Watch an Old Mazda RX-7, Honda Civic Go Racing in New Roadkill

Roadkill usually features muscle cars or other V-8-powered creations. But every once in a while, David Freiburger and Mike Finnegan take on a completely different project. This episode is one such case. This time, the hosts each buy a Japanese car for $1,500 to enter in the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational.

Freiburger actually gets something decent for his $1,500, choosing a first-generation 1985 Mazda RX-7. Finnegan’s ride, a 1974 Honda Civic, is cool-looking but in rough shape and incredibly slow. That doesn’t stop him from giving it an affectionate nickname (Laphonda) and some TLC, however. After some cleaning and basic maintenance, Freiburger and Finnegan drive their cars to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where the event is being held.

But it wouldn’t be Roadkill without something failing mid-episode, and this time something fails catastrophically. Laphonda’s engine throws a rod just 50 miles outside of Vegas, and the duo has to get the car towed and perform major surgery one day before the race. Luckily, the hosts find a shop that will let them work on the car. They also connect with the Honda experts at Hasport, who have a spare engine for Laphonda. Except it isn’t the right engine. In true Roadkill fashion, the team has to employ all of their fabrication skills to jerry-rig the very-different CVCC engine and make it work in the Civic.

They finish just in time for the race and get to compete against each other, but not quite as planned. Watch the full episode below to find out which Japanese beater reigns supreme.

The post Watch an Old Mazda RX-7, Honda Civic Go Racing in New Roadkill appeared first on Motor Trend.

from Motor Trend http://ift.tt/2kCRyWe