alfred1976

Its so clean I don't even mind the color.



From the article:
This 1980 Mazda RX-7 is described as a one prior owner, factory paint car with just 27k and change miles from new. We’ve noticed that these early split taillight models are starting to become scarce, with cared for, low mileage originals like this car almost unheard of.

27 pictures in the gallery

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t_g_farrell

iTrader: (1)

Seen it before, they want 18K for it. They need to wait 20 more years.

RCCAZ 1

iTrader: (10)

We're our own worst enemy. When we see a car that's pristine, in the top 1 percent of all 1980s still remaining, we scoff at high prices. If we ever want our cars to increase in value and gain respect in the collector community, we need to cheer on these efforts. Like you, I agree that $18K is extremely lofty, but in today's current market, with THAT car, certainly $10K to $13K is not out of the realm of high end reasonability. I think we're less than 5 years away from a car that clean demanding that kind of money. Just say'in.

DivinDriver

iTrader: (15)

Radio surround is not original.
Somebody butchered speakers into the interior; no longer original.
Brown interior... but black door sills? Weren't those matched to interior color in 80?

NCross

iTrader: (18)

Maybe not on bronze cars, but my original wine interior was color matched.

thecody59

iTrader: (1)

$18k is crazy if that brought that much mine would bring 10k my 79 is in very nice shape not as nice as this one but pretty close.

Banzai

iTrader: (13)

This color is a bit of a mystery to me. Solar Gold was an LS color but I think this is Imperial Gold code:M3. Anyone know for sure? It's the same as that goldfinger car that sold a couple years ago for 13K. DD, the seat hinges are also black. I believe the door sills and other related trim was generally color matched but these pieces were only made in a few colors, not every interior shade. Although someone did change things like the stereo surround and wheels/tires (off a 79 Limited) I believe the black door sills may be plausable, but not 100% sure. I would be interested to know the truth about exactly whats been changed and why. It doesn't help when the dealer can't or doesn't care about even come close to the right name for the color.

If you look close, the milage claim may be plausable. Although a stretch in todays climate, I'm happy to see climbing asking prices. At least its the right direction. I just saw a 79 beetle sell for 11 grand on Mecom from Dallas tonight.

wankel=awesome

Nice car, but its hardly original. The speakers are awful, and that stereo surround looks cheesy too. Wheels aren't right, and werent the steel belted 70's on the FB?

Other than that (the speakers really gets under my skin, pet peeve), it looks like a nice car...

7aull

iTrader: (2)

Have to wonder what its undercarriage is like. Close look at the wheel well lips and the too-dark-for-a-white-room wheel wells suggests a lot of new(er) undercoat…
Engine comp a bit of a disappointment to, tho very likely original to the claimed mileage. At this price the value would start to unwind as soon as you added miles. Banzai this looks like Solar Gold to me?! You say there are TWO shades of gold in SA? Paint, if original, is spectacular.
Then there is the lack of AC or S-Roof. As others say, this car is about 5-ish years ahead of the value curve I think. Nice to see tho! Pulled some sweet pix off the Dealer's website of it for my Screen Saver!

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

Banzai

iTrader: (13)

Thats the exact whl/tire combo used in 79 on the Limited model. The same RWL Brigestones were also put on the 1980 LS cars w/gold waffles and again in 81 on some cars with "X" whls. So, although used in 81 on an FB, they originated on SA's. But you're right, they are not original to this car. Although fairly common for an "S" model, It's unusual to see a GS car shed it's factory waffles for an alternalte OEM wheel.

Stu, Mazda did have an Imperial Gold, I just don't know if they also used it on RX-7s. I've never heard anyone claim to have an M3 paint code, but the pics I see of these "goldfinger" cars just seem slightly different to me from the shade of gold on the LS cars. Maybe this is Solar Gold, pictures can be decieving. It would be nice if they listed the paint code.

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

Crack smokers unite!

wankel=awesome

??

