After four seasons of racing the Mazda RX-7, which included the 1983 Australian Touring Car Championship, Allan Moffat was searching for a new model due to the decision by CAMS to change to Group A in 1985 and had found a solution.
There was controversy surrounding the RX-7 as the question remained throughout its stint of whether it was a sportscar or not. Chevrolet’s Camaro had no concern when Kevin Bartlett entered one in 1980, but the V8 engine up front may have been why.
With Group A being introduced for 1987 and the RX-7 being uncompetitive in the ruleset, Moffat was on the hunt for a replacement.
Moffat enjoyed a great relationship from Mazda in Japan and was eager to continue this further, so came up with a product suitable for the new regulations.
The result was a 5.0-litre Ford V8 being partnered with Mazda’s premium 929 product.
Work was completed at Moffat’s Toorak workshop and the engine fitted perfectly inside the 929, so did the gearstick to make it a seamless adjustment.
The stumbling block was the requirement of 5000 units needing to be produced and it was this mass expense that Mazda Japan baulked at to end its touring car stint in Australia.
After testing out at Sandown, the modified 929 was returned to a road car and Moffat entered the commentary box as Channel 7 snapped up his services due to it picking up the ATCC coverage in 1985.
A Dutch 929 was built using a rotary engine and contested multiple Spa 24 Hour races during the Group A period.
Moffat and the 929 remain a what could have been moment in touring car history.