Let’s Build a JDM Car!

In Gaming Factory, cars are our life. Not only do we drive aroundracetracksto learn all about drifting, but we also privately work on our own vehicles.

This year, we visited Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, and brought an RX-7 with us. The car wasn’t a rental—it belongs to one of our developers, BananaBoy. The Mazda has become something of a star at the show, so we thought we’d share a bit of its background with you. To do that, we interviewed the owner. Let’s get started!


[h3]Why did you choose this particular model?[/h3]

The Mazda RX-7 has always been on my ‘must-have’ list of cars—it’s my absolute favorite JDM in terms of looks. In 2016, I made a 500-kilometer drive across Poland to trade my Subaru for an RX-7. However, I ended up backing out because the poor condition of the Mazda didn’t compare to the pristine Impreza I had. For the next six years, I regretted that decision! 😊

[h3]Does your car have a unique history or an interesting past?[/h3]

Is it interesting? That’s not for me to judge. Unfortunately, many of today’s highly sought-after JDMs have a similar story, often without a happy ending. This particular RX-7 comes from Japan, where it was driven from 1993 for at least ten years. It later made its way to the UK, where it underwent numerous mechanical modifications. When it was imported to Poland in 2012, it had a freshly built engine with around 500 horsepower. Interestingly, the car was imported with the intention of removing the engine and other parts, which were repurposed into another RX-7. Since then, it had been sitting in a corner of a garage, gathering dust.


[h3]Was this car difficult to acquire? What was the buying process like?[/h3]

The Mazda RX-7 is a 30-plus-year-old legend that still commands a high price. In the spring of 2022, I decided it was now or never. I spread the word among friends in the industry and on motoring groups, searching for an RX-7—whether it was a project, a rebuild, or a model in great condition. A few offers came through, including the car we’re discussing today. However, because it was incomplete, I initially opted for a fully operational Mazda. A few months later, the same car turned up again, this time at a much better price. Even though I already owned one RX-7, I simply couldn’t say no!

[h3]What key modifications did you make and why?[/h3]

A more accurate question might be, “Is there anything you haven’t modified?” 😛 As I mentioned, the car had been collecting dust in the shop for about ten years without an engine. During that time, it had been “robbed” of parts needed for other projects. By the time I bought it back, you could say it was just a bare shell with no drivetrain and a rundown interior. The car essentially needed to be built from scratch. It was completely rebuilt, both mechanically and visually, and now sports a new color as well.


[h3]Do you have any plans for future improvements or tuning?[/h3]

Of course! As of today, I still consider the car unfinished, and it needs additional work. First, the electrics need to be completed—I want the car to be fully functional, which includes working air conditioning, gauges, and a sound system. The suspension also needs attention. I plan to replace the stock control arms with adjustable ones, radically alter the geometry for drifting, and possibly upgrade the wheels to something more interesting.

[h3]What engine is in your car? How much power does your car's engine generate and what vehicle performance it assures?[/h3]

The current engine is the complete opposite of the original rotary (Wankel) engine—a 3-liter M57 diesel from BMW. So, I swapped out a high-revving, low-torque petrol engine for a slow-revving diesel with several times the torque. At this stage, after the engine swap, it produces 260 horsepower and about 600 Nm of torque. This is more than enough for drifting. However, if I decide I need more power, this engine has the potential to handle significant upgrades comfortably.


[h3]What is your favourite visual element on your car? (e.g. body kit, paint job, wheels).[/h3]

I don’t think I have a single favorite component. For me, the most important thing is how the individual parts come together to form a cohesive whole. The body kit from C-West, combined with the RE Amemiya bonnet and carbon wing, is my favorite tuning "package" for the RX-7 body. The car has beautiful lines on its own, and these additions guarantee it catches the eye of anyone with even a passing interest in cars. I didn’t want to overwhelm those lines with a flashy color. The factory red was replaced with Titanium Gray, also from the Mazda RX-7 factory palette, and subtly enhanced with a wraparound livery reminiscent of the early 2000s—the golden age of tuning in Japan and worldwide. I’ve paired the look with classic sports rims, the Work Emotion 11R. However, I wouldn’t rule out switching to something else in the future. I tend to get bored quickly and like to change things up. 😊

[h3]Is your exhaust system custom? If so, what did you change and why?[/h3]

The entire exhaust system is handmade from stainless steel. Since it’s a supercharged diesel, it doesn’t produce enough noise to require mufflers. As a result, it’s a straight pipe with a 3-inch diameter, expanding to 4.5 inches in the end section.


[h3]What makes this car unique from other JDM cars?[/h3]

(Wankel) engine was also a signature feature of the RX series, and no other widely known JDM model had a similar engine. Now, with the diesel swap, it’s even more distinctive. I haven’t come across another RX-7 FD anywhere in the world where someone has made a modification quite like this—it’s a bit of a controversial choice! 😛

[h3]How do people react when they see your car on the street?[/h3]

The hype around Japanese classics has grown enormously in recent years. I often see people taking photos of my car, pointing at it, or hearing children shout in excitement. You have to realize that these cars are almost extinct—there are only a few dozen left in Poland. In my town, only two RX-7s have been spotted over the last decade, and both of them are mine. This makes the car very special. For my generation, the RX-7 is an icon, well-known from games and films. Seeing one in person on the street becomes a memorable experience, even for those who don’t consider themselves car enthusiasts.


[h3]Do you own any other cars? If so, do you have any favourites?[/h3]

There are plenty of cars I’d like to own, but my budget doesn’t allow me to have them all at once, so I change cars frequently—selling and buying as I go. I bought my first car in 2011, and since then, I’ve owned about 200 different models. If that sounds absurd, just imagine my friend, who owns a similar number of cars at any given time, spread across different storage locations. 😊 Currently, I own the RX-7 we’ve been discussing, a Nissan 350Z, a Volkswagen Golf Convertible (my first car), a Lincoln Limousine from one of Donald Trump’s hotels, a Peugeot 206 RC, and a Tesla Model S, which is my daily driver. Over the years, I’ve also had many radically different vehicles, including around 20 Mazda MX-5s, a Hummer H2, a Porsche Boxster, 911, and Cayenne, a Bentley Continental GT, an Aston Martin DB9, three Nissan Silvia S15s, two Skyline R34s, a Toyota Chaser, two Subaru Impreza WRXs, an original Mazda RX-7, and many more.

Right now, I’m saving up for my next dream car—a Ferrari or Lamborghini.

Thank you for the talk!



We hope this interview has given you a closer look at what it means to own and cherish a piece of JDM history. If you have any burning questions or your own stories about your dream cars, let us know in the comment section below!

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