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83 saved from going to the wrecker

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Old Feb 8, 2008 | 01:58 PM
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83 saved from going to the wrecker

and only cost me 275.00 including tow!











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Old Feb 8, 2008 | 02:06 PM
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83le wheels, nice. too bad there are only 2.
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Old Feb 8, 2008 | 02:08 PM
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The pair of LE wheels and the spoiler are worth what you paid for it, nice find, take care of it!
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Old Feb 8, 2008 | 02:08 PM
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It came with all 4 actually, the other two just have bad tires on them.
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Old Feb 8, 2008 | 02:14 PM
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Even better, the wheels alone are worth what you paid
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Old Feb 8, 2008 | 02:27 PM
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Nice car for $275. I bought an 83 for $250 and risked my life(definately worth it) being towed in it 30 miles with a towstrap. Your car looks a ehll of a lot nicer but at least I was able to sell the original cross pattern wheels for 80 bucks and keep the 79 wheels that came on it.
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Old Feb 8, 2008 | 02:38 PM
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Why was this 83 going to the wrecker? Looks like a nice complete car to me. Just needs some love, a radiator shroud, and some plug wires. I think you got a great deal.
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Old Feb 8, 2008 | 05:12 PM
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Originally Posted by 82transam
Even better, the wheels alone are worth what you paid
+1 on that. That car looks like it's in alot better shape than my SA when I brought it home. I commend anyone who saves the life of a RX7. Now kiss you paychecks goodbye .
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Old Feb 8, 2008 | 05:46 PM
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That is one sexy ride for that price.
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Old Feb 8, 2008 | 06:02 PM
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Nice find good price
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Old Feb 8, 2008 | 06:03 PM
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What model is that w/ cruise control and no A/C? That's a nice looking car, how's the interior? What's wrong with it?
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Old Feb 8, 2008 | 06:49 PM
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Seeing how it has a sunroof, but no rear wiper.......that could be a LE.
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Old Feb 8, 2008 | 07:15 PM
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I really wish I knew what model it is as well, all suspicions hint it is an LE but its the wrong color?.. now what I do find interesting is the engine bay itself is a silver color? was that common or? if this car has been repainted It's one hell of a pro job done to it and years ago I used to do prep work and I cant find a sign of being redone other than the mis matching engine bay..

the instrument cluster does show a setting for Max/AC however as we can see there is no air condition pump under the hood.

as for whats wrong with it, well. It will not start ( i was told it was running in the summer) I have good spark and am getting fuel, I recently moved to BC from ON and I do not have my tools here yet, so no compression check has been done, however by ear I seem to have good compression (enough to run it anyhow)

This car was in the hands of a 17? yo who was attempting to turn it into a "tuner" car and it is very much a hack job on the interior, there is paint to be removed from panels etc and a mess of wiring to remove/fix... and the dash is cracked from age..

other than all that this is one solid car with no rust to be found it still has the original muffler and protective tins etc.. the under side looks like that of a 5 yo car..


I may or may not drive this car for the summer but either way it will be cleaned up and put up for sale. Just hope I don't have to get into replacing/over hauling an engine. 123k miles on it.


All that said this is my 4th Rx-7 and my seconded FB (other two were FC na's) any help/advice/tips is more than welcome and as I have been away from my true love for a couple years it is good to be back as I came across this car just on fluke.
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Old Feb 8, 2008 | 07:24 PM
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post the color code, its on a plate on the pass side firewall. if you say the engine bay is a silver color i say you probably got yourself a 83le.
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 01:51 AM
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Did some closer inspection of a few area's on the car and can now confirm it has indeed been painted just a damn nice job thou. I never got around to checking the color code but will be doing that first thing in the morning.

Lots of reading and checking and going over things in the car and I am now 98% certain this is in fact an LE.

although its not yet running over all I am very happy with this find. and I thank everyone for the comments.
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 04:55 AM
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good find my friend!! restoration plans? make sure you post that color code!! post some interior pics. if it is in fact a LE, the color code will be S3
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 08:08 AM
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S3?

Here's the list of '83 paint codes:

1983 MAZDA RX-7

H1 - Sparkling Black Metallic Clearcoat
K3 - Sunbeam Silver Metallic Clearcoat
K8 - Tornado Silver Metallic Clearcoat
M5 - Maya Gold Metallic Clearcoat
RH - Sunrise Red
R3 - Renaissance Red Metallic Clearcoat
T5 - Havana Brown Metallic Clearcoat
WT - Formula White


83 in silver reminds me of this... http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CRFSBZYI6j0

Last edited by rearviewmirror; Feb 9, 2008 at 08:27 AM.
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 09:51 AM
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Very nice find! What are your plans as far as the motor goes?
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 10:33 AM
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S3 is the paint code for Chateau Silver Metallic the 83 LE color. If it is a LE its rare for sure, only 5000 made and I'm sure only a handful left..
Cant tell from the pics, but is the interior light maroon? Thats another hint to being a LE...
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 01:44 PM
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that car reminds me of a stray puppy or third world war orphan in an ad soliciting donations.
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 02:28 PM
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Ok Color code is in fact S3 and yes the interior is "was, and will be again once i find a way to remove the paint without hurting it" Maroon..

I still need to trouble shoot why it wont start and kind of asses things from there as I go. Personally I would like to get the interior as close back to original as possible and it will need things like the dash replaced and a few missing *****, I am hoping I can remove the paint from the trim pieces that have been covered and if not I could be looking for an almost full interior.. the seats and carpet are all in good shape just some fade spots that I can have re dyed easily enough..

As for engine/bay I am open to suggestions (assuming I can get it running and compression is decent other wise I will be looking for a replacement/rebuild)

last thing on the list is I would like to do something about the paint.. now do I remove the "new" paint and redo it in its original color or do I try to match whats on it and paint the engine bay to match?

note: the color now is some sort of very dark blue that looks black in most light plus seems to have a faint hint of metallic in it..
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Old Feb 10, 2008 | 08:02 PM
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Update: since it was +5 today I decided to give it another go..

Finally it is running! even seems to drive just fine, some things to tweak here and there but over all its pretty good.
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Old Feb 10, 2008 | 08:19 PM
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Why would someone do that to a LE, They should look like this



From the looks of the pictures it still has some of the AC componets left you maybe able to just pick up an old compressor and fill it up with some R134A and be good to roll.

Last edited by MattG; Feb 10, 2008 at 08:25 PM.
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Old Feb 11, 2008 | 01:43 AM
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Nice find. What the engines status? Looks like someone yanked the plug wires in a fit or rage or something.

I don't think it's a limited because of the lack of AC (was it removed?). It looks like a base model. Good deal on it.

edit add: Also would it not have pwr windows if limited? (curious).
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Old Feb 11, 2008 | 02:11 AM
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Since I actually spent time going over more of the car today and getting it running I have to admit in my haste after getting it home and taking/posting pic's I just never noticed the AC equip under the hood (it is all there) Also the only 83's painted Chateau silver was the LE and as pointed out above is noted on the firewall with a S3 color code..

Engine seems to run ok but I wont be taking it on the road till the spring and since I recently moved here to a new province I do not have all my tools. to run compression test etc..

I bought it from someone very inexperienced with cars in general let alone a rotary so yes things like the plug wires etc were removed in a poor manner.

it has fresh fluids and plugs now and the wires that were in the car seemed to be in good shape other than the boots not being on them. It took a lot of flooding and de-flooding to start but all seems to be good since letting it run for an hour or so.

A lot of the interior is incorrect and mis matching and or been poorly painted (including the headliner seats etc) that said thou the LE was based of the GS trim level so appearing "base" is not that far off..
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