I have just picked up a 79, VIN SA22C504534. It’s Silver, I not sure of the actual color name. It has a 12A engine, rebuilt, with about 13000 miles on it. 5 speed munaul transmission. The interior was in very bad shape. I have removed all of the carpet and padding. The dash is cracked and lots of plastic is very faded from the sun. The seats have been recovered but still need some work, to much padding in them now.

My question is…..Should I restore it true to the VIN, true to year or just restore it to whatever I like? I guess I want to know which way would be best to increase the value? I do not want to sell it right now but you never can tell what the future holds.

Anyhow what does everyone else think?

Thanks for your input and time…

 

restore it to its original glory. sa's 78-80 are getting more rare especially in complete factory form

 

Post some pics of it, but being a fellow 79 owner I say restore it to the VIN number, but do what ever you want

 

I think you should do what you want to do to it, even if that's restoring it to original condition. I have a '79 that I bought new in May 1978 and have keep almost entirely original. I have a '64 MGB that I bought and restored to original condition. And I have an '85 GS that I'm making into a project car...supercharger, Holley 650 double-pumper, will have new tires and wheels and a nice paint job. I love the original cars...there's something about them that I find very cool. By I also like the '85 that I'm doing what I want to. It's just a matter of what you want. In time, the original will probably bring more money, but I think that would be a long time in the future and may not be that much more than a well done modified car.

Just my $0.02.

Rich

 

Hey, welcome to the club, another GA7 owner! I like Rich's approach, get yourself two or three of them and do each one different.

On the other hand, stock has some advantages, including the fact that central GA has the highest concentration of used RX7 parts on the planet (check with Hades in Snellville). I like the stock look and driveability and everything is interchangeable on my three GSLs so if something breaks, I just take it off one of the others.

Join us at Jeffries some time for some Bass and rotary discussions.

Ray

 

With that vin it is a 4/78 build Date? A very eary car. My vote would be near stock with changes made for relability.





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So, Hades, do you have a thing for 'Vanishing Point', or just old 'Cudas? Thumbs up for both.

 

Both, And press refresh.

 

I would say do whatever you want to it. Just remember, if you plan on selling it with modifications, you won't get much. I was in a similar dilemma, but i went the way of the modder. While, maintaining a stock rx-7 is incredibly fun on it's own, I want to personalize it, and make it go a bit faster. But then again, I hope to never sell it, so it could be mine for life.

~b.k.

 

Here is the only picture I have right now. We had just diven it home and washed off all the dirt.

I will post more later...

Thanks again to everyone for thier input...

 

Nice, as far as restoration, do whatever pleases you. I think as long as it's reliable, it doesn't really matter.

 

i think it looks very restorable! being your car, you can add your own little touches and do things your way. i pretty much keep my cars stock. i restore them to their original glory. i would do the same if it were mine. very nice 7 my friend.

 

Wow, what a hunk of junk. Give you $100 for it????


Yell if you need a hand or parts. I am in Snellville.

 

You'll never get back more than a small percentage of the money you put in, and none of the labor, but you do get to build the car you want for relatively little money. When I park my $1500 car next to someone's sportscar that costs 15-20 times as much, and I like mine better, that's where the cars real value is. I think a stock looking, clean car with mild performance enhancements will hold it's value the best. Body kits, really expensive wheels, electronic gizmo's, etc., will give you a very small return.

 

Well now, don't you just take all the fun out of it.

https://www.rx7club.com/build-threads-293/unvieling-12a-bp-widebody-462184/

 

Well I am leaning toward keeping it true to the VIN. But who knows....

Hades12, I gonna need parts. I am trying to get a list together now.

My first priority is making sure it’s in good shape mechanically. I plan on doing most of the work myself, when I will have the time I don’t know. Next will be new paint and then new weather stripping all around. Then will come the restoration if the interior.

Thanks again for everyone’s input. I will post some more pics as I go forward with the restore.

 

i have some really nice stock seats from my 80'. theyre black leather with a white center and theyre flawless. i dont think they even have one tear. the previous owner kept them covered and i havent driven the car yet. i plan on switching them out for some other seats in the future. if youre interested in close. or heck, sale me the car and ill put them in there. ive been wanting an all original 7

id definately vote you keep it all original and if you want to modify one, buy another one.

 

Where are the side mirrors lol?? I don't see any holes for them either???

 

Don't know about his driver's side mirror...can't see that side. But there is no passenger's side mirror on the '79.



Rich

 

Both of my 79s have passenger side mirrors and the two I have stripped previously had them. Must be a Virginia thing.

 

Maybe later in the production year they added them...dunno.

Rich

 

yeah, the earlier SA's didn't have them. they had some other minor differences too, can't remember though.

 

Trochoid, do you have that thread number memorized yet?

 

Somewhere around production date 10/78 they start having passenger side mirrors, Before that date they dont have them.

 

Update…..

I had the car checked out, changed oil and fuel filters, change transmission and rear end fluid, flushed radiator and changed coolant, changed plugs and checked engine compression, bleed brakes and clutch, repacked wheel bearings, tighten buts and bolts.

Found that brakes are new and rear drums are new, new starter and alternator, rebuilt 12a engine, about 13000miles, new muffler, and not right one for car but works for now.

Biggest problems…broken tranny mount, idler arm bushing loose, rubber brake lines cracked but not leaking, seepage around oil metering pump.

Other problem found….fuse box connections seem to be loose. If I wiggle the wring some things don’t work. Wiggle again and they work. Also notice my tach jumps around a lot.

Well that’s all for now….