rx7gslse

Just pondering here, since all of us with 1st gens here have cars that are no longer anything approaching new, they have probably started accumulating a bit of history over the years. How far back do you know info about your car?

I know that minewas registered in Kansas city in 1990 w/ 75,000 miles. A 2nd owner bought it in 1999, and then I got it a year and a half ago w/ 138,000...

Somewhere in it's history it lived in California, because there is a sticker under the hood from an oil change place out there somewhere... That's all I've got. Always wondered the stories....

How about you guys?

gamble302

im the 3rd owner of mine. 1st was the wife of a guy that owned a car wash, 2nd was Mr Rose, who was on the forum awhile back, still get some stuff of him when i do searches.

jimmyv13

I am the second owner of my 85, the first was my neighbor. I watched him bring it home, and I wanted ever since. He refused to sell it for a long time. All he did was drive it from Buffalo, NY to somewhere on the west coast every summer. So it spent most of its life in the sunny state of California. That would have explained the oxidized paint on the hood and roof.
It was stored every winter. It had only 44K miles when he FINALLY sold it to me in 95. He gave me a folder with EVERY receipt from maintenance at the dealer. I have since put every one of my receipts in there, too.


I haven't even started looking for previous owners of my 86. I just got it a month ago.

gamble302

yeah i've got all the reciepts and everything also. mr rose is cool like that. everything from the exhaust to the alternator has a reciept. also ive got the manual and brochure. everything is all there.

Felix Wankel

My GS was owned by a fighter pilot in the air force.

I bought my RX-2 from the second owner (who was the original owner's sister). I have all the receipts since new, the owners manual, a Haynes and a real factory service manual (not a reprint). The RX-2 has been raced in a bunch of rallies, there is a sticker under the hood from one in 1981

rx7passion

i am technically the 3rd owner but my dad owned it before and his friend bought the car new. back in the day he loaned her 2grand to get it and after awhile she didnt take to good of care of the car so it broke down and sat in a garage for 4 years or something till she gave it to my dad. then we got it going and its been mine ever since

puaka

iTrader: (5)

Technically I'm the 3rd owner but my dad bought it from the original owner (with my help) and I bought it from him. I've got all kinds of receipts. The original owner kept every frickin receipt he ever got and in addition, kept a log in his computer of everything that was done and at what date and mileage. He kept everything from wiper blades to oil changes to the mazda reman engine he put in it. That dude put alot of money in keeping it nice and it was always serviced at a mazda specialist. This is probably the most **** (or fanatical) person I've met.

FJ

I know my '84 -se's history rather well as I bought it new.
-John.

Kerry

Mine's a fugitive from justice. From what I can tell, it sat in a police impound lot for about 5 years, was auctioned, sold, and then sold to me. The two owners before me couldn't get it to run. RX-7's are not like fine wine... they don't get better when allowed to age unattended.

Kerry

peejay

My '80 was originally purchased in Texas (Houston or Dallas, I forget which) and was driven sparingly. The owner's 16-year-old daughter was admonished that she was not allowed to drive it.

There is a doorjamb lube sticker from 1985, having had a Kendall oil change (10W40) and that the next oil change was due at 32k miles.

In '87, the owner's daughter came back from college, and she was given the car. She moved to southern California, where the and the car lived for two years, before they both moved to Dublin, Ohio (suburb of Columbus, and location of the RX-7 Store).

Time passed, as it always does, and in mid 1999, the owner and her husband, now living in a fairly rich eastern suburb of Cleveland, decided that they wanted to get a new Jeep Grand Cherokee. Probably were planning on starting a family, and at any rate, the RX-7 was showing signs of rust and was likely giving them problems (a can of starting fluid was found stowed next to the jack), and besides, they would not drive the car in the winter, and their new apartment did not have enclosed garaging. Given the running and rust problems, they put an ad in the Auto Trader for $750.

