So me and some friends went and checked out a RX7 that we know of that has been sitting for quite some time in a garage. It's a '79 completely bone stock and unmolested in almost perfect body condition besides the front bumper being bent in a 1/2 inch on the driver side. The car has been sitting since 1991! But, it only has 40,000 miles on the car! The exhaust looks like it needs a lot of work, almost a complete replacement. I'm sure a lot of hoses need replaced, but the car was in perfect working condition when the guy put it in his garage to let it sit. What do you guys think? Would the rotors and apex seals have been too corroded by now, or does the car still have a fighting chance because of the low mileage. I think a fair price for the car would be $400 since it doesn't run, but is in great condition. What do you guys think?

 

my GXL sat for 12 years and basically fired right up, and even passed smog on the 12 year old gas.

the cooling system is F-ed though

actually in a carb, its bad when the fuel turns into a solid....

engine is fine, if anything the rotor oil seal o rings are gonna fail, and it'll smoke

 

If you can pick it up for 400, do it.

 

$400.ish sounds fair. you will need to clean or replace the fuel and cooling system, the engine could be carbon locked and the coolent seals could be bad.....

if you have the cash to get it and put a little in to it then get it. my car sat without a engine fot 10 years when i got it. i replaced the fuel tank and pump, put in a used engine and fixed the wiring mess ind i was good to go.

 

but if it looks like this i would pass on it.

 

Show us some pics and we'll tell you everything you need to know.

 

Things to include in the pics are interior, exterior , engine, current owners address / phone# would be helpful.

Seriously speaking it sounds like a good project car and if its in good cond and you are willing to put in the time/money it would be a nice car to start with since it shouldn't be rusty like most others up north.

 

Hey! Don't make fun of my car. JK

 

thats a mad tyt rhd jdm sa yo.


but.... no more thread jacking.

 

I'd buy it at that price if it as nice as it sounds; hard to go wrong. Even if it turns out only to be good for parting out, good-condition interior parts alone would net you what you paid.

 

Yeah, the interior is basically perfect. Next time I go over to the guys house I will grab pictures. The exterior is in good condition, the only rust I saw was in the exhaust tips. The car just needs a good buff. The only problem is the guy is wanting to hold on to it kind of. I will see what magic I can work, I will update as soon as I visit him again.

 

You should post some pictures!

Our 82 was sitting for 21 years, You shouldn't have a problem lol.

 

Big diff in storage issues btw east and west coasts, let alone how this car was actually put away. Good chance that "if" you got it started it will leak out of most every gasket in the car
Certainly you will want to change EVERY fluid: brakes/clutch thru to rear end before you drive it. And at least engine oil, fuel and coolant before you even try to just start it. No point in flinging all the crap that has gracefully settled into the lowest points in the components back over the innards again! Unfortunately, 79s have no drain in fuel tank - but this amongst other problems can be ably assisted by folks here if/when you get the car.
Good luck and congrats on the find.
Look forward to seeing what you stumbled on!

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

Pictures ASAP PLEASE!! Love garage queen find stories such as this.

 

Haha, alright I'll see if I can get pictures up today, it is quite the find though. As for draining all the fluids and stuff, I've done it all before with my RX7 because that sat for 10 years, outside, so mine was a little worse. I will definitely try to get pictures today.

 

ill give 400 mine sat for 8 years started right up with no problems

 

This is what car collectors call a "barn find."

 

agreed. west coast, mine sat outside the whole time, so cosmetically its destroyed. mechanically its tip top though. its even still wearing the original belts and hoses from 1987.

my SA was just a normal car, but @95k it also had all the original hoses. i replaced them, but they really looked fine.

my 58 TR3 had the original heater hoses, it needed those! they literally came apart if you looked at em funny, its a good thing they were under the dash....

2003-1958 = 45 year old hoses, try that with your new BMW

 

my 81 sat in a yard since 1993. I changed the fuel system, rebuilt the carb, changed all the hoses and fluids. She is still kicking to this day.