STATUS: THE FD3S
I have owned a few cars over the years, but the FD3S has always been one of those that stays with you. This particular example is a 2002 model, imported from Japan in impeccable condition. No sunroof, factory blue paint, and still fitted with its original ETC toll machine. Small details that remind you where it came from. Under the bonnet sits the well known 13B REW twin turbo rotary. These later Series 8 cars left the factory producing 280 PS (206 kW) and 314 Nm in stock form, with the characteristic high revving nature that made the FD famous. It is paired with a 5 speed manual transmission, which is exactly how I prefer to run it. The current setup includes a Bride Zeta IV drivers seat, Works Bell Rapfix quick release, Dasai steering wheel, slotted brake rotors, Trust coilovers, and Work Meister S1 wheels. The Car Shop Glow LED tail lights and Option Howakan extras round out the look. It is a clean, usable street car that still wears its age well. The FD3S was always one of Mazdas most focused machines. Lightweight, sharp handling, and built around that unique rotary character. At just over 1,280 kg in standard form, with double wishbone suspension front and rear, it remains one of the best balanced sports cars of its era, and still sets and holds TimeAttack records around the world to this day. Right now the car is undergoing a significant amount of work. Over $30,000 worth. That story will come in future updates. For now, this is simply an introduction to the car that sits at the centre of what we do at Clubhouse Works. It is not a show queen and it is not finished. It is a living project that gets driven, modified, and documented in real time. There is something honest about these cars. They demand respect, they punish mistakes, and they reward proper maintenance. That is the kind of relationship we understand here. More to come.
