Three recent postings for arguably very nice SAs. All ebay, tho my weekly nation-wide CraigsList hunts seem to support these prices. Note these are all presented as very good, low mileage cars. Unmodded, some good-to-excellent owner documentation and in mostly original condition. In short, the kind of SA _I_ would want (so keep that in mind when you comment). "My" SA criteria is:
-GS
-sunroof
-under 75Kmi (somewhat arbitrary)
-original/restored; no mods

Brief description + pic off auction site in case ebay pulls it.

1) Bronze on Tan Plaid - 79 GS: $4500 - sold
Mazda : RX-7 GS in Mazda | eBay Motors
-51,000mi
-s/roof; air
-dead stock exc rear shade; clean interior in excellent original cond.; original window sticker; original owner
-stated issues: rear brakes need work; oil pan leak
-2nd time listed on ebay - no bidders at previous minimum of $5500

Nice car! I think this reflects a market correct price for "today". As a matter of comp: my 64K mi 80GS set me back $4200 in 2004. Off ebay.

2) Sunrise on Black -79 GS: $4500 w/reserve
Mazda : RX-7 GS Coupe 2-Door in Mazda | eBay Motors
-84,000
-early 78 production car (plain door panels/no right mirror/hood prop on right)
-Air, glass panel for S/roof, dealer Cruise
-150 pages of docs incl window sticker. not stated as Original Owner, but possible
-seats re-covered with red-leather inserts in 84. Tasteful if not OE.
-OE radio removed, poorly fitted cover plate; aftermarket FM-cassette rig in lower pocket. Correctible mod if you can source the radio.
Listed with $4500 START, but undisclosed Reserve (so: $4500 isn't going to buy it)
0 - bids with 20hrs to go (as of sept. 14)
SECOND time ebay listed - previously $5500 start with Reserve - no bids (obv)

Mileage is over my comfort zone, but apparent exceptional condition would merit a very hard look!
Impressive paint on fragile color, if indeed original, suggests a lot of l-o-v-e.
Doesn't look like its going to sell. Again. expect he'll either park it for the winter for better (??) spring price or re-list with OUT the Reserve...


3) White on Burgundy -79 GS - the Dreamer: $9500 - Make An Offer
Mazda : RX-7 GS Coupe 2-Door in Mazda | eBay Motors
-35,000 (!)
-Automatic (!!)
-Air (not working)
-very clean, original paint with minor bruises
-wheel center caps as new (usually a good tell-tale for mileage)
-rust starting in rear hatch channel, so hidden issues else where? NJ car.
-very minor ding on fr fender
-both seats damaged upholstery - will require replaced covers to make correct-to-mileage
-not original owner, but same family (Uncle's car)
-previously listed on-line (non-ebay) at same price.

OK - so not _my_ fav color. Split seats and rust point a bit at odds with mileage, but interior photos and trim details suggest it is likely accurate. Does suggest a more indifferent-and-stored life rather than overly-cherished dream car? And the price is, well, looney. The mileage is immediately offset by the Auto Tranny, unless your the 1% looking for that. Won't surmise a "realistic" value, but thinking something in the half-asking-price range would be generous?

So this is a snapshot of the State of SA at the moment. As the economy continues to bounce along the bottom, I have no reason to expect this to change anytime soon. The "Clean SA" range has more or less sat at $4K+ for several years now (of course always with the ocassional exceptions!). Even if you factor in the end-of-the-sports-car-season, I expect the $4-5K for SAs such as these to be the rule rather than the exception...

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

Guess you wouldn't be wanting my clunker, then...

 

but only one sold for above the mentioned price range. whether it was actually picked up is the other question..

 

I've noticed an increase in some of the "looney" asking prices the last year or two but little diference in what they actually sell for. Also, is it me or do I see fewer SA's for sale in general as of late? Especially real nice ones. Your accessment of 4 to 5K for an exceptionally nice and unmolested SA seems about whats normal.

I do think SA's get short changed some. Unless you're an Rx-7 enthusust, they just get lumped in with all 1st gens. The ones that seem to stand out for higher value are the GSL-SE's. Overall, I don't expect much to change unless Japanese cars in general become a trend or fad within the collector car community at large. Expanded intrest from bigger fish would undoubtly raise the numbers. Until then, you have time to find that princess who fits the glass slipper. In your case Stu-make that a furr bootie.

 

i do believe that is about the going rate, but they're still collecting dust before someone interested comes along.

there have been plenty of "feelers" posting stupid prices lately for generic models, laughable.

REPUs, deuces, 3's, 4's and even 5's fetch more simply due to rarity than the post 1980 models will and even those are difficult to find buyers for. i passed on a non running 1976 cosmo for $450 because it was missing all the interior, wasn't worth the effort to restore it. the SA i consider to be in the pre 80's group and a bit harder to find making it more valuable.

it sucked giving up the '74 REPU but it was a project, something that would have taken me years to get around to. the new owner is having the floor pan repaired now and already has the turbo setup in place after only 3 months. he was happy to pay $1000 and the title was lost from the PO before i got the truck, but i had done about 40-50% of the restoration already. a lien and some investment and it will be road worthy in a few more months. but he will still never get what he puts into it out of it, that is a rotary. you own these cars because you love them, not because you think you may make a few dollars off one eventually. any value increases you should just mark down as inflation and stop trying to kid yourself.