The next day, a 21 year old kid, who had been looking for an '80 for quite some time, and had recently gone through a rather uncomfortable breakup with his fiancee, (not to mention that his daily driver had just blown up the month before) called them from work, saw the car that night, and two days after that handed over $750 in cash for a somewhat rusty, somewhat ill-maintained, 89k RX-7. That owner (being ME) proceeded to immediately replace the dried-out, bald Sears brand tires with Eagle STs, replace the crusty, leaking radiator, and the clutch that was starting to slip. And then drive the wee out of it for a year before losing his license for 3 months ( ) and early this year began with a string of modifications, starting with an MSD direct-fire conversion, then a ported engine, race tires, electric fan, camera mount, but retaining the shoddily-installed bottom-of-the-line Jensen tape deck because "it was there". It was run at Nelson Ledges once, and Norwalk for at least 80-100 1/4mi passes.

The rust is much, much worse, but it still starts and runs every day, which is about all that I plan on asking of it anymore, as the car is getting noticeably more and more aged. I noticed the car bobbing over light crests in the road (weak struts), and the rest of the rubber bushings will need replacing, and the bodyshell is noticeably "soft". You can feel the whole car flexing as it goes over different contours in the road, so it's not worth re-bushing and new struts and shocks. It essentially needs a new car wrapped around the drivetrain. The hot Texas sun did a number on the interior, too, all faded and cracking.

The car now lives in Upper Arlington (right next to Dublin), and has 139,300mi on it as of this writing. (119,212 on the first engine, the other ~20k on the one I installed in March) Should be 140k by the middle of next week. It if continues to 150k I'll be satisfied, with structural integrity being my prime concern.

My '87 is trickier, I only know that the PO blew the engine in '96 or thereabouts, and was driving a new Saturn SC2 when I obtained the car for a pittance in early 1998. It proceeded to get parked in the garage, accumulating dust. It's still in there. I really really really mean to do that T2 swap but things keep getting in the way. (Like time and money)

I saw only two 1st-gens in the local (Cols) paper, a red GSL-SE for $3500, and an automatic '84 for $1000. The '84 looks to have a clean body. The cycle may begin again...

Pele

iTrader: (28)

Carfax tells me that it's been registered adn re-registered several times in Pennsylvania. (It's funny that it doesn't go all the way back to when it was newly purchased. The records start at 49K I believe.

The previous owners were fairly cheap on a paint job and used a $249.99 Maaco paint job. I believe I have their name on an Allstate insurance card somewhere in a folder that I'm too lazy to get. There ware also numerous french fries under the seats, a golf ball in the space between the tail lights, non working map and interior lights.

Then my mom bought it at 155K miles, drove it for a while and taught me to drive in it some, then I gout my license and she signed it over to my dad where it sat for a while awaiting a carb rebuild. Then my dad's insurance kicked me off his policy due to an accident (that I didn't cause, but they paid for damages anyhow, before the court case that prooved I wasn't at fault. )and a ticket (that the cop was a bitch for writing. I didn't do anything seriously wrong and had a good explanation. ) so it was signed over to me where I wrecked it. (My fault ) At 175k Miles.

It now sits under a car cover behind a church awaiting me to get a place and cash to work on it.

Denny

Grab a lawn chair and set yourselves around the 'ol workbench, and I'll share a little tale. Back when I was turnin' wrenches in the Shell Garage, all I had was my '67 MG, and a MX-6. Never owned or drove a RX-7. It was a Saturday morn when this raggedity dude pulls in with a tired pick-up full of junk. He's got a leaky tire and not much money. In the back of the truck is a pair of RX-7 alloy 13" wheels. Now I've got no use for these wheels, but I repair the guy's tire in exchange for the wheels.

My mechanic partner, "Guitar George," is laughin' and pokin' fun at me for my soft heart, and trying to convince me that I can fit the rims to my MG. Later he tosses the paper at me, saying there's a Mazda RX-7 for sale in the want ads. What the Hell, I call the guy, go over and look at 'er, and it's an oxidized '85 GSL, with bad steering and rust in the typical areas. Engine and drive-train are good, and the interior is well kept. Garaged for 2 years, his wife says his sports car days are over, he's a father with a house, boat, mini-van, and the whole nightmare...I give 'im a grand, and I've got my first Seven. He states I'm the 4th owner.

