a bit and get the feel. Something about LHD mazdas i'm uneasy with? I don't mind chev fords but personally I would prefer RHD. Cheers for all the input and comments!!! It's XSSpeed sorry. LOL Here is his ad - he is a regular and GC so not shifty or anything. //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/39822-workshop-one-car-working-spacestorage-available-akl/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corbie Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 just look out for that other guy shed is in south auckland. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yetchh Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Talk about rare.. seems to be fairly solid cept for the bits above the back arches, just well used. Concur with keeping it left hook as its a yank mazda might as well keep with its roots.. I reckon you should also keep it piston, you can get some pretty good power out of those 4 bangers, specially if you upgrade to the 2.0 and force feed it.. not everything needs a rota 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raizer Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 +1 on keeping it left hook. I'd probably keep the stock rear lights too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoeddynz Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Hey mason- good to see you on here. Make sure you muck in heaps and bag a seat from Auckland for the nats in Nelson. I reckon if you do keep the paint on this car as is it'll rock! Patina like that cant be made. Well it can.. but yours is original! We need to get Hayden on here and get his UK rx3 on OS. I wonder when his arrives? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danger Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Fuck yeah I think I have a 618 manual but i've never actually seen one 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rivalrx Posted December 24, 2013 Author Share Posted December 24, 2013 618 Manual!!!!!! Awesome - do you have a pic? the 1.8L was seized and potentially is still on the wheel barrow. I'm a rotor head so it must be rotorised to quench my urges. As for the USA spec red 616/618 tail lights, these have been sold to aussie (for 1/3 of what I paid for the entire car)!!!! RE the wheel arch rust - I have 2 NOS RX2 rear quarter panels that I'm using the lower half for the repairs as they are the same as the coupe. Pics to follow. There is rust below the rear windscreen too - I tracked down a parcel tray cut from a wrecked coupe in USA for $400 delivered to NZ. This will save me bucket loads for the compliance repairs. For a bit of time spent on the phone and loads on the internet I should have saved myself most of the initial compliance quote of 4-6k as that was fabbing all the repair panels. Now I have all new or mint used replacement parts to cut and shut in. I'm keen to prove that these cars needn't be out of budget for the typical joker. Patina - it shall stay the same. Ya just can't buy patina. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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