I got a basketcase scca fb today
 

There are a bunch of pictures of a piece of shit car at the end if you are too lazy to read any of this.

Minor backstory regarding this: I was talking to my wifes uncle the other day and somehow we ended up on the fact that he used to race this old rx7 in some scca stuff but had quit several years ago after his back gave out. He informed me that he had this car sitting on a trailer in his yard and I thought it sounded interesting and told him, in passing conversation, to let me know if he ever wanted to sell the thing. Well he indicates that he wants to unload it now and I indicate that I have no money. He then makes me a ridiculously low offer for the car and the trailer that I still have no money for and dont really intend to buy. However, I do know that my father has been wanting to get a trailer for hauling cars around with and at this price the trailer alone is easily worth it.

Well we go and look at the car today and it's showing the signs of neglect that you would expect to see in a car that's sat on a trailer out in the weather for the last five to seven years. The windshield is all busted up from 'the grandkids' and it's got surface rust in places where the paint has been rubbed off. The fiberglass body work is cracked in places and the rear bumper has a nicely melted spot just above a ridiculously large exhaust. The lexan widnows in the rear have fogged up from being beaten on by the texas summer sun. The uncle tells me that it was running when retired but that the transmission was broken; it came with a spare. Although, in taking it off the trailer it felt more like the rear end is the problem. The engine is seized up right now, don't really know what to do about that. The oil is clean and there isnt any water in it. What there is of an electrical system seems to be in working order. I was greated by the smell of one hundred year old gasoline springing out of a leak in a junction near the carb that proceeded to run down the headers. Fortunately it's equipped with a fire suppression system that looked like it was still charged, so that when you are stuck in a firey inferno you can pull the pin on the thing and pray that it works. My father buys a trailer before we leave and this car clearly comes with it. We also had to haul off a bunch of spare parts and body work.

I don't know why I'm excited about this thing, it's clearly a black hole for time and money. Anyway, here are some pictures:

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4184/IMG_7238.th.jpg http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9987/IMG_7243.th.jpg http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/7964/IMG_7235.th.jpg http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5973/IMG_7233.th.jpg http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/6591/IMG_7239.th.jpg http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/189/IMG_7236.th.jpg http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/2739/IMG_7232.th.jpg http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5963/IMG_7242.th.jpg http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4936/IMG_7237.th.jpg http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/3827/IMG_7234.th.jpg http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4752/IMG_7244.th.jpg

Heres one of when it was in it's prime:
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/3774/old-photo.th.jpg


I would like to get this thing running, though I think it's unrealistic for me to believe that I will ever have to time or money in the next several years to do anything serious with this, but considering that it's at a storage facility where it's in no ones way and can sit there forever, it may just get the chance to do that. For now, lets just see if it can be made to run. The engine is seized and I have no reason to believe that the seals were blown at the time it was laid down. Is a rebuild the only way to go at this point or is there anything else that I should try before I start tearing it down?

here's my left nut, .......and here's my address. I love it

I don't know but you should sell me those wheels. Even if you have an extra one let me know. I have those wheels but one has warp in it. Sweet looking ride for what it's gone through.

edit: If you happen to know the name of the wheels that would be sweet also.

Thats too bad it's warped. You could always send it off to some place like wheelsamerica.com and have them fix it. Runs about 120 bucks and they do a good job. Unfortunately wheels were not among the spares included.

Yeah I figured that's what I would end up having to do. This only the second time besides my own that i've even seen them on the forum. Still, If you find out the name (maybe your wife's uncle knows) that would help out a bunch.

Score score score.

bring that thing back to it's original glory or sell it to someone who will.

If you roll it into the river now it will save you a few $1000 and your marriage!

Look in the facts section https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/1st-gen-rx-7-faq-page-237777/
under carbon locked engine it should give you some good reading and will show you what to do to get it running. Nice find!!!!

uhhh. yes indeed, awesome score. i would not part it out but sell it to someone who would enjoy it for what it is. or do it yourself... that thing could make someone very happy!

Sadly he didn't really know very much about the mechanics of the car, he had someone else up in tennessee do all the work and build up. I'm not going to say that he didn't appreciate it, but he just isn't particularly mechanically inclined. So that leaves me with very little info on whats actually in the car. He seemed to think it was bridge ported, but who knows. If I find anything out about the wheels I'll be happy to send it your way.


I'm sure in the future I will be able to appreciate marital advice regarding automobiles, unfortunately I haven't yet got myself in enough trouble to really take any of that to heart.

And I'm not going to part this thing out, if I can't find any time to do anything with it in the next two years or so I'll sell it to someone who appreciates it. It will not end up in a bad home, some homes just might take it longer to get back to where it was.

Paradox: Thank you very much!

HOLY SHIT!!!

that car looks so familiar and I don't know why either.

Beautiful find if I do say so myself

I don't know if you yet realize how big of a find you have come across. GT3 can be a very intense class to race in. Congratulations on your diamond in the rough. If you post some pics in the race tech section, someone there might recognize the car and know of it's history. I would love to have one of these, even if it just sat in the garage.

This would be a fun car to restore and run in the Historic races.

SCCA GT-3 RX-7 racecar. Look like old-spec GTU
half chassis/ not full tube frame
Mazda Competition Mark I fiberglass body
bridgeported 12A
Weber 48 or 51 IDA carb with cold airbox
...doesn't look like a PBS gearbox ($5000+)

WOW I'm w/ the rest!!! Its a diamond in the ruff!!!PLease restore,would love to see the build on that gem.-Erik

I agree. I have no further imput then whats already been said.

Sexy car man, you lucky dog.

That will be a fun car, and depending on local laws you may be able to street it. I know you can in NH.

shouldn't take too much to get that car up and running and looking good...alittle paint and body work...alittle engine cleaning...and general maintenance and looking over everything...clean the inside...I wouldn't say too much more than $1000 for car/engine repairs...and a $2000 for paint

You lucky bastard!!!!!!!!
You could sell it as it stands for $2500 without a problem
I want it!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I'm a local SCCA racer that runs a similar car to your find. I would be interested in the car if you decide not to mess with it, alternativley I would be glad to come out to look at it and give you my option, and help you plan a strategy for getting it back on the track if you decide to keep it.

Motor most likely is carbon (or rust) locked......follow the advice given above.

Paul

I don't think so.....without a complete inspection and evaluation there is no way to guess at the value. I have a running and log booked ITA car and could not get a $3000 offer on it.

I had same thing....gave it to Shannan Mcmasters at Import Motorsports.
Its not competitive against todays tube frame.
pics of mine that was the 1989 SCCA runoff pole car.

Yes, asuming he had done everything to the max. It should be a bridgeported 12a, and looks to be a 51mm Weber 48 IDA. Semi-tube frame, different brakes, different transmission, could have a mazdacomp diff, trick driveshaft, all of those gauges are worth something. The wheels look to be 3pc revolutionsI hope you plan to race this, but if you do it won't be cheap. GT-3 is a very very competitive class, money talks. You can do pretty much what you want following the guidelines in the 06 SCCA GCR. (If you plan to run it in SCCA) Would be a great track car too. If you don't mind me asking how much did you pay for the car?

nice ride man, it has potential, they were bad ass fuckin race cars in their prime