Corvette ZR1 Goes Head to Head with LS3-Swapped 1994 FD RX7
C7 Corvette ZR1 lines up against an iconic Japanese sports coupe with an American twist. Who’s your money on?
Some people swear that keeping a car stock is the best decision you can make. You get the best possible dealer-optioned features and keep your warranty and sanity as a result. Others feel that building a car using the potential of the aftermarket is a better way to get exactly what you want from the platform and is worth the headaches you may encounter.
Thanks to Hoonigan‘s This vs That YouTube show, we get to find an answer to this age-old question. To spice things up even further, we also have a battle between the new and the old, which is the more capable when put to the test?
This time around the premier old guard of GM V8 engines, the LS3, in found an unlikely chassis: A 1994 FD Mazda RX7. The reliable and stout LS3 faces a difficult challenge because as far as capable vehicles in completely stock form go, there are few cars as performance-focused as the 2019 C7 ZR1 Corvette.
Stock v. Swapped, New v. Old
Sporting GM’s most powerful engine ever put into a production vehicle, the supercharged 755 HP LT5 is truly a remarkable piece of engineering. However, is it possible that another much older and developed platform could upset the new halo engine with the right setup and driver?
That is the question we are here to answer. However, in order to answer properly, we must break down some details about these individual vehicles.
How Did an LS3 End Up in an RX7?
The owner of this swapped RX7 is named Jerry. His connection with the car first began when he initially became enamored by the sleek body lines of the coupe as a friend of Jerry’s had one back in 1993. He also recalled being drawn by the sounds of the unique rotary engine but was disappointed by how often it would break.
Thus, when it came time for Jerry to purchase an RX7 of his own finally many years later, he knew that he wanted to ensure the Japanese coupe had some well-deserved reliability.
This RX7 is the first of his purchases toward his dream of one day owning the complete trifecta of classic 90’s Japanese tuner models: an MKIV Toyota Supra, an R34 Nissan GTR, and an FD Mazda RX7.
Naturally Aspirated FTW?
When asked what Jerry’s favorite part about the RX7 was he responded, “the body style and the torque of it. Also, it’s naturally aspirated, not too many NA cars right now.”
While this V8 is NA, it is not your average LS3 by any means. The engine was been built with LS7 internals and a host of standard bolt-ons for the platform, like a FAST LSX intake and Trick Flow 255 heads.
Tuned with a Holley ECU, this LS3 puts down a solid 500 WHP through a set of Toyo R888 tires. Will the 864-pound difference between the Japanese coupe and the C7 Corvette prove to be the difference?
Or will the modern platform and substantial power difference between the two be enough to keep the hungry V8-powered Mazda at bay?
Craziest Front Engine Factory Corvette Ever?
With only 2,000 ever built and only 3 percent of them being manual, Mike is happy to be the owner of this beautiful 7-speed manual 2019 C7 ZR1 with 24,000 miles.
Previous to the ZR1, Mike had purchased an automatic C7 Z06 after losing the battle with his wife about wanting a manual transmission. About a year later the couple was visiting the SEMA show in Las Vegas, where there was a C7 ZR1 on display.
His wife then told him, “I want this.” Mike initially thought she was joking, but a year later she would remind him, “you haven’t ordered my Corvette yet.” Two months later, this beautiful black ZR1 was finally theirs.
Stock Corvette ZR1 (Sort of)
Now the ZR1 has been kept for the most part stock, other than the upgraded factory cold air intake and a couple more carbon pieces such as the flare guards. The car used to be daily driven, but now Mike specifically doesn’t drive in the rain as he believes the car distracts other drivers due to its road presence.
I would have to agree because I would definitely be distracted if I saw one of these on the road. It’s simply a captivating car by any standard. Can that intimidating presence hold up when put toe to toe with some good competition? Most predictions heavily favor the ZR1, however, there is only one way to find out.
RX7 vs Corvette ZR1 Race Results
In typical Hoonigan fashion, the first race of a best of three is always a heads-up dig race to 1000 ft. During the first race, the RX7 clearly reacts faster to the drop than the ZR1.
Impressively, the RX7 is able to maintain its advantage all the way through the finish, beating out the C7 by over a car length.
In the second race, the loser gets to choose the format, on which they agree to a 30 mph roll race. Here the RX7 gives about a car length at the start as well. As they take off, the C7 looks in control, but the RX7 does finish worryingly close, within a half a car length by the end of the 1000 ft.
For the final conclusive race, they decide on another roll race, this time with the RX7 getting the jump. This last one was certainly the most competitive of the three.
However, the RX7 would still come out victorious by a full car length. Certainly not the initial result we all expected.
Older the Better?
We have to say we are seriously continually impressed by the capability of the NA LS3 engine even against its modern and cutting-edge older brother.
Some might say there was a difference in overall driver skill that could account for the results, but overall we know that it is the RX7 was at the disadvantage from the beginning.
How do you guys feel about these results? Is anybody else inspired to build a “mini C5” now? At the end of the day, a GM engine did win. Join the discussion here on LS1Tech!
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