I got thinking about it the other day, it seems like everyone is modding their cars like crazy. Everything form sound systems all the way to 13bt with body kits etc. Is/has anyone here ever restored a first gen back to concours (sp?) quality originality? I wanted to keep my car stock when I first got it but now I plan on doing otherwise. I just want to see what some of your thoughts on this are.

 

Someone should.

Every time a 1stgen is modded beyond the abililty to return to stock, the value of a clean original car goes up.

I have a notion to do exactly that - not with my present car, but find a minty '79, restore it to perfection, and wait for the value to go up. I'd still drive it, of course.

 

nope.

 

Now that I look back on it I should have restored my 79 S.
The reason is; one, I'm the second owner of this car; two, the car orginated on the east coast; three, my 79 was one of the early ones; and forth, it was completely orginal when I got it... (130,000+ miles)

matt

 

I plan to do just that, once I get done with my current two 1st gens.

-Error402

 

There's an ad in The Grand Rapids Press (west side of Michigan, USA) for a '79 with 46K original miles, 1-family owned. If I snapped it up I would NOT put anything un-stock (except sticky tires and brake pads!) on it.
But they're asking $6000. Funny, next to it was an ad for another '79 in good shape (with extra rims) for half that. Damn, I'm broke and out of storage space.

But for my mongrel "I don't even know which VIN # to use it's got parts from so many different years" project, I have no respect for Mazda's economy sport car decisions. I want performance.

 

Stock was too damn slow for me, considering the beautiful looks of a 1st gen. It has a wimpy stock power plant, I wanted to bite some v8 *** So I did what I did to it...

 

Well I think it can go two ways.
1. You have a FB/SA that has like 10k on it. This is something you hang on to. Good car to go for drives only on sunny days. Use OEM everything on it.
2. You have a FB/SA that the previous owner has done irreversable things to it. This is the car you have fun with, like my 83 for example. He took out most of the interior, painted it a dark redish color and had a little rust. Thats why I'm doing this turbo swap to mine anyways. To hell with spending 10K on bringing this car back to 100% stock, I'll spend that 10K on making it faster than a FD

 

Personally, I think there is a lot more enjoyment to be had from modding the car. So that's what I'm doing. It would be a damn shame if there were no original cars left, but that's not likely to be a concern for me... So who cares!

 

I think theres a guy near me who is restoring his GSL SE to stock...so that takes care of my guilt
Modding is just too cool!!!

 

I have an 83 GSL that has 80,000 miles on it with damn near perfect interior and I was gonna restore it, but I am currently in the proces of modding it. Oh well. I like it, so thats all there is to it.

~T.J.

PS - Im only doing "light" mods for now. Like I wont go ripping out the interior and what not, Im just replacing stock exhaust with aftermarket, stock steering wheel with aftermarket, but it looks stock, same with the shift ****...You know, the little stuff . My plan is "stock look, aftermarket performance" .

 

nope

I thought of restoring it, but I have been having so much fun with my car (including fires) and next year I'm racing with it. I think cars are meant to be driven not just looked at...

 

Yeah, I think Im gonna try autocross sometime after I kinda get into the scene. Im not sure what all is involved. Like if I can take a stock daily driver and what not...Anyone in the area that wants to "introduce" me to the autocross scene and kinda show me the ropes sometime after I get my car on the road?

~T.J.

 

Thats pretty much what I thought the reaction was gonna be. Thats exactly how I feel, modding these cars is too much fun to not do. My car was completely original when i got it, and with exception of a sound system it still is. As cool as it would be to keep it that way I won't. Its just too much fun

 

no

 

im totally ripping out my interior, lightweight is no laughing matter

 

Well ... too late for me, now. However, I'd always had this dream about buying one (preferably a '79) and restoring it. So, if this board is still in exisence by then, I'll let you all know.

 

Wanna buy a '79 then? $2500 canuck bucks just have to ship it 300,000 kms to your place

Jeff

 

Hey Diabolical1 y a 79? Why not an 80 it look the same except for the electronic distributor? Anyhow would my 80 consider mod car all it has is a Jensen cd headunit, GSL Rear, Rear storage bin's, aftermarket moonrood other than that everything else is original on the car. Btw I brought from a 44 year old man that now have kid's and his wife told him that the car has to go Also he was the second owner for the car until I brought. Hey 82 transam whre r u located in Northern NJ? I live in Lincoln park, next to wayne. Khris

 

Modd'ing a car is half the fun of owning it. Faster then stock, faster corners then stock makes more pleasure and ego.

Restoration to orginal spec is for collectors with cash and not any desire other then the orginal looks is the goal. These folks won't be driving a car the way its meant to or often or the investment will decrease in value.

Bottom line is horsepower and other mods are agreeble with most people, and most cars will not be restored because its too expensive and is not really going to impress many people. Also, your return investment likely will not ever happen unless you find a fanatic with little knowledge and lots of cash.

 

85 GSL-SE Bone stock and staying that way.

 

Yea, modded first gens rule.
rx7aholic: I'm in Long Valley up here in Morris county. Were you at the BBQ back in June? If you were chances are I saw you there, i walked around quite a bit.

 

would love to be in a position where i could say yes, bro', but right now, all i've got is a pocket full of lint.
i figured a '79 for two reasons. first, it's the first "official" year of the Gen I cars. second, i've never owned anything before '81. however, that year's not a necessity for me, i figured it would just be nice. i would be just as happy getting an '81-'85 12A or an '84-'85 SE.

 

If the value of any of the cars will go up, which I expect they will to an extent (not that they're Ferraris or anything) I figure the '79s and the 'SEs will be the ones to go up most, being the first and then the final and best versions.

How's that for a run-on sentence . . .

J

 

Stealth stock...............

I am into keeping the appearance stock but upgrading
areas of the car..........interior and exterior..........

Like the gauges..........I will put Silver face gauges in and then change the needles so that they are orange.

This will be a stock gauge cluster with a modern color scheme........Greater daytime visability.......And kick *** night time colors........

I then will upgrade the clock.........to a more modern appearacnce.............retro..........Either a 300m or a autometer ultra.........

My next major mod is a second power source........One for the GPS Radar unit and the other for the Cell Phone.........Hands free comunications......Directions....
and Speed warnings...........

I have upgraded the lights to H4 bulbs and housings...
Stock appearance but current technology...........better night time vision......

I addapted a volvo armrest...........looks like stock.

I am sure that there are lots of other mods to come........

If they built an RX7 today...............with our body style...... There would be alot of cool toys ...........and still have the retro look.......I think there would be alot of stainless.........and silver in the interior.......

Like the BMW cooper............

Jim