Classic & Sports Car – The specialist: Silver Fern PerformanceMazda signed up as a licensee for Wankel's rotary technology in 1961, and soon got to grips with the main problems (having spent $50m on development).As well as the exotic Cosmo and RX-7, the technology was rolled out in more ordinary-looking Mazda models: the 1968-'73 R100 coupé, and the RX-2, 3 and 4 coupés and saloons of 1970-'78, to name just a few.Today, these early Japanese rotary-engined classic cars are rare jewels that enjoy a cult following in New Zealand and Australia.AdvertisementAdvertisementInterest is growing fast in Britain, too, aided by rotary specialist Silver Fern Performance of Holywell, North Wales.Classic & Sports Car – The specialist: Silver Fern PerformanceFounder Dwayne Aislabie is from New Zealand, but came to the UK 25 years ago.Dwayne was Toyota-trained in his home country then worked in Group B motorsport, creating a hairy, rotary-engined Ford Escort for his boss at Toyota.He set up Silver Fern in 2014, initially making rotary engines for a French company that built replica Group B RX-7s."We were in Deeside, then when COVID-19 hit we moved to Holywell," he explains. "The interest in the old rotary stuff is increasing."My sister runs the office; we have two technicians, and my son Bailey, who's 15, is starting with us having just finished school – that's his RX-7 on the ramp."Classic & Sports Car – The specialist: Silver Fern PerformanceSilver Fern has just completed an epic R100 restoration.AdvertisementAdvertisementDwayne says: "It turned up in the back of a Transit in boxes, like a big Meccano set. We have another one we are turning into a race replica – the owner is hoping to get it into Goodwood."Works teams of R100s did well in the Spa 24 Hours in 1969 and the Marathon de la Route in 1968.Thirst and reliability issues killed off the RX as a commercial proposition, and a lot of early parts were binned, but Dwayne got lucky when he bought a lorry-load of new-old-stock rotary items from a man in Scotland: "He was a former Mazda mechanic who rescued the parts from a skip. Panels, nose cones, lights, everything."Classic & Sports Car – The specialist: Silver Fern PerformanceThe 2003-'12 RX-8s, last of the rotary Mazdas (current MX-30 R-EV aside), are bargains currently, but rising in popularity and value.AdvertisementAdvertisementDwayne says: "A lot have been scrapped and they do rust; we are always welding them up."Silver Fern does the structural welding but uses a bodyshop on the same site for paintwork."They had a lot of problems with ignition coils," he continues, "with knock-on effects on the catalytic converters, which cost more than the value of the car to replace.""On the RX-8 they were looking for a longer, cleaner burn time," he continues. "I rebuilt one for a lady who was just tootling around, and all it really needed was decoking."They can do 100,000 miles and more, but the real value is in cars such as the RX-3, which had a race and rally pedigree."Classic & Sports Car – The specialist: Silver Fern PerformanceThe Renesis engine in the RX-8 suffered a variety of problems that can result in coolant in the sump oil, chatter marks on the apex seals and much more.AdvertisementAdvertisementIn the engine room, four rotaries are sitting ready to complete, including Dwayne's first NSU Ro80 motor rebuild.He says: "The Ro80 had peripheral ports, whereas the Mazda's breathing was less direct. But with all of them, the difficult part is setting up the rotors and getting the clearances right on the side seals."Pre-RX-7 rotary Mazdas are now few and far between in the UK.For his own use, Dwayne has a red RX-4 coupé with a crazy dashboard, a five-speed S1 RX-7 gearbox and an 8-Track stereo.Classic & Sports Car – The specialist: Silver Fern PerformanceThere's also a white classic RX-3 ripe for restoration, but on closer inspection it's not as rough as it first appears.AdvertisementAdvertisement"We were going to turn it into a rally car," says Dwayne. "It was Waxoyled, so that's saved the body."It took a long time to persuade the owner to part with the car. I might put in an FD RX-7 engine…"Images: Jack HarrisonThe knowledgeName Silver Fern PerformanceAddress Unit 2 Mostyn Road Business Park, Holywell, North WalesSpecialism Rotary engine rebuilds, performance upgrades and early Mazda restorationStaff FivePrices £85+VAT/hrTel +44(0)1244 820205Web facebook.com/Silverfernperformance We hope you enjoyed reading. Please click the 'Follow' button for more super stories from Classic & Sports Car.
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