Mississippi hero saves complete stranger's Mazda RX-7 from floodwaters in genius move

Proving that not all heroes wear capes, a Mississippi car enthusiast stepped in to rescue a stranger’s Mazda RX-7 from floodwater with a very smart move.

We all know that floodwater and cars don’t mix well. 

So much so, we’ve seen some folks go to some pretty extreme efforts to keep their cars safe. 

But back in 2020, this Mazda RX-7 was left in a parking garage in Biloxi, Mississippi, when Tropical Storm Cristobal hit – thankfully, a hero spotted the car and wasted no time in making sure it was saved.

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Saving a Mazda RX-7 from rising floodwaters

Local resident and big-time car guy Austin Owens was scrolling social media when the storm hit and saw a photo of his ‘dream car’ – a Mazda RX-7 – inside a garage that was flooding, and decided to spring into action. 

The image had been shared on a Cars & Coffee Facebook page, with the original poster also revealing the car’s location. 

So, Austin and his pal jumped into his Ford Bronco and raced to Home Depot, where they grabbed some cinder blocks. 

But actually getting to the car during a tropical storm was no mean feat, and the pair had to navigate around several road closures and streets flooded with up to four feet of water. 

Nonetheless, they persevered and eventually arrived at the parking garage where the Mazda RX-7 was parked. 

When he arrived, Austin found that the car’s owner – and some helpers, including fellow car lover Keean Le H – had already begun putting the RX-7 onto some bricks and wooden planks in an attempt to keep it safe from the water. 

However, as the water levels were continuing to rise, the setup wasn’t quite adequate to keep the Mazda out of harm’s way. 

Fortunately, Austin and his friend had larger blocks and were able to raise the car and provide a much sturdier foundation, Keean Le H explained to Jalopnik. 

When asked why he decided to help save a complete stranger’s car, Austin told Jalopnik that he just couldn’t leave such a stunning car to get totaled by water. 

“It’s a beautiful, rare car, and there aren’t too many of them around anymore,” he said. 

“It’s one of my dream cars. There’s no way I can leave that car sitting there like that.”

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Did the Mazda survive its run-in with a tropical storm?

Water at the garage was ‘knee deep’ in some parts, but thankfully, Austin’s arrival meant that it mostly kept pretty dry. 

When asked how the car was after its run-in with the tropical storm, Keean Le H said it was ‘still fine’ as no water got in and that it drove perfectly with ‘no issues whatsoever’. 

Sadly, the same couldn’t be said for the Bronco Austin and his pal used to get to the Mazda. 

All that floodwater killed the Bronco’s transmission, and the duo had to drive home in second gear. 

Here’s hoping it wasn’t too expensive a fix for the hero. 

Why is the RX-7 so iconic?

The rotary engine

The RX-7 is inseparable from Mazda’s rotary engine. It was smaller, lighter, and revved higher than piston engines, giving the car a unique sound, smoothness, and character that nothing else quite matched.

Perfect balance and driving feel

Because the engine was so compact, Mazda could place it far back in the chassis. This gave the RX-7 exceptional balance, precise steering, and a driving feel that enthusiasts still praise today.

Motorsport credibility

The RX-7 dominated its class in IMSA racing during the 1980s and built a reputation as a giant killer. It proved that unconventional engineering could beat established rivals.

Japanese tuning culture

The RX-7 became a hero car in drifting, time attack, and street tuning scenes. Its lightweight chassis and tunable rotary engine made it a favourite for modification.

Pop culture impact

The FD RX-7 became globally famous through video games like Gran Turismo, Need for Speed, and films such as The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. Its shape is instantly recognisable.

Rarity and purity

Unlike many modern performance cars, the RX-7 was relatively simple, lightweight, and focused entirely on driving enjoyment. As numbers decline and clean examples become rarer, its legend continues to grow.

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