We now live in an era when rotary swaps are more popular than ever, but you should know there are also owners of Wankel-animated machines that prefer to go for reciprocating engines. And the example I've brought along for today seems just right, as this involves a Mazda RX-7 that has been converted to Volvo power.
The RX-7 sitting before us doesn't pack a Wankel motor, with its engine compartment now holding a Volvo Redblock engine. You know, the four-cylinder engine family that was so popular on Swedish machines built between the mid 70s and the late 90s.
"Perhaps a V8 swap is easier to understand, but why would anybody want an L4 in their Mazda RX-7?" I hear you asking?
And while I'm not familiar to how this build came to be, I have to mention we're dealing with a drift car here (yep, somewhere in there we have a generous turbo). So perhaps the Wankel heart of the Japanese machine was already out of use (they're not exactly famous for their reliability) when the owner decided to turn the sportscar into a sideways machine.
Speaking of which, the aficioando behind the project describes himself as an international drifting judge from Sweden (you can check out his Instagtam profile below).
Many drift projects have to be kept on a tight budget and it looks like this is one of them, but the pathway chosen by the owner means this contraption strays from the beaten path. After all, we wouldn't be here, talking about the toy, if this packed a three-rotor, would we?
Now, you can check out the Volvo-swapped Mazda RX-7 doing its drifting thing in the piece of footage below, but keep in mind that the action kicks off at the 1:55 point of the clip.
PS: If you're looking for some form of compensation, here'a a story that involves a Corvette getting Wankel muscle in the US.
In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist. Full profile
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