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So my SA is really a rare bird. I had never seen one with 8 track either before I bought it last year.
1st year production went through a couple "phases" of development with several small changes / updates applied to the vehicles. Early build cars like yours (Mar-Jun 78) often have certain features now considered "odd ball or rare" due to those production changes. By January of 79, Mazda turned their development and updating to the 1980 model year which began production in June of 79.
Does anyone know if they ever made the early door panels without a side pocket in black? I have a 79 limited and I'll eventually want to replace the carpet-y panels it has stock, hopefully with some in the older style. If I can't find them or they don't exist I might just end up having an upholstery shop make up something similar.
A few pictures of mine, it definitely needs some cosmetic work though...
Does anyone know if they ever made the early door panels without a side pocket in black? I have a 79 limited and I'll eventually want to replace the carpet-y panels it has stock, hopefully with some in the older style. If I can't find them or they don't exist I might just end up having an upholstery shop make up something similar.
A few pictures of mine, it definitely needs some cosmetic work though...
Just remember that the seats and door panels are unique and specific to the 79 Limited. You may want to have an upholstery shop take a look at the seats and see if they can replicate the fabric and pattern.
Could you post a pic of one of your door panels? I haven't seen them in black, just red or a darker wine color.
This is the right panel from my April 78 car. Notice the two silver bands with the dark brown band. All of the pattern lines are heat seal. No way to reproduce that I know of. The top of my left side panel is all cracked. any recommendations on how to just replace the top?
Just remember that the seats and door panels are unique and specific to the 79 Limited. You may want to have an upholstery shop take a look at the seats and see if they can replicate the fabric and pattern.
I know they're unique to it, but it's insanely expensive to have an upholstery shop redo seats to match the originals. It could cost more than the car is worth.
My thoughts are basically that if it's impractical to redo the seats as original, I may as well make the door panels nicer, since they won't match the seats anymore anyway.
I'll probably take it out to a few shops to get some estimates anyway though. Maybe someone local will do it for a more reasonable price.
Originally Posted by mazdaverx713b
Also, where in Ohio are you located? I host several meets per year and would love to have you out for a meet!
I'm in columbus, might be interested once I'm reasonably confident my car can make a trip of more than about twenty miles. I haven't even registered it yet so I haven't had a chance to find all the problems that didn't show up in the test drive.
And thanks for the picture Herb. You gotta wonder who at Mazda thought "ok, we have these nice flat durable vinyl panels that look great. Lets replace them with carpet that doesn't look very good, is harder to clean and will fall apart."...
Racing Beat has a place that produces upholstery for the 79 and 80 seats. Do a regular seat with the velour insert option, get some extra velour and have a local shop replace velour on the doors.
What to do with other people's cars is easy.
Any advice on fixing the top of my left door card?
[QUOTE=AnUnusedUsername;12096002]I know they're unique to it, but it's insanely expensive to have an upholstery shop redo seats to match the originals. It could cost more than the car is worth.QUOTE]
Welcome to the world of 1st Gen RX-7s. Once the decision is made to fix one of these cars up beyond some minor repairs, you can expect to be upside down value wise. The further you go, the more in the hole you go. Or as I look at it, the further into the future you are investing in. The good news is, values have been on a slow rise the last 5-10 years. But still, something resembling a restoration is a decision made from the heart, not the head at this point.
Racing Beat does sell a very nice premium cover but not in the Limited design. They used to get them from SEATZ MFG in CA (and probably still do) Original look fabric can be sourced and covers made but you are correct, it won't come cheap. Expect to be all in around 2K give or take for a pair of quality covers that replicates the unique Limited design. It all depends on your budget and what you want the car to be when done.
Herb, I assume the black vinyl on the upper portion of your door card is cracked or torn? I've been working on door card trim recently and have an idea on how to maybe fix it. Throw up some pictures of the problem.
702roadrunner,
How can you tell? I was told that SAs were pre 1981. Since mine is a 1980...is it not an SA?
It might have a build date of 1980, but it most definitely is not an SA. SAs had very different front and rear bumpers (as shown) and build dates in the door jam of 1978 and 1979:
It might have a build date of 1980, but it most definitely is not an SA. SAs had very different front and rear bumpers (as shown) and build dates in the door jam of 1978 and 1979:
Yep. It may be an SA outside of North America, but in the US of A, it's an FB.
79-80 is a Series 1, AKA SA(22C)
81-84 is a Series 2 or 3, AKA FB.
edit: the years vary outside of the US.
just a slight correction.
81-83 series 2
84-85 series 3
look at the rear of the sa and fb. the sa has recessed area between the tail lights with license plate. the fb is smooth across the back(no recess), and license plate moved to under the rear bumper.
702roadrunner,
How can you tell? I was told that SAs were pre 1981. Since mine is a 1980...is it not an SA?
SA's are pre 1981. I think the confusion started because the door tag listed a build date in 80. Since production for the 81 model year began in the summer of 1980, it's entirely appropriate that an 81 could have been actually built in 1980. The VIN will confirm the model year as an FB.
08-04-16, 06:38 AM