 

DD - might make an exception for the Gray Lady. you offering?




Yes our lovely little SA coupes will continue to be a Big Secret, tho notable collector magazines (Sports Car Market for one, Hemmings Sports another) have recognized their Sleeper status. But I sit here and see a number of nice 240zs finally getting over the $12K hump and realize we have another 10 yrs to go before we get near even that. Yup - we def didn't buy these for the Investment!
OR -
we could box a few nice ones up and see if our Kiwi and Auzzie buddies might pony up. Even mediocre SAs are going for $8K+. And the nice ones? egads: $12-15 even. And don't get me started on what they are paying for a clean (or even a beater!) R100. Minty's are going for $35K. I mean, damn. And I sold My sweetheart '70 R100 (new paint, new 10A) for...$400. 25 yrs ago. Still have nightmares....

Will just have to settle for my 63-split-window-vette substitute and pocket the change...


Stu Aull

 

dreamer.

 

Just FYI Stu. Checked out the white one. Looks nice but still needing some fixing. Much closer to a 4K car than 9, thats for sure. Maybe his uncle was the original owner but he must have lived on the west coast and not NJ. That is a California car originally. Has the emmissions sticker in the left rear corner window and the equipment in the engine bay.

 

Banzai - you da MAN for the details
Yeah she's been road hard put away wet. CA origins actually help? Tho those Cali SAs came with a few CA-only bits that can bite your butt down the road...
right DD?


Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

UPDATES:
1) 79 Bronze: SOLD at $4500. nice car and price
2) 79 Sunrise: Ended with NO SALE - '0' bids in fact. "Going twice...."
3) WHITE SA: 1 day+ left (as of Tuesday) - No offers tendered. Going no where...?

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

Cali origins... well, you tend to see less/no body rust on Cali cars as opposed to snow-belt vehicles. OTOH, if the car lived near the beach, you tend to see more corrosion on the plated parts under the hood, like the dizzy diaphragms and such.

That, and they smell of granola and patchouli sometimes.

CA-only bits were mainly the EGR system; the thermal reactor, center iron and front rotor housing are different from non-CA cars, and the Nikki is built out slightly differently too - it won't have the cold-start assist, it will have dual vacuum power valve actuators instead of just one, and it won't have the second choke relief diaphragm. Some different jetting too IIRC. The transmission has additional switches on it. One more solenoid on the ratsnest, one less on the carb.

Ask in me in 18 months or so, maybe... around the time of her next smog check.

 

Yah - wouldn't be the first time an SA was for sale because the owner could no longer smog it. THAT is just wrong on a 30 yr old "antique/collector" car. In CA no less. Ah the irony...

My sympathies DD...

Stu Aull
80GS
Emissions-Free (*cough*) Alaska

 

You can't apply logic when it comes to state or federal government requirements. It will just make you mad and drive you crazy.

 

She passed nicely back in June (after a meticulous engine and carb rebuild) and should still be OK next time around, but it's a crapshoot every time - - you simply don't know until you go.

After 23 years, I admit that they haven't quite worn me down yet, but the corners are getting rounded off on my resolve. Bastards.

 

My 79 has orig white paint and interior, collecting dust. The only mod is the drivetrain. Otherwise it looks stock.

 

my SA22c is always for sale. I am selling it for $15k right now. If someone wants it that bad they can pay what I want. Otherwise I will continue to enjoy the car and drive her everywhere. If enough of us do the same thing then it should theoretically raise the value of the cars slightly. I am a firm believer that in the next 10 years or so these cars will become even more collectable than we can imagine. that is once the "muscle car" prices continue to climb to unobtainable levels which they are begining to do anyway.

 

this is true. if you want further proof look at our last 3-4 presidents hair colors before and after, they go grey FAST

 

Stu... was the bronze one in New Mexico? If so, I would have snapped that one up but was late to the dance.

 

people will pay what they want to pay, there is absolutely no way you are going to make much of an impact on the market.

 

If they break 10K in the next 10 years I would be very surprised. Also what happens to prices
once gas becomes too expensive or hard to obtain? I'm not banking on my car or my house for
that matter.

 

#3 "Dreamer" white SA now (Sept 25th) relisted at BIN/offers: $6500

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

Warren, MI...

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

Our Number 3 white Dreamer:
Mazda : RX-7 GS Coupe 2-Door in Mazda | eBay Motors

now asking $5300. Welcome to earth pal....

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

He may have saw this thread and adjusted accordingly. As a core group of enthusists who actually are interested and do purchase these specific vehicles, I think the people who do visit these pages, have more influence on the "market" than they might think. I'd guess the majority of actual / current Rx-7 sales come from people who also seek out and visit places like this fourm. The attitudes here are a general reflection of what the cars are worth and do sell for.

 

Banzai -
I will be happy to start 'talking-up' prices once I have SA #2 safely in the garage....
(note to self: must-build-garage...)


Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska