https://www.shannons.com.au/auctions...BDF3FF8XMGO9P/

I posted this then-up-coming auction on an earlier thread here ("Unique SA on Auction in Auz), but since the auction has finished, with an apparent record-breaking-not-like-to-be-repeated-for-a-while price, I thought this new thread might be of renewed interest.
We have now gone from commenting on an "interesting SA" to something of an Event.

So - as the Link says: low mileage, clean, unmolested 1980 RX7 SA coupe sold at auction for $55,000 AUZ. Of course, with all due respect to our Auzzie brethren, they are a bit Certifiable when it comes to what they will pay for Old School Japanese tin.
I have seen restored R100 coupes sell for near the same price (at which time I recall selling off mine, back-in-the-day for a princely $400. With fresh paint and a rebuilt-by-mazda 10A. Crikey.)
And tho the auction does not detail it, one can presume there were MULTIPLE bidders at it (or at least 2 who were insane) to drive it to this price.
I will let our Auzzie mates chime in here about what a "normal" SA goes for Down Unda. Suspect the ground may have shifted a bit for owners down there. And of course it begs the Ponder: When will US SAs reach these nose-bleed heights?

Stu Aull
80GS Alaska

 

I do not know how many were imported to the land down under, but would guess that the North American market saw many, many more vehicles invade these shores than those of the southern hemisphere island. The shear numbers here will help keep prices lower here I'd think.

I do wonder sometimes if we won't reach a big cliff at some future point. Because they can still be had relatively cheap, we have a bunch of cars on the road being used regularly as they were meant to be used by a 20 or 30 something yr old 2nd or 3rd owner. What happens when these cars fall into disrepair or the owner starts a family and finds the responsibility of purchasing a home and everything that goes with that stage of life?

At some point, I have to think that the supply of really nice, well kept examples will reach a kind of critical mass. I guess the question at that time will be, does anyone still care? I'm sure there will still be a core group of Rotary enthusiasts, but if the interested audience is small, I doubt it will affect the values much. It might be more likely to see our certifiable Auzzie brethren start buying our affordable, unappreciated cars and importing them into the JMD gone crazy market.

 

We have so many here, I expect them to appreciate like LBCs did from the 60s and 70s.

I wouldn't be surprised to see them go off shore, even with shipping in a container, it would be a lot
cheaper than 40K to get a nice SA to AU.

 

Australia got plenty of 1st gen RX-7s having regard to our population. They were extremely popular, as several RX-7s ran in our major motor sport events. The Group C Peter Styvesant car driven by Alan Moffat is an iconic piece of motoring history.

However, partly because of this racing pedigree as well as our vibrant modifying and drag racing scenes, modifying rotaries is extremely popular too. There are lots of 1st gen RX-7s left but very few are original and low kms like these examples. Melbourne has a population of over 4 million. 20 years ago, I would see a different RX-7 on the road every week. Now, I've seen maybe 3-4 in the past 5 years.

The guys who grew up with 1st gen RX-7s as their first car are now going into their late 40s and early 50s and are cashed up.

With these guys reclaiming their youth and the scarcity of good examples, it's no surprise prices are going up.

The exact same thing happened with our older rotaries. First it was the unmodified R100s, RX-2s and RX-3s that got the big money, but now any decent old car is worth plenty: 1200s, 1300s, Capellas, 808s. Modified R-100s, RX-2s and RX-3s have sold here for over $100,000. The same thing will happen to RX-7s I am certain.

The left hand drive cars won't be worth as much. A few people have imported LHD early rotors simply because our local delivered RHD versions are so expensive, but they are probably worth half on the open market. US 1st gen RX-7s wouldn't be worth nearly as much here. The exception would be a pristine low mile GSL-SE since we never got a 13B version.

One thing I will say is that even with modified examples, 1st gen RX-7s are usually in far better condition than elsewhere. I compare to UK cars and it's incredible. We got rust proofing on the whole undercarriage of the car - I'm not sure if other markets did. But not that we necessarily need it. It snows in very few places and they don't salt the roads. It is pretty common for people to have a garage or carport.

We are pretty crazy when it comes to auctions. Unlike the US and UK, most houses are sold by public auction and we have some of the most expensive housing in the world. The way this auction was hyped up certainly contributed to the price. At this particular auction, the series 1 and series 2 were both bought by a Mazda dealer in country New South Wales, probably to be displayed. I suppose this is a good thing as they will be preserved and available for everyone to visit and look at. He can probably claim a tax deduction on the purchase too.

 

Thanks for the Insight into the RotaryInsane of Oz, Kypreo.


North America-wise, I expect a slow accent similar to the 240z which are now getting some decent prices the past 3+ years, and seem to have steady, if modest, growth. Now I think the one down-side, ironically will be our beloved rotormotor. With Z's you can either still get new engine bits, or at least the tech to rebuild them is well-established. Unless someone counters me here, as far as I know, with 12A and 13B engines/parts long out of production, and a lack of any rebuilding alternative other than resurrecting a diminishing supply of "lightly-used" housings, the writing is on the wall for a slow demise because we can no longer keep the rotaries running. Now THAT would be sad.

Stu Aull
80GS, Alaska

 

My pleasure.

I think you're right. The lack of rebuild parts is a problem and getting worse as parts dry up. Fortunately later model 13B parts are still plentiful - both used and new. What people are doing here is getting 13B turbo housings and machining them down to 12A size. A couple of places here offer it as a specialised service (not within many people's capability!) If there chrome is a bit worn at the edges, this doesn't matter as it is machined off anyway. This trick at least ensures the factory displacement engine can be rebuild if need be. Also the chrome on later model housings is vastly superior to 12A housings anyway.

 

and it looks there is now this option too! https://www.rx7club.com/general-rota.../#post12181936

 

Interesting, here I think that a RHD car is viewed as unique or exotic, something of a unicorn and if anything would increase its appeal and worth. I guess I'm surprised to hear the opposite is not true.

 

To me rhd rx7s coming over here seem to be a fad and I've only seen one or two of these cars that are that nice to begin with. I see these rougher cars coming over and n0t really selling for the inflated prices I'm seeing. Hopefully they come down in price from lack of interest and we will have a rush of parts for our Rx-7s. Most, from what I've seen are 2nd and 3rd gens anyway. just my 2 cents

 

that car was really nice, but 40k is incredible money.

 

If you thank 40K is incredible money, at another classic car auction here an original RX3 coupe just sold for $137K and restored R100 for $145K. These results represent a new high watermark to be sure, but comparatively speaking 40K is nowl pocket change for classic rotaries. 1st gens are just starting to be recognised as the classic car they are. The fact there are still plenty of them around here will prevent prices become astronomical like the early RXs, but as good cars dwindle the prices go up.

 

Go ahead and ebay "94 Supra TT 6-speed"
...and be blown away. I know I was.


RX-7s are going to gain value. There's no stopping it. Quick? Check. Rare? Check. Good looking? Check.

Here's an example of what I was talking about:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1994-Toyota-...RY~jLf&vxp=mtr

 

Like they say about old cars, "They aren't making more of them."

There's still a phobia of rotaries in the general car/collector community, at least in the USA, so I'm doubtful they'll go as high as Supras. Still high, for sure.

I think the highest selling price for a Mazda Cosmo twas around $250k USD, but a 2000GT went for a million.