I have been watching the prices for nice looking, stock, relatively low mileage 1st gens on eBay, and have collected the following info. For what its worth:

1st Gen Prices – Recent eBay cars.

Recent eBay 1st Gens – Stock or near stock, low miles, good to excellent condition.

Apologies in advance if the columns don't line up!

Year Model Miles State #bids HighBid BuyNow Sold Comments

1982 GS 24k TX 00 $0,000 $8,500 No Red
1983 GS 28k NC 19 $4,650 $7,500 No Automatic, Red
1982 GSL 30k IA 10 $3,995 ?????? Yes Wire whls,
black repaint
1984 GS 67k VA 12 $2,750 ?????? No Silver
1983 GS 27k PA 29 $6,433 $7,495 No Lt Blue
1984 GSL 85k IN 24 $3,619 ?????? Yes Cream
1984 S 73k WA 01 $2,500 $3,470 No Red, a little rough
1979 ?? 85k NC 00 $0,000 ?????? - Current auction
1979 S 38k MA 00 $0,000 $????? No Red, 4spd
Starting bid $3,500

Conclusion? What most of us think: our cars are worth more to us than what the general market is willing to pay.

 

Most of us are tightasses who won't pay much for a car. In the end we usually buy the cheaper ones, put twice as much money into them than they will ever be worth, then tell everyone who comes to the site that they are asking too much for thier's, in the hopes we can pick up a better one for less money.

I have nearly 10 times the 600 I paid for the car that became the widebody, in the car now, and I'm not done yet. What can I get out of it? Many miles of driving and the satisfaction of building the car myself.

Once we start paying the price that the better ones are worth, our's will increase accordingly.

 

Anyone who owns a car and wants it to be fast, is going to put more money into it than it is worth. Even guys who own Porsches do that. The ones that end up being worth the most are the ones that were left alone and taken care of. The Originals... Factory stock, with numbers matching EVERYTHING. Hell, I will never own such a car I always see something to improve

 

As much as I agree with you I always defer to the price of a "new" car say a GT Mustang at $28K, which I'd still do some improvements, say $2500 for shocks, springs, chip, exhaust. The after 5 years its worth $4K, cost of ownership $25K.

Building a $350 RX7 into a GT Mustang, GTO Pontiac annialator, Priceless.

 

My entire thoughts exactly. I think that the majority of us think that way, which is why we buy first gens as opposed to something newer. I know that is why I bought a first gen as opposed to something else.

 

Pretty much all I was saying was, who cares? we didnt buy our cars for there resale value. Or at least I didnt, I bought it for a unique, relatively rare, fast little sports car. And its sexy too!

 

i wouldnt pay more than 2k

you can find rx's cheaper locally, just keep looking man!

 

**Best Carl impersonation I can muster** there aint no Initial D tax one these here cars mmm hmm, if yous want resale, you should buy ones of thems corolla GTS mmmhmmm. 10k for a stocker I hear, and 1300 for one thats wrecked mmmhmmm. Now im going to get me some tater salad mmmmhmmm.


Oh I forgot a shamless plug, my car in its peeling glory is for sale. 1000neg, or trade for something. has RBintake, edelbrok carb, holley pump. Hell just read the post.lol

 

I agree w/ the rest of the fellas! I love the Puerto Ricans in my neighborhood when they see me pull up in my B.P. '83!!! They look as if they just saw SHAKIRA shaking her butt inna thong!!!LOL-Erik

 

It all depends on what you want the car for.

We can find cheap RX7's all day long that we can modify and improve on.

A nice, stock, low mileage, unmolested 1st gen is increasing in value. I would like to have one for long term collection.

Ever look at the value of an nice, unmolested Datsun 240z? That's where our cars are going. That's where our cars are going.

 

^^ Agreed a nice SA or GSL-SE is going to become a collector

 

I've owned 2 SE's one I bought from a guy on here for 1500 and the other one off ebay for 1300 (which is the one I own now) I wouldn't pay more than 2000 for a decent stock SE. However other 1st gens I wouldn't even mess with except for a beat up car toy. I thought about getting another first gen just for a rally car since its supposed to be coming to our area next year. I wouldn't pay more than 750 for any other 1st gen model... even a SA. But as a daily or weekend car I'd never own one for that unless it was a SE.

However I have noticed over that last year that the prices of 1st gens have been going up and 3rd gens going down.

 

it seems as though some things are only worth as much as another is willing to pay. i buy and sell cars regularly and the market for rare sporty cars has gone down signifigantly. in my area at least. and as far as what i think my cars are worh, i have an 80 LS that i wouldn't sell for less than 5K. one because it so rare(500 made in solar gold) and original and two because when i drive the car i get a feeling of being in another time. a feeling that i have a new car and everyone who is watching is drooling and i am the only one on the road that has any sense about what i drive. in reality, no one appreciates what i drive or what i think its worth. they see a really nice 26 year old car with 63K in a neat color. i go to classic car shows and events and only the people with relaxed minds know what the car is and what they're talking about when they ask me questions about the car. i guess in the end, cars come and they go and feelings about your car change like market value. i for one am not for market value or what i think someone will pay, because the feelng of owning, driving, maintaining, and cruising an rx-7 are worth more thak a market could reflect. if it could, people would be lined up yours and my front door with thousands in hand just begging for a test drive. it doesn't matter what you pay for a 7. ****, i bought a runner driver for $75. i drove it for a year, the engine went and i put a new one in, re-did the body and the rest of the mechanical failures and enjoyed the hell out of the car. a cars' value shouldnt only be measured only in dollars but in the feeling you get when you know you are an extension of that car, not just another driver.

 

First generation RX-7s are very rare in my areas. For example, it is possible to drive an entire year only seeing 5 or 6 on the Roads in Virginia around Washington DC--a major metropolitan region.

Likewise very few are offered for sale. I search often in the papers and at car dealers. A good condition RX-7 would be in demand, at least $5,000 or more (perhaps $8,000-$10,000 for excellent). The examples for a few hundred Dollars are of very poor condition, almost without exception. They have dented or rusty Body, bad paint, missing parts, deteriorated rubber and plastic parts, torn Seats, broken interior plastics, etc. The cost to make presentable, in Parts alone, is exceeding high.