Several months later my MG buddy calls me up. He says his old college friend just called him from Madison Wisconsin, and that his new neighbor wants to give his RX-7 away! My MG buddy is totally into only English sports cars, but since I'd been sharing stories with him about workin' on my "new" GSL, he passes his college buddy's phone number on to me....Cut to the chase. The 'ol Cowboy goes up to Madison. Fella is the orgininal owner, bought the car in San Diego. It's an '85 GSL-SE. He's transferred to Houston where he lived for many years, later garaged the car and didn't drive it much...Family things took presidence. Recently transferred to Madison, (Company paid to have the Seven and another 2 cars trucked up North. He's an engineer) He and wife agree that it's time to make the car streetable so they can sell it, or trade it. Dealer says $3000 plus to make it proper. As a trade? 140,000 miles...Dreaded Rotary...Oxidized paint from being out West....They don't really want it.
He complains to his new neighbor 'bout how pissed he is. Says he's afraid to sell it, as brakes aren't good, and he can see some kid wrappin' it around a tree....Wants to give it to someone who will care for it properly and respect its origin....
I promise all of the above, give him a dollar bill for the car, and scoot outta there like a thief in the night.

My Son scored his '84 SE from a SCCA racer who was the 2nd owner he hoped to restore it, but racing took all his money and time. First was a SCCA Offical who used it for auto-X. Suffice to say it's a real cutie and a goer.

Yesterday, Guitar George calls me up, says that a guy he knows has rental property that some fool skipped out on back rent, left the house in a mess, and abandoned his RX-7. Car's been sitting out behind the house in the alley for over a year, tried to find the owner, but can't, and the city is threatening to tow the car and charge him with the bill. I talk to the guy, he says it's mine if I want it, it's a late 80's GXL, and it's whole, but a little trashy....Do I want it? You betcha! Sunday it will be towed to my corral, and I'll have another neglected hoss to care for....

Ain't life great sometimes?
Denny, from the 'ol corncrib....

Pittdp

I am the forth owner of my car. It was bought in 1983 out of Dallas where it stayed for 3 years then went up to Oklahoma for another 2 years. The car came back in 1988 and was bought by my friend who kept it till 1991 where I had site for about 6 months before I asked him what we was going to do with it. I t had some hail damage and did not start. It turned out to only need a new battery and two new coils at first. I bought it for 1,000.00. Within the next 6 months I had to get a new trans due to the syncros going out and I had to get an Idler arm for the stearing. She has been the best car I have ever owned and most reliable. Especialy once I stoped buying Used Igniters and spent the mony to buy new ones from Napa for 125 each.

BadAssRX-7

well im the 2nd owner of my l.e. and when i took her home i got a folder 3" thick with every dam thing in the world in it. tires, oil changes, new windshield, seats recovered, even the org. window sticker. you got to love that.

Suparslinc

2nd owner of mine; it had a 146k on it when I bought it from this guy over in Anderson.
He had a nice 3 series Beamer that took the 7's place.
Always garaged to this day, he had a friend who ran a body shop and had it detailed semiannually.
I have few records, other than what the prev. owner scribbled in the owners guide. I do know that dates and mileage of every single oil change up to when I purchased it though!
Well, its got 174k on it now, 3rd engine, and it still makes me happy. Not nearly as nice looking as when I bought it. It was my first car afterall. I'll never sell it, just drive it till the wheels fall off.

Northern 7

iTrader: (3)

I found my '83 in a Hyundi lot after driving by on a Sunday afternoon. I had been looking for a 1st Gen for a while and thought "what the hell" maybe this one's in better shape than the other 100 or so I had looked at. Turns out the car had 40K on it and was a one owner belonging to a little old lady (I **** you not) who traded it in for a new Hyundi sedan. I couldn't believe the shape the car was in so I contacted the lady and she filled me in on the fact that it sat in her heated garage for 12 years and was not driven - her son started it up every once in a while to keep the fluids moving but it was never licenced for the road or driven. The Hyundi dealer didn't know a thing about rotories and had no desire to learn - he just wanted it off his lot

I bought the car the next day (I won't tell you what I paid for it), replaced the auto with a 5 speed, and drive it during the summer months with a great deal of pride

hanman

Bought mine brand new in 1980. First and only new car that I have ever owned. Just put 4k of body and paint into it along with some other things. Looks like new.
hanman

rxtasy

i was the 2nd owner of my '84 , bought it off my sister-in-law when she got pregnant. she didn't take good care of it and it died despite my best efforts. i looked at all kinds of cars to replace it, but even in bad shape the RX-7 spoiled all other cars for me and i had to get another one!!

i am the 3rd owner of my '85 GSL-SE. The 1st was from Northern Ontario (in the boonies) the first thing he did was remove the cat.converter (i still have it in original condition in the basement). I hear he used to drive into the U.S. all the time and he had installed a switch that would keep the brake lights from coming on so he could hit the brakes around cops without being too obvious (!?!) and he stored the car winters.

