ray green

iTrader: (14)

So I went to the Registry today to get a title for the nicest LE on the east coast and it was a fun trip.

The first time I showed up, the line was out the door. So I decided to go down the road and vote (Hillary).

When I came back there was no line and some very friendly clerks. You gotta love Jefferson Georgia.

Anyway, the guy that took my application was about 25-30 years old, perfect southern gentleman and competent too, a guy you just like.

So he gets to the part where he needs to know how many cylinders there are and since this is a legal proceeding, I need to confess it doesn't have any cylinders, it's a rotary.

So he keeps mousing over his list asking me how many cylinders, so I say 2, since there are that many rotors in a 12A.

He keeps mousing, not sure if I'm a terrorist or what.

Then the other clerk, a woman in her 30's, maybe 40's, tells him there's a box for rotaries. He does some more mousing and gets it done.

True story.

Toruki

I think we're in that box.

Nice story.

ray green

iTrader: (14)

Yep, we are just a box of Rotaries as far as the Registry is concerned.

The good news is we have college degrees.

Qingdao

iTrader: (3)

I think my titles say 4 or 2 cyl. But that's SC for you.

Pics of this nice LE?

ray green

iTrader: (14)

She is totally pretty James.

Qingdao

iTrader: (3)

OOOH WOW!

Gonna make DGRR '17?

scottfetsh

nice mine came out of Columbia sc i don't think anybody appreciates the LE. i love it because i've only seen a handfull in my life and i've owned hundreds of fb over the years

miasmicmonky

iTrader: (1)

I guess this might be a good place to ask. But what were the differences in the 83 LE?

I am mostly asking because I managed to get one when i was buying a car for cheap. I didn't even really care or notice for the price until after I got it and noticed the badge on the pillar. It appears they were only ever available in silver?

ray green

iTrader: (14)

The 83 LE stands for "Limited Edition" and was meant to appeal to the true sports car enthusiast, as opposed to the trend toward the more luxury options that were becoming popular in the 1980's, such as you see on the GSL models and later GSL-SE models.

For example it has crank windows instead of power windows and cloth interiors prevailed (although leather may have been an option, I'm not sure). Also the rear end was just your basic drum brake non-LSD axle, not the disk brake limited slip axles found on the GSLs. And there was no rear wiper on the hatch glass, similar to the GS's and different from the GSL's, which have the clunky rear wiper and motor.

It did have some of the other premium options however, like the upgraded Clarion sound system with equalizer, four spoke steering wheel and a sun roof. What uniquely distinguished the LE's from GS's and GSL's was their 14" BBS wheels plus special "limited edition" paint colors and special badging.

miasmicmonky

iTrader: (1)

That is actually pretty cool. Apparently this one has had even more change to it than what I thought! The Vin pulls up as an LE chassis and the interior matches what you described. The Radio has been removed though and a GSL rear end has been swapped in. (probably because the car was fully 302 with a t5 swapped) I do wish I had those original wheels. I would have loved to have them. They look great.

Sorry for the questions, but it appears the links from the FAQ are broken.

So in essence, it was a slightly higher end package than the GS, but not up to par with a GSL?

I will post a pic as it sits when I have the chance.

ray green

iTrader: (14)

Yes please do show us what you've got!

I'm pretty much new to the 83 LE's myself, this is my first one and other than coveting those wheels (I already have two sets I picked up before getting this car) I'm just finding out about LE's myself.

Maybe some other LE experts can kick in more details, like the color options. I think in addition to the silver, which is really an off-bronze silver, different from the standard 83 silver color, there may have been one or two other options.

I was very lucky to get mine from the same guy who bought it back in 83 and who then babied it unmolested for 33 years. Even the original paint is in great shape, a legacy of being garage kept for most of its life.

I'm not sure I'd call the LE someplace between a GS and a GSL, I think it was more of an attempt to appeal to buyers who wanted something different, more in the traditional, inexpensive, light weight, two seater sports car, with the MGB being the prototype.

Notice how those 14" LE wheels and the overall dimensions mirror the wire wheels, pointy nose and sloping rear of the classic MGB?







