Did you get your Mazda MX-5 RF invitation?

22 August, 2016

 

That’s right Miata fans, if you want one of the awesome-looking Mazda MX-5 Retractable Fastbacks (RF), you’re going to need to be on Mazda’s emailing list. Mazda displayed the RF-model MX-5 at various auto shows as a concept, and, as it received a great deal of praise, they’ve decided to produce 1000 of them to test the waters — but they’re only being offered to those ‘worthy’ of the ownership. 

For me, the RF model was the styling revamp that the MX-5 needed. I don’t like soft-tops, and the styling of the later MX-5s aren’t what I’d call ‘manly’. With the addition of the fastback, the MX-5 now has a new road presence worth talking about. With a lower ride height and a set of aggressive wheels, the MX-5 could out ‘manly’ a few muscle cars.

The RF will be offered in both a manual and automatic transmission. Still, the factory 1.5-litre and two-litre variants don’t produce any power worth mentioning. The RF model will only come in the Machine Gray with a black roof panel colour, as seen here in the images, and will feature Auburn Nappa leather on the inside. 

Lancia Stratos – building a winner

On his own, and later with his wife Suzie, Craig Tickle has built and raced many rally cars. Starting in 1988, Craig went half shares in a Mk1 Escort and took it rallying. Apart from a few years in the US studying how to be a nuclear engineer, he has always had a rally car in the garage. When he is not playing with cars, he works as an engineer for his design consulting company.
Naturally, anybody interested in rallying has heard of the Lancia Stratos, the poster child and winner of the World Rally circuit in 1974, ’75, and ’76. Just as the Lamborghini Countach rebranded the world of supercars, so, too, did the Lancia Stratos when it came to getting down and dirty in the rally world.

This could be good news for restoring cars and bikes – but we must be quick!

Our parliament is currently considering a member’s Bill, drawn by ballot, called the ‘Right to Repair’ Bill.
It’s due to go a Select Committee for consideration, and we can make submissions ie say what we think of it, before 3 April this year. It’s important because it will make spare parts and information for doing repairs far more readily available and this should slow the rate at which appliances, toys and so on get sent to landfill.