For me, it was a natural progression through Mazda’s 1980’s coupe competition. I had a 280zx that took me cross country twice, I really liked that car. It was dead reliable and just ate up the highway miles.

Then there were a couple of SAABs, but for how long can anyone love fail wheel drive?



I even had a sharp little Bertone X1/9, but it blew up in a cloud of smoke and steam on Highway 5.



In 2003 I had just sold my 944 with a bum automatic transmission to a kid who knew better, but was still likely destined for the same heartbreaks I had been living with for the last year. I was moving overseas and had to shift the Pig.



With a week to go before departing I saw a white FB gleaming in the sun, it’s fat roly-poly sheepskin seat covers and dorky Star Trek “BMMEUP” plates screamed “one affluent female owner”. In my opinion, the best kind of used car to buy. It was only a few hundred bucks more than what I got for the Porsche, so I was set. Plus, as a manual there was no way the ex-wife would ever want it!



And it has been an awesome car since then. Every time I return to California, it’s there waiting for me faithfully and reliably. It always gets a whole new bunch of parts as a reward for being so great. The Rewinds were a real turning point in the car’s appearance.



Sure, I have flirted with other rides in the last seven years. I even picked up a sinister black 944S, but it lost out and was sold within a few months.



And so here it sits now, waiting for the next step. I’m looking at Re-Speed springs and Tokico Blues. What do you think?

 

Well when I turned 16 I got my first car, it was a rusty but trusty mazda b2200 after I wrapped that thing around a tree because of balled tires and a wet rainy road I decided I wanted another mazda. So I got on craigslist and begin my search, after a couple of months I found another b2200 but it was like my dream truck, it was static dropped 3 inches had some decent american racing rims and a phantom grill. So after some convincing my parents helped me get a loan and I went and bought the truck. Then a couple of months later I was sitting at my friends house when one of her friends came in and told me that my precious truck had been hit by the neighbor across the street. I went out and he had hit it got caught on the grill and ripped it off . We traded insurance info and I went to his insurance guys and they gave me $700 for damages . Well I had a used grill and such and fixed the truck for $100, so now I have $600 left over to play with. Well a friend of mine bought an rx7 from iowa and hauled it up here, well he then decided that they didn't want it and told me they would let it go for $500 since they new me, well I jumped right on that deal and got the car, I have owned it for almost a year now and have enjoyed every mile I put on it, it's been through a clutch, 1 master and 2 slave cylinders, and a water pump just to name a few parts. The car also had a gigantic box of receipts from the original owner. I almost sold it not that long ago when a member from these forums came over and convinced me to keep it after a 45 minute long conversation. Regardless I absolutely love the car and am glad I didn't sell it.

 

Don't bother with the blues, go with the Illumina's. I just bought a ton of new RE-Speed parts and Tokico Illumina's to replace my Blues. Adjustability is a must have on any sports car, because a firm ride is great, until the 5th hour of it on a long highway. Car looks awesome. See mine in my sig, I'm too lazy to post pics.

 

Man those rewinds made the car look 10 years newer! Nice...

 

My first was a tan 83 from the mother of one of my employees. I wanted a 280z at the time but this was just too nice to pass up. Then, a year later I went to look at a GSLSE an old fella had for sale for a buddy of mine. The owner was about 65, interior was flawless and it only had 140,000 km (90,000 miles), needless to say it became mine. Years later and a few transformations has brought it to this state:

 

My first car was my grandfather's RX-7 that he bought new in 82. I've only driven it about 2500 miles since I got it 4 years ago because of 2 different motors, but it's only weeks away from being back in my hands with shiny new goodies. Pics are from last summer.

 

You must be bored because you spoke of many more cars than your first RX-7.

My first RX-7 was a 1990 FC GXL. It had been sitting in a vacant lot for a year or so with a for sale sign on it--covered in dust and dirt. I picked it up for $1,100. It ran, but needed everything. I was a silly 20-year-old in the Airforce ('00) at the time and I dumped too much money in it. Eventually it got a turbo engine, Momo racing seats, Haltech, FMIC, etc... I had a BNR stage TII and made 300 rwhp tuned by RP outside of Dallas. The car was fast. Unfortunately, it was involved in a hit and run which would have cost way too much money to fix it. Then I blew the transmission at the track and I did not have the money to fix it.

I was a newly wed at the time and only made $40k at my fist job outside of the Airforce. My (now ex) wife did not care for it or understand it--so my first love had to go.

Since then Mazdas I have owned are: A single turbo R1 FD, a first gen Miata with a '00 engine, and now my turbo FB.

I will dig up some ole pictures of the FC and post.

 

My first rx7 was a used 1980 GS in Sunbeam Silver. I bought when I got my first job
out of school in 1983. I've lived in 5 different states since then and its followed
me around the whole time.

Heres a pic from last winter:

 

Yea, I was bored and looking through some old photos. I really love 80's stuff.

