Maintaining an original condition is no easy feat. The inevitable wear and tear from aging, the scarcity of genuine parts, and so on. Yet, this 1972 Mazda Savanna RX-3 GT boasts a state as close as possible to its original following a meticulous restoration.

To successfully restore a car while maintaining its originality, three key elements are required:
Knowledge
A highly original base car
Cooperation with those who understand and respect details
This particular 1972 Mazda Savanna RX-3 GT satisfies all three requirements and showcases itself as an adeptly restored example.
The car's owner is one of Kyushu's leading mechanics, renowned for his extraordinary skills as a support mechanic for classic rallies. His excellence has earned him a loyal following, particularly for his deep knowledge and understanding of Porsches. However, his expertise isn’t limited to just Porsche. His garage houses a wide range of both domestic and imported cars, old and new; a proof of his solid understanding and technical skills.
This Savanna was discovered by the owner. It was released as the road-going version of the racing car that had put an end to the Hakosuka’s winning streak. Its success in racing and affordability helped the Savanna achieve popularity, resulting in many of these cars being modified to look like race cars, with flared fenders and chin spoilers. Furthermore, due to its affordability, many of the units were poorly maintained, so unmodified well-kept examples of the Savanna are increasingly rare - making this particular 1972 model, with its 12A engine manufactured in the same year before emissions regulations changed, particularly special.


When the car was delivered to the owner, while it retained a high level of originality, its condition was far from ideal. But, as they say, “let the baker bake the bread”. So, the owner visited a bodywork and paint shop and had the car repainted. Normally, a paint restoration involves removing the engine compartment, hood, and storage room to repaint the interior, but there were many parts, such as the original color code sticker and engine room plates, that the owner did not want to remove, so only the exterior was repainted.
The engine was sent to a restoration expert well-known for their expertise in rotary engines. The rotors and seals were replaced, and the engine was fully restored. The car's original downdraft carburetor was also replaced with a genuine one, but the original air cleaner was nowhere to be found. Fortunately, the restoration shop had a spare, so the engine compartment was able to be revived to its factory appearance.
The only part the owner wasn't fully satisfied with was the front seats, which had been reupholstered by the previous owner. However, with the factory-installed 8-track stereo and a Poppy car freshener placed on the rear board, the car gives off a nostalgic atmosphere, as though it has travelled straight from the 1970s.
Since this car has undergone restoration, it is not necessarily a perfect “original”. However, the meticulousness of the work brought it as close to its original state as possible, capturing not just the look but also the very essence and atmosphere of the car as it was back in the day.