I,m the original owner of a 1980 rx7 that has been garaged for 25 years. It has 107k miles on it and runs great. Last week it passed CA smog test with very good emission numbers - surprised me. I registered it for $88 (it had a non operational registration status). I should add that over the 25 year period I ran it every few months an changed all the fluids periodically. In the last week I put a 100 miles on local streets and waiting for some new tires before I drive it on the freeway- the tires on the car are 25 years old.

I,m now trying to figure what to do with the car, sell it or keep it.

 

GS model

 

Dude. Come off some pics of that monster. Please

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1980 gs

 

Damn u stingy Chris. Hook us up brah. She looks mint and I'm diggin that babe

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Pic

 

Slow upload

 

Beautiful car. I say keep it and enjoy it. Pass it on to your kids later. But for now - enjoy it.

 

Or better yet give it to me i could always use another rx7 i only have 3 lol.

 

How many miles can you get out of one these engines? I used 20W-50 oil and changed it every 2K miles during the first 9 years of operation, but over the last 25 years I only put on a couple of hundred miles and changed the oil once a year or so. After 34 years you would think the gaskets would start to fail.

 

Beautiful car. Keep it. How are the seats under those sheep skins?

 

I think they are in good shape, the sheep skins have been on for 34 years. You got me curious - I will have to check them.

 

Ooooo. They will. Lol. Maybe put sum n in there to loosen em up. May get lucky. I ddnt tho. U will know buy all the oil that springs eternal.

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You have a rare and precious gem. Once you get new rubber, just drive it. The 12a is the energizer bunny of the gasoline engine world, and yours is just broken in. I'd be more concerned with the belts and radiator cap than any gaskets. The intake manifold gasket will be the 1st to go, and that's cheap and easy.

 

Hey cook boy. Don't the rubber parts kinda petrify after a long time. Mine did. Become brittle???

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But u right tho. Even leaking oil everywhere she still drives like a dream. Just a dirty biatch

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Welcome back from the abyss! Original owners are a dwindling club. She looks like a very nice survivor which again, is a dwindling thing. Our cars are generaly still over looked and under valued in the collector hobby as a whole, but nice SAs are appreciated by both enthusists and casual observors alike.

I'd vote to get some new rubber (the 13 inch selection is also thin) and maybe spend a little to replace any suspect hoses and things. It should be pretty reliable but "things" can and do go wrong with 30 year old machines out of the blue, just cause. They aren't totally free and require some attention, time and money to keep them well maintained. Run a little sea foam through your gas tank to help clean things out.

Everybodys situation is different but if you decide its better to sell, a decent ballpark expectation would be 3 1/2 - 4K or so I'd estimate. You'll have your typical quick interest low ball offers as it takes the right person to fully appreciate these cars. Good luck either way. There is a lot of good info and knowledge here on this fourm site.

 

Body seals and such to be sure. Engine wise belts, and hoses. On my 85 I've replaced all of them, and the intake gasket, but the 139,000 mile engine is tight.
I bought my car from the original owner 2.5 years ago. It had been sitting in a climate controlled garage, not running, for 5-6 years.

 

Probably the best thing the OP has going for him is that the SA's came with a nice front mount oil cooler and we all know the 85's had that beehive which is a killer on those dowel pin o rings. The older 12a's def have a better chance of being leak free in that area for a greater amount of time and miles. That being said you can surely expect the oil pan, OMP and waterpump to weep...especially after sitting so long.

 

as some have suggested, unless done in last few years replace:
-all coolant hoses (includes smaller hoses to/from the firewall)
-flush/replace coolant
-likewise brake and clutch fluids
-engine belts
-and yeah, tires. 13" are getting rare, tho the chinese are stepping up.
Then just drive and enjoy. The condition it seems to be in, if you keep it up, will guarantee you it will likely be worth more the longer you keep it. You sucked it up over the years it depreciated, so what the hell, now keep it - drive it - make a bit of $$ in the process

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

You must immediately give it me - my '80 gets so lonely for company!

Beautiful car; keep it, drive it now and then to put a smile on your face, and hang on to it.

If you do sell it, you'll sleep better if you sell it to a fellow enthusiast who will keep it original. Not that many unmolested examples left.

 

Wow... absolutely beautiful!