ok I know there are different climates in the US and that each one uniquely affects a car like here in the Midwest due to the salt and sand used when it ices and snows your floor and lower side of your car is the first to rust and decay... What I want to know is where cars rust in other parts of the country... I am going to be in the market for a 1st Gen body in the next year and want to know where to look for the best quality body (don't care about engine or anything else) obviously NO rust is next to impossible but I want to minimize the body cancer.

 

I got my 2 GSL-SEs from the West Coast of British Columbia, since the weather is too mild for regular snow, so no rust, and sunny but not so much it fades or cracks the interior. I'd imagine cars from Washington or Oregon would be similar.

 

I got mine from western Wisconsin. Too cold for salt up there. There's a nickel sized spot of surface rust on the inner lip of one front fender, the rest is clean.

 

Georgia. Not too hot, not too cold. No hot dry sun like out west, no salt like up north or on the coast. And yes, no rust is an option, I've got three 84/85 GSLs that are rust free (but not the 85 GSL from Ohio).

I purchased all for around $1,500 each, they each needed some mechancial attention, but nothing serious, and like you I was looking for "the best quality body".

 

AZ and NM are good. there is no rust on the car but plastic stuff will need to be replaced if it sat out side for a long time.

 

Nevada and inland California are great places but as stated before the plastic turns to dust from the dry heat.

 

i bought my in tucson arizona 100% rust free

 

st. joseph missouri from a meticulous rotorhead lol.

 

What do you mean "too cold for salt up there". LOL I live in northern MN (further north) and we mine the salt from the roads to make food taste better.

 

Georgia is good, I got a body from there. South Carolina is a slight rusty place, but for some reason my recent shell from Raleigh NC has no rust aside from a bubble or two on the rear drivers wheel arch.

 

The Desert! My Uncle moved to Arizona years ago and is always finding neat "shtuff" there. The paint is usually faded and the interiors are always dead, but there is absolutely NO RUST!!!

 

Got mine from California. Near perfect!

 

Ive got an 83 for sale here in Az. Runs and drives, $300!

 

Southern CA is the best place to buy it. No rust and most paint including interior are not sun baked like most cars in Arizona.

 

norcal is good too, they sold well up here so they used to be all over. mild climate so it doesnt rust, but people crash em

 

washington, oregon and cali. almost 200k and zero rust

 

I bought my 82 last year from Connecticut.... The brake lines still have the original green coating on them - there is NO rust on this car. Owner did not drive in rain or snow (was off road in winter).

Scott

 

I notice a distinct lack of rusty cars every time I go north of about the 45th parallel. I was told it was because they don't salt the roads. See a lot of neat older machinery.

We mine the salt out from under Lake Erie in order to compensate for the tectonic plate still flexing after the glaciers left. Canada's beaches are getting bigger while the US's beaches are getting smaller. Our only hope is to make the lake deeper

 

Come to my house, i have one in my backyard(no sunroof too... good if you want to go to track with it)... Bay area has the best weather!!!

 

i got mine in nebraska, its the only one not in a junk yard that has rust... lucky me

 

Southern cars are fine but the sun really beats the crap out of the paint,seals, and interior. SoCal, AZ, Fla, pretty much all the same in that regard.

My choice: Pacific northwest. No salt + mild sun = pristine used 7 market!

I've done great on two RX-7 purchases from right here in Michigan... just have to ensure that it was never used in the winter.

 

i live in alabama close to tennessee i have about 25 rx7's some good cars some fixer upers some just strickyly parts cars all of the cars i own have no rust but one
i got it off a guy here that bought it from a man in michiagan. all the rest off them are local cars .

 

Yeh I'm still going with northern GA/AL and that area, not too much sun, heat and humidity, no road or ocean salt, no snow.

Some of you guys might want to visit Mr. 1stgenNutt, I can't believe he needs that many 1st gen RX-7s!

 

Yep if you bought a daily driver from here in MI it's be rusty! Guaranteed!

My two Michigan cars had never even seen rain, let alone snow and salt.

The good thing about a clean northern car is you avaoid the sun damage. The problem is that it's hard to find a clean northern car! That's why the Pac Northwest is so good... it has low sun and no salt.

 

so cal baby no rust and very clean you can find them very cheap due to smog /testing failures