spark yellow history questions
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,051
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From: San Antonio Texas
I like the silver, yes it is very common unassuming color on an Rx7...... but then again if you were using this as a suspension test mule prior to the car being released it wouldn't draw that much attention. And at best guess that was what the 33 car was a suspension test mule.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1
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From: Sarasota
Saw this post and had to respond. As the former owner of two 1979 GS RX7’s let me offer some more in sight on the discussion. The first RX7 I owned was a sunrise red GS with A/C and sunroof. This car had a black interior with the vinyl/red dot seats. What made this car unique was that it had the gray radio and shifter faceplate like the limited. On the exterior the car had what appeared to be a factory chrome package? Chrome strip on the side rear window by the B-pillar and on the wheel wells above the side rubber stripes. I always assumed this was a later build car because of the absence of the radio speaker in the dash. This car was stolen during the winter of 1984. (Don’t have VIN)
The second GS I owned was spark yellow with an all brown interior, not brown and tan but all brown. This car had all back exterior trim on it with the velour seat inserts. No A/C or sunroof on this car. VIN on this car was SA22C539254. I was the second owner of this car; this car was originally delivered on April 12, 1979 and was a January ‘79 build car.
From my own experience from looking at 100’s of RX-7’s from the SA vintage the factory has always seemed to me to be making “running” changes on these cars that make it hard to confirm either sequence, originality or their intent? These cars when new had a dealer mark up of $1,000 plus in some cases and strong demand meant getting cars finished and shipped to the U.S. regardless if they were correct in trim appearance.
Adding to the confusion is Mazda’s own (poor?) record keeping and identification for these cars as the model identification that Mazda provides is not in sequence with their VIN numbers. See pages to 2-J 1 and 2-K 1 of the 79-80 service manual as model number from the left column was not stamped on the car, but gives the appearance of chronological order, but is not as we can tell by production VIN numbers. This was discussed in another post as to what was the last or highest VIN number SA to the U.S. or Canada?
The second GS I owned was spark yellow with an all brown interior, not brown and tan but all brown. This car had all back exterior trim on it with the velour seat inserts. No A/C or sunroof on this car. VIN on this car was SA22C539254. I was the second owner of this car; this car was originally delivered on April 12, 1979 and was a January ‘79 build car.
From my own experience from looking at 100’s of RX-7’s from the SA vintage the factory has always seemed to me to be making “running” changes on these cars that make it hard to confirm either sequence, originality or their intent? These cars when new had a dealer mark up of $1,000 plus in some cases and strong demand meant getting cars finished and shipped to the U.S. regardless if they were correct in trim appearance.
Adding to the confusion is Mazda’s own (poor?) record keeping and identification for these cars as the model identification that Mazda provides is not in sequence with their VIN numbers. See pages to 2-J 1 and 2-K 1 of the 79-80 service manual as model number from the left column was not stamped on the car, but gives the appearance of chronological order, but is not as we can tell by production VIN numbers. This was discussed in another post as to what was the last or highest VIN number SA to the U.S. or Canada?
Saw this post and had to respond. As the former owner of two 1979 GS RX7’s let me offer some more in sight on the discussion. The first RX7 I owned was a sunrise red GS with A/C and sunroof. This car had a black interior with the vinyl/red dot seats. What made this car unique was that it had the gray radio and shifter faceplate like the limited. On the exterior the car had what appeared to be a factory chrome package? Chrome strip on the side rear window by the B-pillar and on the wheel wells above the side rubber stripes. I always assumed this was a later build car because of the absence of the radio speaker in the dash. This car was stolen during the winter of 1984. (Don’t have VIN)
The second GS I owned was spark yellow with an all brown interior, not brown and tan but all brown. This car had all back exterior trim on it with the velour seat inserts. No A/C or sunroof on this car. VIN on this car was SA22C539254. I was the second owner of this car; this car was originally delivered on April 12, 1979 and was a January ‘79 build car.
From my own experience from looking at 100’s of RX-7’s from the SA vintage the factory has always seemed to me to be making “running” changes on these cars that make it hard to confirm either sequence, originality or their intent? These cars when new had a dealer mark up of $1,000 plus in some cases and strong demand meant getting cars finished and shipped to the U.S. regardless if they were correct in trim appearance.
Adding to the confusion is Mazda’s own (poor?) record keeping and identification for these cars as the model identification that Mazda provides is not in sequence with their VIN numbers. See pages to 2-J 1 and 2-K 1 of the 79-80 service manual as model number from the left column was not stamped on the car, but gives the appearance of chronological order, but is not as we can tell by production VIN numbers. This was discussed in another post as to what was the last or highest VIN number SA to the U.S. or Canada?
