rearviewmirror

Are there any other FB owners dedicated to leaving the car 100% stock/OEM? I've taken this approach on several older cars I've owned and sold. I find they're worth more in the long run when they're bone stock. I'm all for simple tuning, hopefully using factory hop-ups and upgrades.

Just curious if anyone else is all about preserving stock as much as possible.

Vashner

Yea not everyone here is hot rodding. I like stock. To me driving the FB is a voyage back in time to the 80's. I even play 80's arena rock on the mp3 player.

mikewoodkozar

Stock is most definitely the way to go if you plan to sell it

rearviewmirror

I think we're in the minority. I like my cars to remain 100% OEM. If I want to go faster I'd buy a faster car. I recently picked up a 1998 Honda Prelude w/ 40k original miles, 100% stock. It's part of my StockProjektz club as well. I'm all for upgrading the suspension/handling as older cars just didn't seem to have that down quite right.

mikewoodkozar

Yes, that is a good idea, but the faster the car is out of the box the more expensive it gets and that scale goes up quick

Vashner

Hum that mint 79 with 8000 miles sold for 2k more than that dudes turbo FB. And it had like 3x the horsepower.

The performance market is sweet. But collector level stock also has a market that I think will grow more and more. As rust and time simply keep wearing down the number of 7's on the road.

stilettoman

iTrader: (1)

"Stock is most definitely the way to go if you plan to sell it"

Well, it depends. If you are talking about the engine, I agree. And if you are going to be tacking on a lot of fiberglass "wide body" panels, you will not likely get your money back. However, I got pretty good prices for my two FB convertibles, about $11,000 for the red one and about $6,000 for the SE, which had a lot of miles on it. But both were completely stock mechanically.

I happen to like the appearance of the FB, and have tried to keep my V8 powered car looking stock. The hood bulge was necessary to clear the intake, but even that is pretty subtle. I have been offered $10k for the car, so some people do appreciate the concept.

On rotary engines I have modified, always do minor cleanup on the exhaust and primary intake ports, so they drive just like stock, but then I do major porting on the secondaries, and get good power when I need it. A very light flywheel is also a good performance enhancement that is not visible and does not seem to hurt the driveability.

For the kind of driving I do, stock suspension with good shocks has always seemed adequate. Of course I did a major brake upgrade on the V8 car.

djessence

Its not completely stock if you have an mp3 player in it.....lol

mikewoodkozar

It is if you plug it into the stock cassette deck

lfd75

I also prefer to keep it stock (feels like a piece of history)

maireeka

For the most part I agree, unless its an upgrade that makes the car safer or more fuel efficient, like newer ignition system or better brakes. From a visual standpoint, I feel that an older car like this is much better when it's stock.

mikewoodkozar

yeah, i do like the time capsule effect, mine is straying away from stock more and more every year

Vashner

If you look at Corvette collecting OEM is fanatic. The highest value vettes are stock and modded vehicles don't really appreciate. Unless it's done by one of the major named shops. As RX7's age this too will happen. With mint's going up up up.

boyee

iTrader: (3)

i am restoring my dad's original gsl and keeping it stock! in fact i have already pieced together a factory radio system, replaced the cracked dash with a mint one, fixing/replacing stock parts with the engine. although i did replace the catalytic converter with a bonez one to pass smog and the original mazda ones are way too expensive. but with the heat shields, it looks stock.

its coming along slowly because i am a broke student. i plan to bask at its original gloryness when i am finished making it look 100% like it came right off the dealership lot.

orion84gsl

iTrader: (5)

While an old stock car is great if it's in good shape, it's only real benefit is in resale. I personally modify my car, because I enjoy the feeling I get when I see that all the bolts aren't going to fall out, and feel the improvement on the road. Reliability is never an issue as long as you do things right, the first time. But on the resale note, it is true that stock demands considerably better price, as I bought my 84 GSL in awesome shape for $5000CDN, and every time I tell someone I won't take less than $10K for it, they laugh, usually not knowing what I've done with it, but at the same time, I doubt they would want to pay that much anyway. Also in my case, I would only buy a modified car if it was mild, and reversable, because I would want to start with a fresh canvas, not try to live with someone elses tastes, on top of any problems that may come with improper mods.

