What would all of you say a relatively clean 79 SA would be worth? Has some nice 15" period-correct mesh wheels, decent tires, good interior, paint is decent, but the seller says it has weak ignition and doesn't run. When it did, it sputtered and back fired and shot huge flames out the tail pipe. Sounds like the Nikki needs a rebuild and some ignitors. It's all stock and he's interested in trading my son for his clean, and running well, 84 Nissan 200SX coupe. Even trade. The RX7 fella has an extra 12A and trans (in unknown condition) but he is wanting to keep it and just trade even up for the 200.

I've been around rotaries since 1986 and owned many, raced them, etc...I'm very familiar with them, in other words. I've owned mostly FCs for the last several years so I'm a little out of touch with the market pricing of SAs. My son likes the car, but I'm not too interested in trading off a good running car for one that doesn't. I have about $3500 in the 200, and it has new suspension, new brakes, new head and timing components...only thing really wrong is the top of the door panels need recovering and a headlight motor. The coupes in this condition are selling $3000-4000.

What would you all say the SA is worth in the condition described? I'm thinking its a $1500 car, maybe $2000 if he includes the extra 12A and trans.

 

Without pics, I'd say $1500 with the spare engine and that's if the interior and paint are good. It's not a straight up trade with an engine that needs work. Too many unknowns.

 

Hm,... a reliable running car for a non-running, parts NLA money pit. I think your estimates are about right, and the old guy should give you the RX7 and $2000 for your 200SX. Is the 200 a fastback or notchback?

 

Car could be worth more than that,if real clean and no hackwork,original and reasonably low miles.The biggest concern is it doesn't run...and you can't drive it to assess complete car. I would want have at least a compression test done on engine.I don't trust what a seller says,need to verify myself.
Stands to reason the seller would make an effort to get running to get max price for car...if it ran and drove well and had little or no rust and he included extra engine and trans then maybe even trade. This to be a daily driver? Well maintained/sorted 200SX would be more reliable.

 

Exactly what I'm thinking about the unknowns.

Unfortunately, I'm the old guy. The 200 is the coupe/notch back. IT is the NA CA20 dual spark engine, runs like a top.

My factory, old school Mazda compression tester is with a friend in Texas (I'm in AL) and the other friend that I have that has let me borrow his new rotary tester has let a different frined in Atlanta borrow his. So I can't test it unless I do the piston tester without the valve. And, yes, this would be his daily driver.


The front interior looks good, seats and dash are without tears or cracks. The rear hatch area appears to be missing some of the plastics and I can't tell from the pics if it has carpet. I dunno guys. The 200 has a lot of reliable things going on. We bought the car from the original owner in 10/2018 and have done all this stuff to it. The head gasket let go, but compression is great on the bottom end and I put a fully rebuilt head on it with all that goes along with that as well. Then the suspension is new, brakes, etc... I'm not feeling an even trade just because the 200 has some door panel issues.

 

Keep the 200 for DD and lowball seller of RX,since not running,see what he says. Include engine/trans in deal,offer $1000.00

 

Does the SA's condition approach THIS one?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1979-mazda-rx-7-25/

Just sold for $4500. And it is no beauty queen, with minor body damage, a cap on its dash. (but also a rebuilt engine in it's past) Basically a "driven" SA.
While not claiming this is an absolute Benchmark price for SAs in this condition, the price surprised me and suggests that if "OK" ones like this can fetch over $4K (and I would suggest BaT auctions are a pretty good barometer of car values) then the one you are looking at may have more value than it is being given credit for. Of course, you ask all of us for input on a car none of us has seen...

As others caution, buying such a car with the idea of it being a daily driver is...not without its challenges. Well cared for, an SA CAN be a DD I think, but not sure how realistic that is here. The fact the car is not running well is, of course, a concern. But also bear in mind that things like its old-skule Points ignition, if badly worn, will result in poor running, and is an easy fix. Or if the car has sat for a long time incorrectly stored, then fuel issues as simple as a new fuel filter (or at worst, a need to rebuild the carb) can mean it could well be made into a strong runner with little downside...

Stu Aull
80GS
AZ

 

i think that what a car is worth is dependent on where u live, but ultimately depends on what someone is willing to pay for it. for me, not being able to test drive to check things out, unless the body/interior is in really good condition and not take much to get it up and running, it would be hard to give more than 1k for it. around here i've gotten them for far less.