Initial D Roadster or let’s talk about ITBs

While Initial D is most famous for the rising popularity of a certain lightweight rear wheel drive economy car from Japan, and does feature an FD RX-7 rocking Red Suns stickers as a main protagonist, you may not know that it featured another small sports car from Hiroshima. The car I am referring to is the little red NA from the Seven Star Leaf team driven by Toru Suetsugu.

While Toru and his Miata tried to take on Takumi in a downhill challenge and ended up tasting bitter defeat, it is not to say that his roadster was not one of the nicer fictional cars on the show. Aside from the 1.8 Liter TODA stroker motor the most striking feature of his Miata were the RS Aizawa Individual Throttle Bodies under the hood.

Most would argue that if you are trying to make any sort of power at all from the once turbocharged 323 motor the best solution is to reunite the BP with a shiny snail and to turn up the boost. However there is just something simple about ITBs that just look more purposeful and uncluttered. While you will never make as much power as you would with a turbo, there is just something special about a set of trumpets under the hood.

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