daemonjosh

These aren't exactly collectable cars, so I wouldn't count on there to be much of a difference between a stock and a modified car in equal condition.

rearviewmirror

I disagree.

orion84gsl

iTrader: (5)

Not collectable to whom? If I could get my hands on some of the fine examples I've seen on here I'd jump at them, and leave them pristine. However if you were to hand me a 69' Mustang in straight out of the factory condition, I'd sell it. Probably buy more RX-7's with the money. It depends on whose interested, and whose not. There is always a difference between stock and modified to somebody. As I said, people scoff (polite way of putting it) at me when I tell them how much I would sell my car for, "IF" I would sell it at all, which at this point is a no unless I absolutly have to. The amount I tell them is just based on the parts on the car and the price I payed for it. Not factoring in the amount of time, effort and headache I've involved in it. The sentimental value my car has makes it unsellable.

I don't know if you have noticed but there are number of people on this forum that have many different 7's. Ray Green I believe has at least 4, unless his wife let him buy another:P. And the one that he posted a youtube video of, had an immaculate engine bay. Just because you don't see these cars going for a few hundred K on the Barret-Jackson auction, doesn't mean they aren't desireable and well sought after. You have to remember cars like that were made by companies that have been around North America since the assembly line was first invented. They've had a longer run to impress themselves into the minds of everyone here, but guess what. Over in Japan, a clean SA will get more attention than some Camaro. And even here with those in the know, even a semi-good condition Pacific Avatar would attract alot of interest,most likely similar to that of a same conditon 60's muscle car. As I said, it all depends on whose looking for what.

quasar

I want to make a point that I see, look at the barrett jackson auto auction. As the younger generation gets money and older, and the older generation with the money gets to old to collect anything, these cars will than become what the muscle cars are today to the older generation. I have a feeling one day you will see a 1988 dodge omni glhs up on that auction stand along with our cars.

Think about it...

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

i personally prefer stock to mostly stock 7's. on certain cars i like to upgrade by adding a rb exhaust and removing the rats nest, adding a two groove alternator pulley, things of that nature. i have a tender blue 85 S that i'm using as a test car so to speak. its got a ton of miles, it has some rust, but i liked the car enough to replace the engine in it, add a nice alpine head unit and infinity speakers, some polyurethane bushings, add an FC fuse block, and remove the rats nest. the car is not extremely rare or worth any signifigant value at this point. its a car for me to enjoy and to learn on. on the other hand, since i prefer stock FB's, i have a very nice 84 GSL with 55K original miles. the car is a perfect as it can be for being 24 years old. its a beautiful car with a near perfect interior, a beautiful paint job(which is original), and has no problems to contend with. i could trust this car to take me to california and back. imo, a car like that needs to be preserved. not modified, not beat on, but cruised in and enjoyed for what it is. the same stands for my 61K 1980 Leather Sport. its a nice car that will be enjoyed and cruised in. it sees less than 1K per year and will not be modified in any way.

Landon303

iTrader: (25)

i prefer stock

rearviewmirror

It's funny how someone mentioned Barrett-Jackson. My dad has a 1970 Hemi Plymouth Superbird, one of only seven in his color. I look at it and go...meh.. it's ok.

Point being.... Look how Detroit is still trying to appeal to "their" generation with the GTO, Impala, Thunderbird, Mustang Shelby, and the rest. All I can dream about is when I see retro Supra's, RX-7, and cars like that.

I'm going to say that our cars are at a point where stock is still worth more than restored, as they age another 10-15 years all the original parts dry up, then restored will start gaining in value.

The point behind this thread was that I really appreciate the cars that remain almost the same as the day rolled off the assembly line. Some subtle modding (not changing the visuals of the car) to make it handle power or breathe better is is cool though.