The second GS I owned was spark yellow with an all brown interior, not brown and tan but all brown. This car had all back exterior trim on it with the velour seat inserts. No A/C or sunroof on this car. VIN on this car was SA22C539254. I was the second owner of this car; this car was originally delivered on April 12, 1979 and was a January ‘79 build car.
From my own experience from looking at 100’s of RX-7’s from the SA vintage the factory has always seemed to me to be making “running” changes on these cars that make it hard to confirm either sequence, originality or their intent? These cars when new had a dealer mark up of $1,000 plus in some cases and strong demand meant getting cars finished and shipped to the U.S. regardless if they were correct in trim appearance.
Adding to the confusion is Mazda’s own (poor?) record keeping and identification for these cars as the model identification that Mazda provides is not in sequence with their VIN numbers. See pages to 2-J 1 and 2-K 1 of the 79-80 service manual as model number from the left column was not stamped on the car, but gives the appearance of chronological order, but is not as we can tell by production VIN numbers. This was discussed in another post as to what was the last or highest VIN number SA to the U.S. or Canada?
79 specific, Color on that car was spark yellow... but the trim all appeared to be blacked out.. now I realize that black trim on a yellow car looks good, but I was pretty sure that all the 79s came with grayish trim and then they switched in 80 to black. The reason I am so interested in this the 88 car has black trim but we believe it was done during the repaint and we are trying to correct the little flaws.
Subscribing to this.
Hi Dude,
I have the 1140 in spark yellow from the original owner. The outside trim windshield trim was black from the factory. Also cool to point out that the side view mirror was black also, matches the same shine as the rear quarter trim when polished. Later that year the original owner took it to the dealership to have a passenger side view mirror added when he saw it on other 7s. The one they installed was the grey / graphite color.
If you need detailed photos, let me know and I will be happy to snap them. The interior is all black throughout. The seats the vinyl with the pinholes. It also has a unique blockoff plate on the radio bezel.
I have the 1140 in spark yellow from the original owner. The outside trim windshield trim was black from the factory. Also cool to point out that the side view mirror was black also, matches the same shine as the rear quarter trim when polished. Later that year the original owner took it to the dealership to have a passenger side view mirror added when he saw it on other 7s. The one they installed was the grey / graphite color.
If you need detailed photos, let me know and I will be happy to snap them. The interior is all black throughout. The seats the vinyl with the pinholes. It also has a unique blockoff plate on the radio bezel.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,051
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio Texas
Hi Dude,
I have the 1140 in spark yellow from the original owner. The outside trim windshield trim was black from the factory. Also cool to point out that the side view mirror was black also, matches the same shine as the rear quarter trim when polished. Later that year the original owner took it to the dealership to have a passenger side view mirror added when he saw it on other 7s. The one they installed was the grey / graphite color.
If you need detailed photos, let me know and I will be happy to snap them. The interior is all black throughout. The seats the vinyl with the pinholes. It also has a unique blockoff plate on the radio bezel.
I have the 1140 in spark yellow from the original owner. The outside trim windshield trim was black from the factory. Also cool to point out that the side view mirror was black also, matches the same shine as the rear quarter trim when polished. Later that year the original owner took it to the dealership to have a passenger side view mirror added when he saw it on other 7s. The one they installed was the grey / graphite color.
If you need detailed photos, let me know and I will be happy to snap them. The interior is all black throughout. The seats the vinyl with the pinholes. It also has a unique blockoff plate on the radio bezel.
DAVE
I will try to grab some this week.
Are there specific photos and angles you want taken?
This is another project in my lineup and trying to go as pure to original as possible on it.
Thanks
Are there specific photos and angles you want taken?
This is another project in my lineup and trying to go as pure to original as possible on it.
Thanks
now 17 with 2 cars **)
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 262
Likes: 1
From: grand rapids, michigan
mine was originally spark yellow but the previous owner switched over to the teal/turquise i have on it, but i do have a few question, is it true on the production numbers for the spark yellow being only 356? and is the value higher being spark yellow compared to selling a non spark yellow 79?
thanks
kyle
thanks
kyle
Sin City Rotary
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,707
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas
mine was originally spark yellow but the previous owner switched over to the teal/turquise i have on it, but i do have a few question, is it true on the production numbers for the spark yellow being only 356? and is the value higher being spark yellow compared to selling a non spark yellow 79?
thanks
kyle
thanks
kyle
As far as production numbers by color I've been explained to by a very good sourse Mazda sucked at keeping track of that. I believe between rotarydude and choopacabra they have 6 or 7 by themselves lol
For referance you may want to look at the 'Registry" thread (on here) as most supplied their color and/or paint code
Last edited by 13x; Sep 14, 2011 at 05:30 PM.
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