So I have a buddy that was selling his car because he just got a 240. He was looking for some one to buy his old car. So I thought I would pick it up and make it my new project. It's a 1979 RX7 with 15k original miles. 4speed, no rust, just replaced the water pump, starter, all hoses and gaskets. Runs like new. He is the second owner and his grandpa was the first. I don't have picks of it but this is the color and what it looks like. I wll try to get some pic's up of it today. Let me know what you think. Good buy/not what ever input you got!
Yeah, but that could be good or bad. If an engine han't run idle and used regularly at has been neglected it might not be running great and may need a swap. At least the Chassis is good and RX7s have a lot of potencial.
Thanks man. I will hopefully at some point in time. Yup. 15k. His grandpa got it new in 79 for my buddys uncle. His uncle drove it for like a month and gave it back to his dad.(can't remember why) Any ways his grandpa drove it for a few years and then just parked it. (I dont think it's ever seen snow) Like two years ago he asked his grandpa what was wrong with it and he said nothing and gave it to him. It need a tune-up and what not so he had it all gone through. I'm just going to get it a pait job cuz it;'s faded from sitting in the sun for so many years, springs and sway bars and some nice wheels. I was planning on waitting for the motor to go before a swap. Or I may paint it and sell it cuz I got it for stupid cheep. I know it's a good runner cuz he drives it every day.
Holy low mileage, Batman! I'm jealous. Old RX-7s are sweet. Just don't make it Hella Frush. Don't rice it out at all. Restore it as the classic it is. It would be a shame to apply modern ricer aesthetic sense to it.
:laugh: no worrys guys! The last thing it will be is "hellaflush"! Just some new wheels and springs. The oem wheels have to go though! I was thinking something like these http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda-Performance-Part/60-10437.html. I plan repainting it and then leaven it.
20B is the plan I have for my 85 if I ever have lots of money.. if not Series 6 13b turbo is on the books... (can you say 500whp DD in a tidy little sports car).. also nice buy with that low of mileage... I wanna drive it sometime.. I miss rotaries Rhys Millen had one of those that Carl posted that they made AWD.. yes all wheel drive... you wont get tooooo much love for rotories around here... but I would love to have a look at her.... I had a yellow 82 with a 12a Turbo back in Australia, and had a couple of other rotaries back in the day.. I love em View attachment 16798 the 85 I have now... bought it for $400 running with bad 2nd gear... pulled motor and trans and sold them back to the guy I bought it form for basically $300.. os the car has cost me $100.. this pictures is after I pulled the engine and started doing a little body prep.. it has sat like this for 3yrs now... View attachment 16799 my old Rx7 with 12turbo.. over 7yrs on that engine and still whooped a lot of v8's View attachment 16800 my first rotary 1973 Mazda RX3 thing idled at 112DB.. painted it red for $300 View attachment 16801 my buddies RX7.. I may get one of these instead of doing my 85. and just noticed my old TL1000R in the background.. man I miss that bike..
I had one of those 1st gen rx-7's and loved it. No, or very little, power from the 12a. I had to sell it since it would not pass the emissions test (anybody remember those?). Put on a nice set of wheels and keep it stock... At this point you could get a collectors plate for it...
I have very, very fond memories of an '85 RX7 that my buddy Paul owned. We used to beat the snot out of that car and it just kept coming back for more and more. One of the most entertaining cars I've ever driven, I think the only car I liked more was my '74 Datsun 260Z.
great buy, i used to own a 86 na fc rx7 and man, the sound of the rotories down my street was like sex. too bad it got caught on fire and then sold it. i must have a thing for fire......anywho, nice car:biggrin:
there is a good group of people in the MN/WI/MI rally scene that know how to make good power out of the old 7s. they are such awesome little cars and finding one like that with no rust is one hell of a find. enjoy!
This is the only other old school car I hope to have one day! I think they are just beautiful cars!:yumyum: You are a very lucky man to have owned one!
When you start looking for one, look on the West Coast and down in the Southwest. Anywhere else and it's probably terminally rusted unless it's been a garage queen for the last 30 years.
It certainly needs paint and wheels, yes. And some exterior plastics. The engine bay sure looks clean! Nice. Who is the douche with his hands in his pockets?:biggrin: He doesn't look happy.
He's the guy I got the car from. You can see his new 240 in the back in the one pic. It's truly a night and day difference! I think my rex shifter is about a foot and a half shorter! :laugh:
Yes, paint is going to be one of the first things I do. Then wheels and a drop. I'm not sure if I will put the plastic trim back on or not.(I like the yellow one up at the top of page 2. no trim on it) He was going to paint it thats why half of it's off/missing but he didn't feel like putting any more money into it.
Just a thought, maybe before paint you could smooth out the recessed areas of sheetmetal in which the trim would sit.
+1 for a paint job (keep it yellow) and plastic replacement. With the wheels you were looking at that would be a nice looking car.
That had popped in to my head as well. I went to school for body work so I have all the tools/know how I need for working on it I just need to get another compresser to run my d.a. to sand it down. Don't know if I would like it with out the body line? I would metal finsh it. I don't want any body filler on it! I don't know about keeping it yellow...I was thinking about painting it a charcoal gray...
Those wheels you picked are on the right track, but the Konigs suck. I have a set in a similar style for my Fairlady project that might be more what you are looking for. Same old school JDM style, but more pleasing to the eye.
Here's a pic from the build page of the wheels on. These are far closer to the Panasport/Watanabe look you're going for.
Nice! My wife had a '79 rx7 oh so long ago. Burned up the motor due to it's "normal" oil consumption. Keep an eye on your oil.
