Autoblog

Click the image above for more shots of Project Lemons.

After toiling away at Modacar in Livermore, CA yesterday, we can officially say that Autoblog's Project LeMons is underway. We were able to rip out the entire interior (sans dash), pull the rear hatch off, scrape out some sound deadening material, fit the rear end and begin to piece together a six-point roll cage for our FC RX-7. And we're only slightly worse for the wear.

The next big step is to begin fabricating parts for the roll bar, including a main hoop that was originally intended for an EK Civic. Casey, our man wielding the welder, was able to get one of the plates installed, while our photog friend Brad cut some of the tubing to spec and snapped off several shots, all while while Jay and I got intimate with the diff.

We're still debating themes and a team name, but we're keeping our cards close to our chest until a decision is firmed up. We will say that it might carry the torch for a black coupe from the decade of excess, with the possibility of sporting a Camino'd bed and some sort of P.A. system.

There'll be more updates to follow in the next few weeks, so watch this space and check out the gallery below, courtesy of Brad over at Shutterflick.

Click the image above for more pics of our rubbish racer.

"So you're really going to do this, huh?" We've lost count as to how many times we've heard that line over the course of the last two months. After covering the event live this past July, we came away from the 24 Hours of LeMons with dreams of surviving the crap-car enduro the next time it came around, and now it's official. We've been accepted, we've got a car and now, the unfortunate task of getting ready for the event begins.

We've secured a 1988 Mazda FC RX-7 for the "race", and by all outward appearances, it looks like a perfect contender. Front-engine, rear-wheel drive, plenty of space between the bumper and the engine to fit a V-mounted radiator when the inevitable front-end collisions occur – it's all there, well kind of. We still have to install a radiator, fit a new rear end, rip out the interior, make a cage and install all the required safety equipment. Oh, and the brakes aren't working. But that's all little stuff easily solved during the endless late nights we plan on putting into the build. And naturally, we'll be covering it all between now and the weekend of October 20 and 21.

Our friends at Modacar are helping with the build and are supplying us with a few hot shoes in the form of Casey Horner, Jay Juane, Brad Wood and Ken Falconitin, not to mention yours truly.

In the meantime, watch this space for ongoing updates, and although we've already got a temporary team name, we're open to your suggestions. Because just like everything else with LeMons, it's all about constant improvisation.