I heard about the car from my old RX-7 mechanic. The 2nd owner was selling it because his wife was pregnant (see a patern here?). i went to see it and bought it on the spot for entirely too much money!!

I still take it to the same Krown rust control place as the 2nd owner. Until this summer it was in fantastic condition, but finally the paint is starting to oxidize on the sunroof.

265,000 km so far.

93 RX-7

Bought my 85 GS new from the dealer on June 15, 1985. I think the dealer went out of business about 4 years ago. They were a bunch of crooks.

Every year we celebrate her birthday with a good wash and wax! She retired this year and is in storage. I'm losing a bit of the rust battle in the wheel wells and doors. Keeping her inside and dry should help until I'm ready to spend the money to bring her back.

Now my daily driver is a 93 Touring. I'd rather drive my 85 GS anyday. More reliable, less plastic. And after 16 years, my butt fits really fine in that seat.

I'd go on, but I'm feeling verklimpt... talk among yourselves.

Barwick

Well.. let's see..

the '85 GS parts car, musta gotten in an accident, and some(thing/one) must have hit the windshield, cause it's got a big hole in it. The front drivers side bumper support got bent in the accident, along with the hood, other than that, great shape, good to race with, little/no rust.

the '80 SCCA ITA car was being raced about 3 years ago, when the guy went around a (long) right hander in 3rd gear, tried to hit 4'th, and the G's pulled his hand to pull it into 2'nd.. he heard a BOOM, and that was the end of that engine/tranny. He gave up on it, sold it to a guy, who I then bought it from for $1200 with the cage and seat and good suspension and a sloppy (good enough for race) paint job. Also rustfree.

The '79 I saw on eBay, said "ooh.. $200..." bid on it, nobody else bid on it, I won it for $200, unsure about its history. HOWEVER I do know this, it was built in '78 (one of the first RX-7's built), so it's going to be my street car and going to be a "classic" car (when it turns 25 I can make it into an "antique" and get "antique" plates for it, hopefully ones that say "79 RX-7" that'd be cool).

ScruffyChimp

Hi.

I know a lot less than most of you.

I bought it a month or two ago. It was driven in Japan for 9 years, before it was imported to New Zealand. This is a good thing, because most of the First Gen imports came in before this, and because there was a duty on imported cars they were cut in half, imprted as parts, and then re-welded once in the country. Thank God my one wasn't hacked into bits!

It was first owned here by a lady for a year, then a man for 13 years. The recent ownership isn't very clear. It seems someone bought it, then sold it to another person who sold it to me, all in the space of a month.

It seems to have gone through numerous paint jobs, one over the other. It's all flaking off now. It's now grey, was originally green, has some orange showing, and the bumper I was sanding today had hot pink paint!

It's done some permutation of 19,000kms. I think it's 219,000, but that is just a guess.

Question: Do you think it is okay for me to try and contact the guy who owned it for 13 years? I want to find out more.

Bye,
ScruffyChimp

phatcat

im the 3rd owner, and it's my first car. i know it was purchased by a Mr. Singer on june 26th 1984. i know he took it in for the shceduled maintainance and was never winter driven. but that's about all i know.

vic'srx-7

I don't know very much about it but sometime in its life it was stolen and recovered in California and now has a re-issued vin tag in the door all the others were removed then the car was written off in British Columbia and recertified ( thats what you get when you ask for a carfax.)
I got the car from a friend at work after his son was killed in a truck accident. The car sat unused in his back yard for 6 years. I drive it 300 miles every week and have put on 3000 miles since I purchased it a month ago.
Most fun I've had and I have owned 36 cars.

Vic