Hi Guys,

So I'd like to get opinions and feedback as to pros/cons of purchasing a 1979 all original, like new, 17k original miles, rx7. I found the car while I was looking for an SE and the car looks brand spanking new! Everything is clean with no signs of wear anywhere. It's that clean.

Based on the condition and mileage, is this a good buy at say 5k-6k? If spending that much, am I better off purchasing an SE with a little more mileage with a rebuilt motor?

My initial intentions of purchasing an fb (initially looking for an SE) was to add a wide body kit, nice wheels, stereo, and some bolt-on stuff under the hood (carbs, header, exhaust, etc) but I'm not sure I want to do it to this car. However, I may still do the bolt on stuff just not the wide body kit but that may all change if I get the car.

I appreciate all help and feedback.

 

The correct answer to your dilemma should be answered by what your intentions or expectations of the car are. If you want something to actually use and drive regularly and modify, you'd probablly be happier with another car. If you want something to pamper, keep nice and collect, this sounds like a good opportunity.

Don't take this the wrong way, but if you buy this and not keep it stock, your an idiot. You may as well paint it passionate pink latex with a roller while your're at it!

That being said, at $5-6K, a 17K original mile SA is a very good price. The most expensive SA I can personally validate to date, was an original owner 1980 with 6K miles. It was about an hour and a half from me and sold for 15K, 2 summers ago. The next spring I saw it pop up again on an east coast exotic car website for like 21K. Don't know what happened to it after that. That is the high end of extreme for these cars. In the last few years, unmolested, low mile Rx-7 asking prices have been on the rise. When you get to the 6-8K asking range, only the serious buyers remain. With a car like this, is it the original owner or a relative who is selling? Do they have the original paperwork or any other documation? Often the original owner who has a vehicle this long will pamper but at the same time, also neglict his pride and joy.

The benifits of this car are obvious, less wear and tear and originality. "It's only original once" is a common theme in car collecting circles. The problem is, our cars are not all that collectable, at least, not at present. The down side is that its still a 33 yr old piece of mecanical equipment that deteriorates when left with out being used or maintained. Fixing stuck brakes, gummed fuel systems or other problems that could have taken root must also be somewhat expected as part of the equasion.

If the car is what you say it is, I believe it should be left original and who ever buys it should be prepaired to spend another grand or so to give it the proper going through it deserves. After that, it needs to be "maintained" more than just driven. A big difference. Of course, who ever buys it can do what they want. It's their cash. But I promise you'd regret it down the road, if all you did was buy it just to use. I'd bet you can't find 2 people on this entire fourm who don't have a vehicle from their past (normally youth) they don't have regrets over. Of course, if you go back to inspect this car, we'd expect some good pictures for further input!

 

If its as clean as you say, don't buy it to mod it. Buy it to collect and enjoy. It looks like the
collectors are going to be after 2 of the 1st gens, SAs and SEs. The FBs are too numerous to
hold or increase significantly in value. Special versions of each of these will be even more
sought after.

As Banzai said, pics or didn't happen. Also pics will help us help you better. You'd be surprised
what we can discern when we start drooling over pictures of 1st gens.

 

yep.
Pics or it never happened.
Other factors not mentioned is - how is the car equipped? I have seen a really _annoying_ number of minty low mileage early RX7s only to see they are either
1) automatics
2) base/strip-down model
either of which will affect their long-term value as a"collectible" and likely your short-term driving pleasure...

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

Thanks for the feedback guys.

On one hand, I'd love a a fun, relatively fast, wide body beast.

On the other hand, I have no problem keeping this car stock (or at least I will try my best).

While it's not as clean as Adam12's recently sold '79 (at least from pictures), I think for a stock car with mileage its really close.

Feedback and suggestions welcomed

 

more pictures

 

2 more

 

I "think" the tires may be the original as well.

 

That car needs a set of waffles. Looks really clean. The interior is excellent.

 

$3500 is all you should pay. Although popular RX7's are not collectible. Buy it, and do what you want with it.

For example. I have an 83 with 45K miles. Interior is out and being upgraded. Suspension will be changes, and upgraded to coilovers. Engine, and tranny are being pulled and replaced with a 13b.

If I had a chevelle with matching numbers, I'd leave it alone, but alas, I have an RX7 that will be the pocket rocket it should be

 

So you already had bought it???
Congrautlations, you have a very minty looking "S" model SA. From the pictures it looks well cared for. What is the build date (drivers door jam tag) I'd guess it was sometime around Oct 78? As Stu mentioned, the "S" (as opposed to the GS models) are the base model car which does affect both their desirability and value. The 2 spoke steering wheel and 4 speed are dead givaways. They also came with steel wheels which explain the aluminium aftermarkets. Check the spare, its probably a steely. You are correct, those Bridgestone 203, 165 HR-13 are the factory original tires and pretty rare! The bad news is, they should be replaced cause its iffy at best to be running around town on 34 year old tires. They have a habit of suddenly breaking a cord or worse, blowing out. I'd save em cause they are the originals, but buy a good new set to mount up (like Tim says) on a pair of waffels maybe?

A couple other things caught my eye. I never rely 100% on pictures but it looks like the trim and mirrors are too black. 79's were a metallic grey color. Your window cranks look like they are from a 1980 car. 79's were solid black w/o the silver **** centers. Is the paint original? It does not really matter but again, when your accessing how much a car is worth, it does factor into how much you should pay. With the trim appearing to be re touched, I also would suspect the body color. S models did not come standard with the exterior body molding, but it could be added. Since this car has the moulding, its another clue that it could have saw the inside of body shop. Does it have a passenger door mirror?

