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Hello everyone. There is a 1985 RX7 that is in my town. It has been sitting for the last 2 years. I talked to the guy and he will sell it for 1k. The engine was blown so he replaced it with another used engine but didn’t finish it. He was also switching the interior from red to black. He said he has some of the engine parts and most if not all the interior pieces. He said he will give me another 12a engine from a different car for free along with all the parts he has. The car is rust free and has a semi new paint job. I want a project car to work on and learn lots about and then sell it once I am done and not lose money and hopefully make a little. I have some mechanical knowledge and want to know more. I don’t know much about the rotary. I was wondering if you guys think that 1k is a good deal or if I should pass and try to get something else. It also does not have a sunroof or anything so I think it’s a base model.
Do and inventory of what is there and useable. Then determine what is missing or not usable. This will tell you how much on top of the $1000 you'll have in it from the start. Then think about what parts just need to be replaced as part of normal maintenance i.e. brakes, radiator, fluids, tires, etc. Once you have this number, you can make a determination of return-on-investment (ROI).
I heard parts are rare and expensive, is this true?
compared to most other cars, yes parts are rare. not usually expansive though, most of the stuff has to come from Mazda, and they are still 80's prices, mostly
Does anyone else have any advice on if this is a good purchase or I will just lose money?
that depends a lot on your situation. if you have the time to remove everything from the engine bay, clean it, check it, put it back, and then do the same on the interior, then you will do fine.
Bought my first RX7 a year back. Definitely an amateur, but am learning. As others have said real cost is not in the purchase but in the parts needed to get the car working. My biggest hit was needing an engine rebuild. Did all the work myself but no getting around the $1500 required for a rebuild kit and a couple of extra parts.
You will not make money when done, if lucky you may break even due to the rise in prices lately but parts and other details are going to cost more as well. Doing this thinking it will be a good investment is silly, doing it because you want an RX-7, priceless.
RX-7 is a labor of love. If you have 5 parts cars already, then it will be an easy resto. If you have no parts on-hand and little RX-7 experience, it will take time (to source and refurbish parts) and money (to source and refurbish parts). I would estimate most buy their running cars for $4-6k and then put another $5-10k into them.
Then you could sell it for that $5-10k, depending on how good a job you did. It's a bad investment, from an investment perspective. But a fun little car, from a car-lover's perspective. I love mine, but I'll never get back half of what I've put into it.
I have plenty of time and would love doing it. But I don’t want to keep it forever and don’t want to lose money. I just want to learn a lot and move on to something else to work on.
With these cars, unless you love driving it and value that time, you're gonna be on the losing end of the transaction.
Simply looking at dollars will leave with an unhappy memory. It's not like you're gonna throw a bunch of parts at it and bam, I have me a high dollar car to sell.
"I don't want to lose $$$." You need to look elsewhere.
The only reason any of us are still driving and maintaining these cars is because we grew up with them, loved them since our youth, and they have a special fondness in our hearts. If you don't have that, this will not be a rewarding experience for you.
Let me tell you a quick story that I'll bet could be shared across most of the members who've been here with 10+ and 20+ year badges; an SA was my first car back in high school. I learned to drive in my dad's 84SE that I own today. I took my first driver test in that 84SE, and because it was more powerful and torque than the SA we bought for me, I chirped the tires pulling out of the ADOT office parking lot with the test examiner sitting next to me and my family standing in the parking lot. I passed that test, and drove my SA (80LS) to high school and later to college. I worked on it enough to keep it running, because it wasn't my hobby - it was my only ride to school, to work, and on dates. I limped it along, and enjoyed the he'll out of it.
Fast forward a few more years and my dad wants to sell his 84SE that started it all for me. I can still remember my first ride in that car the day he bought it new, and marveling at the Amber dash lights and gauges, while I was cramped into the back hatch area, and my brother sitting in the passenger seat. I was instantly hooked back then, and I bought the car from my dad, and drive it to this day. It has 249k miles on it. That's a lot of smiles, and a lot of RPM buzzers, and a lot of maintenance, and a lot of gasoline. My dad passed away years ago. I carried his ashes home in the -SE. It just seemed appropriate.
Everytime I drive the car, it's like putting on a comfortable old shirt. I wouldn't trade ownership and all those experiences for anything.
If you didn't feel something like this, it's just going to be a car to you - and it won't be a passion. Those cars end up at the scrap yard after you give up on it, because it's too expensive or parts are too hard to locate, or you just get bored with it. It can't be about the $$$ - because the economics never balance out. Good luck, whatever you choose.
OP, I don't want to discourage you from getting the car, because the more people restoring them = the more good examples still driving around. But you're not going to make money on it. No "flipping" these cars,... not today.
When I got my first '85 in 1996 it cost $2000, was in EXCELLENT shape, and everyone told me I got ripped off. As soon as I got it, I started seeing them everywhere for $500 in good running condition. But I loved that car and have never lost that passion for 1st gens.
I bought my current car for $7k in "needs a refresh" 59k mile condition and I've put about $15k into it since. All new drivetrain and suspension/brakes. Original interior in good, but musty condition. A few dings and dents.
I could prolly get $10k or so if I wanted to sell it, because it's not an "all original" BAT cream puff. But mine will out-run those barn-find cream puffs.
Don't buy it as an investment, because you'll lose money. Buy it if you think it's a cool car.
I'd say go for it, a decent deal with the spare motor, but plan on spending at least another $1-2K to get it in running condition, more depending on what you want. you might at least break even and have some fun driving it and working on it.
It appears to me to be a prime example of what a passionate rotary enthusiast with deep pockets might look for and actually make work. Unless you at least partially 'fill the bill', let someone else have the rotary fun while you do a Mustang or Camero. I'm still pouring cash into a '79 SA that I've owned 42 years.
Thank you all for the advice. I think bringing it back to how it should be would be a great project and I think I will learn a lot from this project. My goal is to bring it back to running condition and all put back together. I don’t want this car to be an investment I just don’t want this to make me bankrupt.
Thank you all for the advice. I think bringing it back to how it should be would be a great project and I think I will learn a lot from this project. My goal is to bring it back to running condition and all put back together. I don’t want this car to be an investment I just don’t want this to make me bankrupt.
ive done a bunch of Rx7's like this, and usually someone wants the car more than me before its finished, i usually make a little money on each one. it does take me about 18 months to pull the car apart, clean it and put it back together.
i do one thing at a time, just because space is a thing, so like engine bay, interior, are done separate.
My 80 SA was my first car out of college in 1983. Thats right, I bought a used SA instead of a new 84 because I was into autox and wanted a good light car to complete in solo events with. Did a few events and had it in 5 different states. Daily drove it for 6 years before making it a garage queen in 1989. Every lump and bump on it is mine. Its always been the most reliable car in our driveway (garage actually). Prefect GS interior and I drive it like I stole it all the time. Just did DGRR a few weekends ago. Piled on memories and miles. Only do it if you love it.
05-14-22, 03:41 PM
