No, I agree it would be unwise to modify a pristine original and hope to get the investment back. The Daytona convertible is an interesting example, and I think there was a Ghibli or two also made into a convertible. I don't know what the condition was before the top was chopped off, but I'll ask around. The purists were just as pissed about it as they are here.One of my friends has several examples of what I would call garden-vartiety (because I don't know any better) 60's and 70's Ford sedans/muscle cars. They have some uniqueness/significance in the factory color or engine combinations and are impeccably restored to original specs. These things do not look very special to me, but he buys and sells them for $40-$80,000. The 240Z owners seem to be really **** about originality. At a local car show last year, there was a national show winner 240Z. Everything was exactly original specs and correct, and the guy even had the original tires at home that he put on for Datsun shows. Too bad I beat him.

One of my 70's sports cars came with a twin-post style radio, and I had the innards replaced with modern electronics keeping the stock faces so it looks the same externally. It makes the car more enjoyable to drive, and it does not lose any points in judging.
I think many people have paid over market value for a car because they had some personal connection to it, or really liked the color or whatever (personal experience, LOL).

 

How much would you pay for a 100% original 85 gsl-se with 35k original miles? I'm asking because I have located one. I am scheduled to look at it and no I won't post pics of it or give any other info on it until I buy it.......lol I don't need someone finding out where it is

 

love the Grey Interior!!!! Is that stock? or has it been redone??????
Wow I have the red leathers and Mine isn't close to being that clean, althought the exterior of my car has no rust and looks great, the Large windows and Glass roof have let the Sun destroy the colour, mostly the door I guess!!!! I am extremely jelous of the interior on that car!!!!

 

Honestly- It is what YOU are willing to pay.. Me? Maybe 4-5K tops, if I had the money. But I don't, so I won't.

I bought a pristine GSL loaded with about 70K on the odo, all original, owned by the same family since new. I paid over 3K for the no rust, straight body and perfect interior.. But I'm slightly modding it (I can return it to original shape though).

It all depend on what YOU want.

 

As long as the car is all original, has all documentation and service records, no accidents, zero flaws, everything in good working order (even the rear hatch shocks!), has not even the slightest hint of rust anywhere (inside or out), has the 5 speed std transmission (no automatics qualify!) and is not tan, brown , beige or any other gaudy color I'd pay $5500 U.S. Beyond that price I can find an equally nice one here in Canada for under 7K in Canadian currency, which is about 5K U.S.

 

I didn't ask about documentation yet but it is no accidents, zero flaws, everything works including the shocks, no rust, it is stick and has gray interior
I was thinking I want to pay no more than 4 but might as well try for 3. I have seen a few like this sell for 7k on ebay. I plan to just store it and keep the miles down, take it to shows ect. I am going to look at it next saturday, have seen tons of pics already. It is not even advertised for sale, just happend to run across it.

 

Actually the seat inserts don't look to be exactly perfect. True, there are no rips, but they look faded and slightly discolored. Fortunately, a decent pair of like new seats can be had for only a few hundred bucks and installed in 1/2 hour. Sounds like an easy fix.

As for your red interior, there is an uphoulstry dye called Vinylkote (look up Parasol Inc.) that will have it looking like brand new for about $150 and about six hours of your time. I re-did mine the summer before last and it still looks like new.

 

WTF the car has 121K on it, HOW IS THAT MINT????

Seriosuly and the engine bay looks dirty as hell. Not worth more than 2k. HUMPH

 

Now that I've looked at the pics for the 174th time, I see that the engine compartment appears to have tons of overspray. I hate trying to guess condition from digital pics; everything looks cleaner than it does IRL. I thought at first it was reflection from the hood, but it doesn't look like that bright of a day to begin with, and certain parts are showing red which shouldn't be reflective at all. What sort of paint shop sprays under the hood without some rudimentary masking? I'd really like someone's up close observations.

Oh well. Lacking that, my budget for the car is $4K max. I'm not saying it couldn't go for more, but that's all I'd pay on the strength of the pictures.

-dave

 

BTW, the latest question on the auction cracked me up:

"I have owned three of these 1st gen RX-7's but never one that has the fuel injection motor. Does this car have the choke **** in the car located to the left of the steering wheel? Thanks"

Hehe.

 

Any time a 1st gen has been painted I am automatically suspicious of the quality. He says "paint shop is one of the best around here" but it is a sad fact of economics that most people will not spend the money for a high quality paint job, which could cost 2-4x as much as the car. There looks like some overspray on the hatch hinge, and side trim, which would indicate they were not removed prior to painting. Eventually, the paint will bubble and peel up along the edge of the trim and look nasty. It also looks like the black paint is rubbing off the top of the rain gutter. As noted the engine compartment is very dirty. That car looks like a nice driver, but it is far from pristine or mint. Because it has been repainted with suspect quality, it is not completely original either.

 

engine bay looks like ***, how did they keep the wheels so great but the aluminum under the hood so shitty. i suspect a major resto job, there is a lot of overspray. overall damn fine looking though

have you guys noticed every rx-7 comes with a haynes manual, every single car I've bought has had one.

 

my first one did, but my last one didnt!!

 

I's over $2,500 now.. Fast approaching the tipping point of no return for cheap bastards!

 

Will only go up a few hundred more from here

 

Agreed. Having further scrutinized the photos I hereby retract my original estimates of this car's value. There's plenty of room for improvement in the cleanliness of the engine bay, and who knows what repairs were necessary under that substandard paint job or for that matter, the quality of said repairs. Anyone considering buying this car would be well advised to pull the storage bins and inspect every inch.

BTW, I'm assuming the price for a quality paint job means that you use only the best primer, paint and clearcoat, and that you're paying a professional to do the work. Painting cars is not something I have first-hand experience at, but I have read up on it and covered the topic in aircraft maintenance (airframe) studies.

It sounds like the difference in price between a good and bad paint job is the materials quality, the detail level and the labor involved to achieve that level of detail. It sounds like even a pro can cut corners if it suits him and then charge you for champagne while delivering ****. I've read more than one post on here lamenting that if you want something done right you gotta do it yourself.

So assuming that I'm willing to pick up a couple of texts and read up on this, and then practice with an HVLP system using cheap paint until I'm good at it before actually applying the good stuff, and leave no stone unturned getting rid of rust and flaws (and removing necessary hardware), and settling for nothing short of perfect body prep---- roughly how much would I end up spending for the necessary materials to do this right?

 

RotaryRevn,
That SE is cleaner than MINE!!! And I get compliments on it where ever I go! Get it, or I will sell mine and get that!

 

"so if you feel that you would like to just write us a check for any amount"

$20???............

 

<--- High bidder for awhile.

 

if u win, I will gladly take a "thank you" donation thru paypal at kiker14@aol.com

 

If I win, I need a ride to Salem =p.

 

You will be the first to know if I don't get it No one else even knows about it so we should be good.

 

sir, i am all over that car already

offtopic:
and as promised, i will pick up your bar this coming saturday morning so as to avoid that nasty *** 110 traffic. btw, i just swung by wacky's pad today and dave already bought the starion IC from ya. so i guess i'll be just bringing $50 with me.

 

Beautiful car.

 

Well, at $4,050, it's finally past my limit. Good luck to whoever wins it; let us know if she's as pretty as her pictures.

BTW, I wrote the seller about the paint overspray in the engine bay. He initially gave me a song and dance about not knowing what overspray was, then supposedly went out the next day to look and found nothing. On the off chance that this car is a complete pig-in-a-poke, I'll forward the email to the winning bidder if they need help proving the car was misrepresented--also assuming there is in fact overspray under the hood (sure looks that way to me).

-dave