Starting from the top (pun intended), Tamon spent much of the three months allotted for getting the project finished in time for its Tokyo Auto Salon debut cutting the fixed roof and engineering ways to reinforce the body.Because an FD chassis wasn't designed from the factory to have the pillars scalped, ala Custer, the structural integrity was compromised. The last thing Tamon would want is for his creation to fall apart going over a small JDM speed bump. To illustrate, try pressing an milk carton from the sides, then cut the top off and try pushing it again.Hopefully you performed this exercise with an empty carton, otherwise it not only illustrates the physics of a top, but the dynamics of spilling fluid. Moving on, with a bit of welding, fabrication, and copious amounts of warm sak, the chassis was finally reinforced to allow for the next step in the car's metamorphosis.
With the hard part over, Tamon's next step was to start applying his design to the now open air RX-7. Tailoring it with an emphasis in creating a car that looked like a production spec model and not some freaky homemade Frankenstein Fiero knock-off conversion, Tamon began by sourcing a custom headlight from Trial to give the car a distinguishable fascia. Going for an exotic super car look, the next step was to widen the fenders for a total increase of 30mm in the front and 70mm in the rear. Wrapping the widened stance are Tamon's own front and rear bumpers with a carbon fiber duct and side skirt. As for the non-existent rear hatch, Tamon had to fabricate a new trunk and rear to replace the stock configuration. With trick bodywork, Tamon didn't want to run the stock taillights, so with some research he found that the ones off an '03 Infiniti M45 best fit the new lines of his design. After adding custom side mirrors and cooling vents in the hood, the entire car was sprayed with Show Up Eki Show's bright Jade Orange paint.
With the exterior completed, next on Tamon's to-do list was to add his own custom accents to the interior. Upgrades to the al-fresco cockpit include a series of Trial products starting with the re-upholstered TDC057 seats, carbon door panels, dash and console. A Sparco steering wheel, shift knob and pedals combined with a Stack ST-8130 display and Pivot boost gauge and engine starter further lends to the exotic car feel. With some help from Panasonic, Tamon installed its CN-HDS955MD GPS head unit, speakers, and sculpted a custom enclosure in the trunk using Panasonic subwoofers and LCD panels connected to a Panasonic camera.
With time running out from all the custom fabrication, Tamon wanted to upgrade the performance of the 13B-REW motor and quickly bolted on HKS' T51RKAI turbo, stainless manifold, blow-off valve and GT series wastegate to a huge small-mouth RE Amemiya Level-Man intercooler, plumbing and aluminum radiator. To free up the exhaust, the stock catalytic convertor was scrapped for an Amemiya unit and now flows out the Tamon Design exhaust. The increased power goes out through an ORC twin-plate clutch and is good for an estimated 450 hp, necessary for a car rocking four ultra-wide 19x10.5 Rays CE28N wheels wrapped in Falken stickies. As the clock ticked with urgency like an episode of 24, Tamon addressed the suspension needs for the roadster with a set of Ohlins adjustable coilovers, Amemiya front and rear antiroll bars, a custom roll cage and AP Racing brakes, all with seconds to spare before Falken scooped up the car to display at the recent '06 Auto Salon.