G'day,

I've been preparing my car slowly for a respray over the last 2 years, after a minor accident which damaged the front right corner. Took a while to collect the parts (mix of new - where I could get it - and second hand parts) and to fix a lot of rust all around the car. Today I finally put the car into the body shop to finish it off.

Seeing an RX-7 restored never gets old so I thought you might like to see some pics. I've done the work removing damaged panels, badges, trim etc - all the shop needs to do is fix the dents, respray a spare red door, replace the damaged guard (with a new guard from mazda - very difficult to get) and then fix dents and respray. I want it to look brand new but have tried to save money doing as much as I can myself.

It will be resprayed in the original Sunbeam Silver, with the trims semi-gloss black and moldings unpainted.

Here are pics of the car going into the shop. I'll put some more pics up as I progress with it.

 

ahhhh - love the smell of new paint in the morning....
enjoy your (re) New ('d) RX7 Dave

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

looks like a good start

 

Good luck with this project bro

 

Where'd you find an RX-7 door that has NO body-moulding line in it?? Never seen such a thing - unless it's been modded.

 

Thanks. Its taken way too long to get to this point, but I want it done right! Hoping to get the car back early January and start putting it back together over the holidays.

Also got all brand new engine parts ready for a rebuild - probably the last ever fresh 12A on the planet, given you can't get new housings anymore. Like the car, it will completely stock (as tempting as it is to mild port).


That is just a spare door - in the last photo you can see a red door in the background - that's the one going on the car.

The door was a spare from a race car - some backyard genius filled in the groove with bog, probably repairing it from race damage.

 

Cool looking project, good luck with it! Keep posting pics, will love to see it.

 

Right hand drive.... lucky!
good luck with the project

 

looking good! can't wait to see it when it comes out! are you supplying the body parts?

 

Yes everything is provided for them - doors, nose panel, cowel panel, brand new guard (fender), brand new bumpers. Only thing I've asked them to replace is the windscreen, which developed some kind of weird bubbles inside the glass. I even gave them a windscreen clip kit from Black Dragon. The parts/trims are all individually bubble wrapped and carefully packed so they know its serious business

I inherently don't trust body shops or anyone to work on my car so I've tried to make it as easy as possible for them so they don't screw up! Luckily this shop is one of the bigger ones in the country with a good reputation.

 

This happens all the time on older windshields. I think it's the heat. A friend of mine had an '80 RX-7 with the same problem. I had it on my '57 ****** Wagon. Basically the laminate is separating from the glass.

 

Some more pics. They masked/sealed the doors and hatch, then decided to open it and continue sanding, bringing piles of dust inside the car. They said they'll clean it but I'd prefer it didn't happen at all. You can't just rummage around with a vacuum - the plastics are so easy to scratch and break. I hope they take care.

The engine bay was absolutely covered in dust too... seems unnecessary.

But they looked to have been doing a good job so far - found a lot of dents, which I hoped they would. Apparently I'm breaking their ***** because they didn't anticipate so much work...

 

 

Got my car back from the shop on Saturday. Paint is faultless. Can't wait to start getting it back together.

I only have one photo right now:

 

can't wait to see it together. it looks really good.

 

wooo hooo looks good ... awaiting more pics

 

nice!

 

Some more photos

 

I know what that New Paint feeling is like ..... looks great !