 

possibly the worst first rx-7 ever

 

Got an old 79 off ebay. Gold, with a dry rotted interior. I remember picking it up and taking it
back to my place. I was so excited I got inside and adjusted the rearview mirror, only to have
the plastic crumble and fall into my hand.

Good times.

 

Even the exhaust tips are banged up! What's the story?

 

Bought it from some kid in Jersey. I guess his heater hose blew, he replaced it, and it promptly blew again. Rage mode ensued, and he grabbed his favorite baseball bat and beat the whole car. Nothing was spared. Thats why the front end was white I guess. It made a good donor car in the end though.

 

That's no way to treat a RX7! haha.

 

yeah, I think some of the dents on the roof are from me. I didnt slam my hood all the way one day. Apparently the spring that holds the lever in place was gone as well so as soon as I hit a bump on the freeway, the hood flew up, and I was driving down the freeway like Ace Ventura.

 

hahahahaha, that must've been quite a ride.

 

Im 23 and just recently picked up my first RX7. I found it on Craigslist after having a very boring Automatic Integra (Ad claimed it was a manual and when I got there it was auto) It was a good deal so I bought it anyway because I needed a car. But I missed having a manual so bad I went back to Craigslist and found this very nice RX7. I'm a little rotary ignorant and was a little intimidated about buying a car I knew nothing about. I had a good feeling about it and bought it anyways. I love it so far. The last couple years have been a roller coaster professionally and personally. I hope things get back to the way they were and eventually I can get myself back into an 04-06 GTO. I've had quite a few cars and this one is up there on the fun level. Here are a couple of them...

My 82 RX7 GS



Near Mint 89 Formula 350


04 Grand Prix GT


06 Monte Carlo SS 5.3L V8 (but FWD :x)


and my baby that I lost

 

How did you lose it? Forgot where you parked it?

Look on the bright side, next time you can buy a post '04 GTO and get a real engine. Or save up and get a real GM car--the Z06.

I thought I wanted a GTO once upon a time until I drove one and after driving my G35 it felt like crap. Sorry GM.

 

Financial Issues, laid off.

 

The first Rx-7 I fell in love with was a hopelessly rotten '81 GS that was on the farm where I was working in High School. The car belonged to my Boss's deceased father (apparently he was quite the old-man! Though I never knew him.) I kept it up as best I could in my spare time, but was given away to my Boss's sister as part of the estate settlement. She wouldn't sell it me. Then she junked it. It was too late though, I was hooked on 7s.

By the time I was a sophmore in college my obsession had reached a ferver. I sold my decently new Hyundai Accent and bought a blue '83 S.



I only had her about a year, but what a year! Between minor collision, leaving it two tone combined with a blown engine, I moved on. I've been in my Miata ever since, but I never lost the bug. I'd been keeping my eyes open for another 7 for the last number of years. Last November I found it. Another Blue '83 GS.





Read all about my new love at http://mechanicjay.com/rx7.

 

i fell in love with the rotary engine after reading up on the RX8. i got my RX8 in june 06, and after owning that car my love only became deeper.

last year, july 2009. i was sitting at starbucks with my best good friend Trista, and for once i did not turn the conversation to the subject of cars, but it happened. After a few minutes of this, she stated "i've been trying to convince my step-dad to fix up his old RX7, but he doesnt have the time, and its been sitting in our driveway 5 years". i promptly follwed that with, "well, i'll take it."

so i went up to look at the car, and it was in pretty bad shape. but it was exactly what i was looking for. we talked cars for a while. and $500 later i had a car that didnt work.

after a carb rebuild and fixing one massive vacuum leak, the car runs, but just barely.

i could not have asked for anything better. especially since i wasnt looking to buy a car. she came to me

 

My first RX-7 was an 85 GS. I found it not running and picked it up for $200. drove it for about 3 happy years





My second one i found on craigslist and fell in love with.







After selling my silver one (should not have done it) i got out of the rotary game and picked this up. 1986 Porsche 944



Sold the porsche due to the clutch going out and then moved to Atlanta where i picked this baby up.







To be continued.......

 

Machado, we have run a similar Porsche path! Was it difficult to fit that SAAB 900 spoiler?

 

In 1997, I was 17 and my pops and I went used car shopping. I saw a beige 84 RX7 GS sitting in a corner next to a Suzuki Samurai. My pops tried to convince me to get the Samurai. I wanted no part of it. He begrudgingly gave in. Man, that RX looked great, but it was a tired beat old thing. It leaked oil, leaked coolant, and leaked exhaust. I had it a short while before I blew the engine. Poor 12a could only take so much. I attached a pic, that isn't my car, but it looked exactly like it. Anyway, while my car was down waiting for an engine, I bought my 85 S. That was my baby. Sold it in 2000(long story), 10 years later I got it(well a clone) back. In between I had a looot of cars.