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

I guess I was a bit too vague. In a recent thread everyone was talking about how expensive some SAs have gotten, or rather only a crack smoker would pay that much.

alfred1976

I would be scared to buy an older car with so few miles.

ray green

iTrader: (14)

Looks like DD sniffed it out, it's a fake with a big price tag.

If you want a really nice low mileage SA, check out this unit that Robert recently acquired with only 57,000 original miles (he got it for free, his kids paid $1500).

Dr. Watson is giving me the privilege of driving her up to DGRR this weekend, she handles like a dream:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/130777...4/17101855096/

RCCAZ 1

iTrader: (10)

^Nice white there Ray!

ray green

iTrader: (14)

Isn't it pretty? It's even nicer in person, all original S model, still has the 4 speed and points.

Robert did a little tweaking after he got it, now it runs like a Swiss clock and handles like a new car.

He's been looking for a base model 79 SA for the last several years, shows what a little patience can bring in the 1st gen RX-7 market.

Banzai

iTrader: (13)

[QUOTE=Banzai;11899054]This color is a bit of a mystery to me. Solar Gold was an LS color but I think this is Imperial Gold code:M3. Anyone know for sure?QUOTE]

Curiousity got the best of me, so I inquired with the dealer. The paint code on the label under the hood is M4, which is Solar Gold metallic.

7aull

iTrader: (2)

Nice. A "new" gold would have been a interesting surprise…
Obv no one is beating the door down to buy it then, if they have it around to check codes.


Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

Banzai

iTrader: (13)

The car itself is the not the issue, its the asking price. Our cars have not hit the collector car radar screen and in reality, might never really take off. 1st gens, taken as a whole (79-85) were produced in mass with a huge number still out there. This place in is business to sell used and collectable type vehicles and naturally is willing to see if there is any market out there yet for early Rx-7s. The sale (if any) probablly won't come from a fourm member here. As a lot, we are too do-it-yourselfers and used to the market as is.

Unless Japanese sports cars suddenly become an in fashion trend, you won't see the values rise very sharply. There have been recent signs (sales) that J-tin could be gaining popularity. If that happens, this car could become a good investment. It is claimed to have only 27 thousand miles, is an attractive color and looks to be in very nice original condition. The few things that have been done could easily be changed back (excepting the cutout rear carpet for the speakers). Might be a fair bet for a market speculator at this time?

7aull

iTrader: (2)

Interesting to note a rather recent - and steep! - swing in the price curve at Auctions for nice 240Zs. Several have now popped at $25K, and then there is the one that went for almost $50K recently. And Cosmo Sports took a big jump this past year too, with one fetching $1/4Mill in Europe auction, and a US one hitting over $110K. These were bumping around the $50-60K mark for years. There is some Respect out there now and people are at least paying attention to the concept of a "Collectable" japanese car. That said, I think you are right Banzai, we are prob a good 10yrs off seeing nice 1st gens hitting the $20K mark. But there will always be exceptions…


Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

RCCAZ 1

iTrader: (10)

Guys,

New one today up for auction this morning on BRING a TRAILER. '79 early production RED car with 39K miles. Might be a nice one to try and grab.

No Reserve: Preserved Original 1979 Mazda RX-7 | Bring a Trailer

woodmv

iTrader: (8)

Nice car! I wonder though if it's been repainted at some point. Looks like there's some orange peel, and it could be the picture, but the shot of the door jamb looks like it's a slightly different color, and the side tow hook is black but I believe should be body color.

There's also a fair bit of rust in the seam on the reinforcing plate for the rear torsion bar. I'd bet dollars to donuts that there's even more lurking beneath there. I've also never seen undercoating applied like that, which you can see in the same shot. Seems to follow a pattern. I guess it could be factory, or maybe aftermarket from Rusty Jones, Ziebart, or some other Northeast rustproofing company.

All in all though, seems like a very nice example of an SA! Nice and straight.

RCCAZ 1

iTrader: (10)

^^Yea, it could just be his pics, but it appears to be low on brake fluid in the master cylinder reservoir as well.

NCross

iTrader: (18)

Where can I buy some paint to replicate the textured factory rock guard?