JOHN SAAD

MAZDA RX-3

JAN 2017

A MAZDA had never won Summernats Grand Champion until John Saad’s incredible 1972 RX-3 came along at ’Nats 29. Chris at CS Engineering played a huge part in the engineering, fabrication and assembly of FATRX3, while engine-wise, John kept things sensible, as the Mazda was always going to be a driver. He went for a turbocharged 13B Cosmo rotary donk, which makes 400rwhp – more than enough to make this pocket-rocket get up and boogie. FATRX3 is loaded with high-end hot rodding and street machine influences, with an immaculate interior to boot. “I wanted it to change people’s perceptions of what a rotor should look like,” John says. Mission accomplished!