Well I sold my widebody to a gentleman out in California. He bought mine and another local one. Thanks to all that have offered advice and help since 07.

I am cleaning out my extra parts in the next couple of weeks.

One last photo before the transport comes.

Larry

 

what are you replacing it with? I might do this in a few years to pick up a new Sti, that's several years away

 

Uh, you had both of those widebodies?

 

You'll be back. Death shall not release you.

 

I think this is one of those times when working on a project is more fun than the finished product. Right?

There's a psychology involved that I'm trying to understand. It seems the less you work on something, the more likely you are to drive it and not mess with it or even worry about it. Same goes for the more you work on something, or the more familiar you are with something, the more contempt you have for it. The old saying "familiarity breeds contempt" works here.

Those two widebodies are quite good looking. Only an insane person would want to part with one, let alone both. And yet here we are. I think if you had just one and didn't put a lot of work into it, this wouldn't be an issue. You'd be happy and would drive it all the time.

There is also a problem when a car is modded too much. It seems the further from stock these cars go, the less they are ultimately driven. How did they originally wrack up over 100k miles from the factory? As daily drivers of course. They were factory stock and daily driven until an engine problem sidelines them. Then an enthusiast gets ahold of them, things get changed, the car gets faster with a rebuilt engine, better handling, brakes, louder exhausts, better stereo etc. But then it gets wrecked or sold before let's say 50k miles get put on them. You see it a lot. Or they get turned into a race car and never get driven other than a small handful of times in a short season.

Is that really what we want the 1st gens to become? I thought the point was to get out and enjoy them. Of course they were made in an era when most cars were slow and pathetic, so they didn't really need to have a lot of power to keep up. But now that basic grocery getters are in the 200HP range, I'd say a little enthusiast's love is necessary. So go ahead with the (mild) ported new engine, the free flowing (but not too loud) exhausts, better brakes and suspension, and a better stereo to bring it into this century. But don't mod the car so much that you don't want to drive it anymore.

If a widebody makes these cars harder to drive, with the wider "stance" I guess I just don't understand the point, other than looks. But if the wider front end adds more wind resistance, I certainly don't see a point to a widebody at all. If something makes your car slower and perform less, just for looks, I'd never do it.

That's the end of my rant on this subject. No offense to the OP. I'm sure they are very nice cars. But do yourself a favor and don't buy a new car. Get another first gen, don't modify it so much, and keep it on the road.

Edit: Oh I see you only owned one of them.

 

But someone bought both. Both were on Ebay and posted here I believe. Love that Kent widebody. Really wish I could have grabbed one. There's one for sale, white, I really want. 7k. Have yet to check it out. I'd have to sell one my mine to get it, or invest at least that much to make one of mine a widebody. Then deal with the wife wanting to kill me.

 

Jeff,

You actually make a very good point about modifying a car too much. In the case of the kent wide body's. These kits are race kits meaning the fronts are very thin, if you look at them wrong they get stress cracks. They were meant to be pulled off quickly in case of damage after or during a race.

I would always be worried about someone leaning on it, etc. It became a one dimensional car, basically to take to car shows. I had fun building it and in the grand scheme did not loose to much money. I got a decent number for it.

California has a huge car seen, so those cars will be great there. I was just storing the other car for the person till the transport comes.

Thanks

 

That black one was the best looking first gen I'd ever seen. Congrats and remember us fondly.

 

This is exactly my experience with my car. After fifteen years of blissful driving, I rebuilt the car and went all out on engine, and suspension mods. The car was way faster and handled much better. Unfortunately, it was also way louder, and too harsh for daily driving, so I have spent the next ten years making it more quiet and less harsh, but just as fast and maintaining the handling, wasn't easy, but I finally did it. I dont drive it every day, but almost. (I avoid rain and snow!) I dont think I would ever leave the Rx-7 world.

 

Is the new owner a forum member? Keep it in the family.

 

I agree with Jeff, not long ago I bought a stock Spark Yellow '79. Went so far as to refinish the rats nest, put a quiet exhaust on it. Make it nice. All I want to do is drive it, and during the summer months I do, a lot!

Its stock (Save for mechanical secondaries), and up to date on maintenance, so I know it will be reliable, and return acceptable fuel economy. I love it as much as my '81 on coilovers, flared, with a fat carb etc. etc.

I think thats the way to do it. Get an S2 or S3 and modify it to your hearts desire. Then get an SA, LE, or GSL-SE and restore it/leave it stock. There is a very good reason the magazines back in the day raved about these cars. They are very fun in original form. I feel like Im in a time capsule when Im in my SA.

To OP, the car looks slick, not my style but to each his own. I can certainly see a high quality build when I look at that car. If you come back (I did!), Id suggest my formula, its more rewarding than you might think.

 

I tend to fall into this trap, but from a different angle:

I spent so much time getting the car and engine bay into show condition that I don't drive it if there's a chance of rain; one rainstorm equals several hours of cleaning to get it back to show ready condition. Road dust is a problem but faster to clean up with compressed air.

Due to limited garage space, the -7 is stored covered on wheel skates so it can be rolled against the wall in the garage, leaving enough room for another car. Because it sits for weeks at a time, I store it with the battery disconnected (the stereo and clock will drain the battery in about two weeks' time). It only takes about 15 minutes to move the other cars around the driveway, roll the -7 out, uncover it, jack it down off the skates, connect the battery, and be ready to drive, and another 15 to put it all away... but that 30 minutes becomes a barrier to spontaneous enjoyment, especially if I don't want to have to crawl around the garage floor in clean clothes.

I'd definitely drive it more if I could just put the key in it and go.

But then it would get dirty.

It's ironic; restoring the car to show condition was essential to it's survival (the wife was leaning hard on me to get rid of it when it was old and tired. That ended when I brought home my first trophy) but having it in show condition is the biggest barrier to actually driving it.

 

Yes and this is why I keep putting off getting my SA repainted. First it would be off the road for the
duration of the prep and paint (months), then I would start getting nervous about where I drive it
and park and so on. I'm already a bit like that as it is but I still drive as often as I can. I like Lokis
solution, get a second one and keep it minty. I'm toying with the idea of an SA with an automagic
in it. It could be the wifes car and a show queen as well if done right.