I'm not trying to pick the car apart, just explain. I'd say it's an extremely nice and unmolested example. It's also got air, which not all S's had. After seeing her, 5-6K for an S model is a little high. I'd agree more with $3500-$4000. Is this a texas or southern car do you know?

 

I have not purchased the car as I'm still undecided which route to take!

I'm glad you guys are able to discern some of the parts that were added and were not part of the cars original build.

The window cranks appear to be solid black with no chrome centers.

There is a passenger exterior mirror, should there be one?

The exterior molding should not be there?

Picking the car apart is fine as long as I haven't purchased it

I want to make an informed decision about the purchase especially since I'm not local and cannot see it up close. I believe the car is in the midwest.

I like the 3500 price range, but even better if I can get it for less than that.

 

I would buy it and keep it stock. Maybe new wheels though. I'm not real fond of the generic four spokes it's sporting right now.
A new radio set up is a must. Clean Sa's are hard to come by these days and if this is a true survivor it deserves to stay as mint as possible, for as long as possible.
If you're looking for something to mod there are some wonderful candidates in the first gen rx7 for sale section of the forum.

If I had the option I would have already picked this bad boy up.

 

Banzai pretty well nailed it (and with 4 minty SAs and counting - he should).
Factory body moldings on your car were available as a kit so these would have been dealer installed, but they are Mazda parts, so its all good. AC was a dealer/distributor install. Yours is an early kit. It does not have the updated round-style fan switch that has the AC on/off switch (button) built into it. It means the AC compressor is engaged all the time. This was rectified later in the production year.
Not a prob per se.
Passenger door mirror wasn't available until later in the year, and shortly became standard. This just all points to a very early production car, as Banzai noted.

The challenge of buying a car like this is that the Big Deal is the low mileage/originality. Once either of these go away then it becomes a rather unpopular version of a nice old Jap sports car. So unless you can really steal it, $$-wise, the value begins to unwind as soon as you drive it...

Keep us posted about what you do - or if you do nothing, please pass along the sale info so someone else here can enjoy this car. Thanks for the photos. Nice to see what a new RX7 looks like!

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

Again, do you want a car not to feel guilty to modify, drive and use as intended (pocket rocket or whatever) or one to have as a trophy to polish and keep more than use up. This car although less desirable (and more ok to modify) seems an excellent example of the breed to keep preserved. 34 yr old-17K mile cars are not very common and is the main reason this car deserves a higher than normal value. It can be bought and modified and driven without any consideration for it's miles or originality but you are only de-valuing the vehicle by doing so. You'll pay more up front and it will be worth much less down the road. From a financial point of view, it makes more sence (to me) that if bought, it should be purchased with keeping like it is as the priority.

If you want a toy to blast around in, it makes more sense to find another car already closer to want you want to begin with. There's way more already modified cars out there. Using a car for enjoyment is normally a lot more fun than collecting one. That's a different kind of reward.

 

Great insight. I think what it will come down to is price. If I can get this down to 3500 or below I'll purchase it (I might do $4k, just depends how the negotiation goes). However, after shipping I may be into this car at around 7-8k.

What are your thoughts on this?

Banzai, I'd love to see pictures/videos of your collection.

 

For a nice original solid '79/78 in an original condition like that, 7 to 8K seems to be the norm people are paying for them. I haven't been following rx7 sales for all that long so these other guys will have some better insight than me.

 

Just be sure you'll be happy with what your buying no matter what it is or the cost. the only one you really have to make happy is yourself. It's your money. But remember it's still an older car, things can and do go wrong for no other reason than age, regardless of how many miles.

 

Asking prices have been there, selling prices are another matter. Plus like Stu said, how the car is optioned out makes a difference. S models just don't peg the meter like a GS. Mostly, cause of the 4 speed instead of the 5. Plus, another popular is the sunroof, which was a GS only option. The S model was their entry level (stripper) version. Value is a personal opinion and my price I'd be willing to pay, is different than someone else's but generally S models don't bring the same money as a comparable GS. To me, 4K is pushing the "S" envelope. Who knows, in 25 years it could be a bargin in this same condition. How far into the future do you want to buy?

I have some pictures posted in my profile in the "My Harem" folder.

 

I'm looking to purchase now but I don't mind waiting for the right car to come along.

I'll look in your folder, thanks.

 

Doh! I was writing that under the impression it was a GS. Sorry man.

 

how much you calculating costs for shipping?

 

I'm estimating shipping to be around $1500 to CA then another 2000-2500 for its second leg of shipping to me. Easily around 4k +- a couple of hundred for unexpected issues so final might be closer to 5k but that will be at the higher end of the spectrum.

 

Just so everyone is up to speed, the car in question is on Craigs in OK asking $6999.
1979 Mazda RX7
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

That looks very nice. I paid possibly too much for a 1985 w/ 70k miles on it. S model, but all original. Partly, I wanted a car that was "just like the one I had" so I was willing to pay a little more. I know it's and FB and you're looking at an SA, but still. If you're going to keep it as original as possible, then you've probably found a great candidate. If you're planning to mod it, you should start with a different one. But, that's just my two cents. Good luck in whatever you choose.