So he helped design or make decisions about the styling of the RX-7's? Way cool, all three generations still look great compared to every other car of their era. Can you ask him what, if anything, he'd change about the RX-7 (whether it's styling-related or not)? What sort of car would he have built if he didn't have to worry about a budget?

-s-

 

heres for the nay sayers of the nay sayers. working under mr. matano were a large number of designers. one of these designers was wu-huang chin. this guy is the guy that designed 99% of the fd exterior. he's also responsible for other mazda projects ranging from the miata to the rx8. wu-huang chin:

http://www.carartinc.com/products.as...mp=2&menu=C843

according to jack yamaguchi in his fd book, mr. matano instructed his team(MCA) focus their designs on front engine rwd layout(long nose, rear cabin) whereas the team in hiroshima(MC) designed mid engined cars(forward cabin, shorter nose). also chin has been quoted as saying that his jaguar e-type was a source of inspiration for the fd design.

but even though chin's design was the primary working model for the fd design, it incorporated smaller features/changes taken from other design models and suggesstions from others in the design team.

 

from the link above:

"I first started working on the 3rd generation RX-7 in 1988. Soft, organic aero shapes were the trend of the time. Our goal was to develop a timeless design along the lines of the legendary Ferrari and Jaguar sports / racing cars from the 60s. We pictured in our minds this car being presented at the Pebble Beach Concours 20 years later. However, we did not want to borrow any heritage from others, instead we looked at the Cosmo Sport, the first and second generation RX-7s and tried to continue this Mazda rotary heritage.

The air outlet on the front fender behind the front wheel was a theme I pushed for right from the beginning. This leads to the lower door cut which curves up and flows into the B pillar. The movement of these elements gave the design a dynamic stance. The outlet was meant to extract heat from the engine compartment. It also hints at the front-midship layout of the rotary power plant. The outlet was carefully sculpted to have an organic look as if the car was a living creature and this was its breathing orifice.

At one point of the development, I was told by engineering that an outlet for the engine room was not necessary and we had to take this feature off the clay model. As you can imagine, it took a lot of character away from the design and we were all disappointed. Luckily, the brake engineers told us later that they needed to vent the hot air from the front brakes away from the engine room and exhaust it via ducts on the front fender, much to my relief, I got my air outlet back!

Before the RX-7, we were working on a few blue-sky projects searching for advanced design themes. One of these was the RX-44. Mazda was experimenting with hydrogen rotary engines at the time. I did a futuristic sedan powered by a 4-rotor hydrogen engine. It seats 4 persons in a diamond pattern with the driver up front at the center. To hint at this seating arrangement, I put 4 bubbles on the roof of the car in the same diamond pattern. Later, my boss Tom Matano did a 3 passenger mid-engine super car powered by a 3-rotor engine. He put 3 bubbles on his model. When we started the RX-7, which was a 2-seater powered by a 2-rotor engine, It was only natural for us to put 2 bubbles on the roof. Tom and I have since referred to it affectionately as the 'double bubble!'"

-Wu-Huang Chin

 

There are several differnt meets trying to be organized at the same time around august. The Santa Rosa area is trying to organize a for the 28th and there is also a mazda a meet around the 12th and 13.

 

^What are you trying to prove. Ive already said that Tom was a team leader and not sole designer. Anyway you just proved that Tom was the one responsible for the direction of the design. If it was not for him the design would of been more "japan" style instead of having the long nose distinctive look that we all know and love. You are still welcome to the meeto. However as I stated before, anyone who talks **** to Tom will be injured by my hands.

 

I changed my mind-seven six you are not welcome. If you show up just make sure I dont know what youre screen name is.

 

Damn, so hostile.

 

exactly what im thinking walien.

hey tom, im not proving anything nor was i talking to u. what i provided was info in response to scratch's post. its info for those interested in this topic.

im not talking **** about matano. u're taking info personally for some reason. like i said before matano deserves credit for his guidance of the design team.

yet u have to take everything i've posted in a negative context. u'd rather tell me that im ****-talking and trying 2 downplay his role with the fd, when im just quoting **** i've read.

 

i'll make it all better

 

your response to me taught me nothing i didnt already know. i own the yamaguchi and dinkel book too. what was your point about nay sayers of nay sayers?

 

that line had no intent. the post u quoted was directed toward tom not you.

i don't have beef with either of you. and how this thread became hostile is a mystery to me.

u posted info on matano i posted some on chin to complete the story. anyway,

 

shut up please!

I just want to know who is interested in meeting Matano. I think he is free this comming weekend.