13. Mazda RX-8 V8 Swap
The Mazda RX-8 is beloved for its sharp handling and lightweight, rear-wheel-drive platform—but its rotary engine is often swapped for a reliable LS-series V8. This popular conversion combines the RX-8’s agile chassis with the brute force of American V8 power. Thanks to the RX-8’s factory manual transmission and widespread aftermarket support, fitting a V8 and retaining manual shifting is a well-documented process. The result is a truly unique, affordable performance machine. For inspiration, check out this MotorTrend LS-swapped RX-8 build.