i swear ive seen early cars either way

 

Hi Bo-
you are correct. The "plaid" seat covers were spec'd for the 1979 model year only, as far as I can tell from my Honkata collection. These covers were sold in the US-spec cars as well in 1979 (NOT the Limited seat style illustrated tho - that seat type, with the collapsible headrest, came with the 80 LS and Anniversary then standard in the FB rx7s after 1980). An entirely new fabric selection came out with the 1980 cars, some of which we did NOT get here in N. America.
Presumably, because the 1979 model was not released in Europe, no RX7s sold there would have the plaid seat coverings.

This image is taken from a 1978 64-page JDM dealer "Sales Manual " I am restoring for reprinting.

Regarding battery trays - I have seen most with the body-color too and these appear to be OEM...

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

Hi, Very interesting info as I do not recall to have seen a USDM ´79 with "plaid" seat covers although I have noticed the "plaid" seats in the Parts Catalog. Perhaps it was only for the earliest "1978" USDM models.

This kind of fabric was also widely used on e.g. German cars with a "sporty" appeal. I like them as they are SO seventies.

BR, Bo

 

Hi Bo -
yes, plaid was on the earlier 78-production 1979 models. No coincidence Mazda used the Porsche 924 with ITS plaid interior, as a building template to some degree....

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

Love those plaid interiors. Here's a shot of one of those rare beasts from the Atlanta area, Andy's '79 SA (or possibly a '78, I'll have to ask him).

Bone stock right down to the mechanical ignition:

















And here's a couple shots of my Savannas

 

My Savanna; picked it up at JCCS last year for a really sweet price!

 

that one is a mid-late early one, (and sometimes in the late early middle evening...) as its got the RHD hood prop, but right mirror. very nice original car, engine looks original, radiator too.

i rebuilt the point ignition in mine, and it really sucked, it barely made the 1000mile sevenstock journey, i dunno if its the points we were getting or what, but putting the electronic ignition makes the car like a swiss watch

 

Hi, Thanks for the very nice pics.

The seats and two-tone interior of this early (or early mid-late) car appear to be close to the early JDM cars, however, the earliest Japanese cars (at least the Limited version) had door pockets.

As shown in a post above, exactly that seat was offered in Japan too.

BR, Bo

 

A beauty Ray - and an S as well, with the dealer optioned body moldings and alloys. 2-tone interiors are so 70s! (in a good way, as opposed to Disco...). Sweet to see the early, radio-speaker dash in nice shape too, esp in a Southern car.

ANY 'S' I have seen has the no-pocket door cards. 'S' and the bottom-of-the-4-model range JDM(1978) 'Custom' are basically the same car, tho US spec added:
-p. antenna (JDM SAs have no such option - was in windshield)
-radial tires (!!)

One thing ALL JDM SAs had tho was the 5-speed, unlike our SA 'S's....

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

... ohh, and the US "S" also added an FM/AM radio over the Japanese Custom's AM radio!

BR, Bo

 

BTW, does anyone know the name and code of the dark green (non-metallic) color offered for 1978/1979 in Japan (see "Custom" car above), one of only 5 color options.

BR, Bo

 

Ray, are those stamped-steel rims on all but the Limited?