I'm not sure how many 83 LE's were made, but like most FB's they aren't that hard to find (although the one I got is in exceptional condition). For example, those 14" LE wheels show up on ebay, craigslist and here on the forum fairly regularly, which is how I got the two sets I bought previously.

Can any of you LE experts add any details?

rwatson5651

iTrader: (5)

Beautiful car Ray, congratulations on finding a real gem!!!!

Engine pics?

Details? mileage etc?

Tell us the story !!!!

ray green

iTrader: (14)

It's gonna get the Train Wreck 12A Robert, here's the story:

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...ition-1082571/

GSLSEforme

Very well preserved specimen,Ray,train wreck engine story good read,fitting to put that engine in this car.

ray green

iTrader: (14)

Thanks SE, that Train Wreck 12A story wrote itself, I just took the pictures.

This whole trip has been an incredible story, from Robert and Mike surprising me with the Train Wreck 12A, to Hank putting his mint 1983 LE up for sale and me being the lucky buyer, to my recent trip to the Jefferson Registry, where a 40 year old housewife knew what a rotary was but the 28 year old gear head did not.

I can't wait to see what's next, the Rotary Gods know how to party.

miasmicmonky

iTrader: (1)

Haha. I do wish mine was in half as good shape as yours though. The paint is pretty bad with small scratches throughout. Somebody attempted to swap the seats out with miata seats but only bolted them in halfway and somebody tried to swap the front suspension out with 240sx parts which is doing decent but causes a lot to be desired. There is going to be quite a bit of reverse engineering going on with mine. Probably going to leave the 302 in it though as I did get that running pretty well. It does run and drive. Just the brakes aren't doing too well cuz 240sx brakes in the front.

miasmicmonky

iTrader: (1)

Sadly, i don't have many better pictures than this but here ya go.

ray green

iTrader: (14)

That does look like a monster, but a very nice monster!

I have that left front turn lens and headlight shroud if you need them, price of shipping, let me know.

miasmicmonky

iTrader: (1)

Haha. We have been calling it the Frankenmazda. It has parts from at least 4 different models of cars. 240sx coilovers and hubs, miata seats, mustang 302 and t5, Mazda body and rear end. It sure does move when you gas it though.

message sent.

12abridgeport

Nice looking car, Ray! Congrats

I had a similar experience at DMV the last time I went there to get a new title for the FD. Except, the girl knew to click the rotary box but she was surprised about the title fee for such an old car. To be honest I was too. But she kept trying to ask me what kind of car it is, for it to be so old and I still had to pay so much money for a new title.

Eventually I just told her that it's kind of an exotic car and she seems to have understood. Lol

tool and die guy

well Ray I now know why you have been absent from the ogta forum... You been a busy boy!! Nice find..! Slap that train wreck in there and you'll be rolling again. Have you slept in the house since you got the LE or have you been drinking beer cooking burgs and dogs outside next to it every night??!!

ray green

iTrader: (14)

One more reason why FB's are superior to FD's Dmitri, they sell for hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars.

Unlike FD's that sell for tens of thousands of dollars.

Easier on the wallet and easier on the sales tax at the Registry. I paid a one-time sales tax of $6 for the 83 LE.

I hear you on the Obsessive FB Disorder Paul.

I'd be daily driving the LE already if it weren't for one critical pre-condition needed to avoid divorce:

I had to agree with wife Cathy to do nothing to the LE until after her 93 Jeep Wrangler 4.0 is registered and on the road.

I dug into getting this near mint Chrysler product out of mothballs a few weeks ago.

Only 100,000 miles on it, not a spot of rust and the red paint remains show room perfect.

I figured it would be a weekend job.



But it turns out that it has a crack in the plastic fuel tank, needs a new top, lots of exterior plastic parts and it won't start.

Chrysler craftsmanship, you gotta love it.

Already a $1400 parts list at RockAuto and counting, twice what I paid for the LE.

So now I'm looking for a little financial daylight to get that project done, hopefully before Christmas.

Then comes the Train Wreck 12A and the 83 LE!