My First Rotary
07-27-02, 06:41 PM
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My First Rotary, a story of longevity
I had posted my story in the RX8 Forums, when someone suggested I post it here as well. Hope that's ok.
My First Rotary
I was 20 in 1992 when I bought my first RX7. It was a 1981 Sunbeam Silver beauty with 200,000 miles on it. The guy I bought it from was the first owner of this car, an older gentleman recently retired who had kept all the maintanance records. He really didn't want to part with it, but his wife somehow had convinced him otherwise and so there we were. He gave me some backround on the car besides the records. Outside of changing the fluids,spark plugs and cables the car was stock. This was his baby, he drove it everywhere. He told me it was the best car he had ever driven and the best car he would ever own. Seeing the pain in his eyes as I gave him the money, I almost didn't want to take the car, but I figured if it was going to be sold I'd want it to go to someone who would take care of it and I planned on doing just that. With his wife looking over his shoulder he reluctantly took the money and parted with his longtime friend.
The car had been sitting a month by the time I first saw it but honestly you really couldn't tell. Over the next few years I drove this car quite a bit and was constantly amazed by it's durabilityhandling and it's engineering. By the time I swapped the engine out it had 275,216 miles on it. The engine was not dead however. On one of my trips to the junkyard I had come across a 1982 RX7 with only 40,000 miles on it and decided it would be a fun project to swap out the engine in my yard. So on the morning of the expected engine delivery I proceeded to do some prep work on the car such as removing the exaust and radiator etc. By that night I was able to hear the new engine run in it's new home. Looking back at it now I wish I had left the original engine in to see how far it would go, despite the noticeble power increase with the new engine. Well to make a real long(sorry readers) story shorter, after a few weeks I started a new project, taking the old engine apart. When I was done I decided that I would display one rotor in my living room, the other I would give back to the man who sold me the car. So about four years after I bought it I headed back to his place of buisiness were I first layed eyes on my car. After a little catching up with the car's previous owner I presented him with his gift. He was very gratefull to say the least. A few years later I was starting a family and gave the RX to my younger brother who drove it a few more years before retiring it to the junkyard, the New England winters had secured it's destiny and final resting place. That original rotor still sits on my desk at work these ten years later to remind me of the best car I had ever driven and the best I ever owned, unless the RX8 proves otherwise.
My First Rotary
I was 20 in 1992 when I bought my first RX7. It was a 1981 Sunbeam Silver beauty with 200,000 miles on it. The guy I bought it from was the first owner of this car, an older gentleman recently retired who had kept all the maintanance records. He really didn't want to part with it, but his wife somehow had convinced him otherwise and so there we were. He gave me some backround on the car besides the records. Outside of changing the fluids,spark plugs and cables the car was stock. This was his baby, he drove it everywhere. He told me it was the best car he had ever driven and the best car he would ever own. Seeing the pain in his eyes as I gave him the money, I almost didn't want to take the car, but I figured if it was going to be sold I'd want it to go to someone who would take care of it and I planned on doing just that. With his wife looking over his shoulder he reluctantly took the money and parted with his longtime friend.
The car had been sitting a month by the time I first saw it but honestly you really couldn't tell. Over the next few years I drove this car quite a bit and was constantly amazed by it's durabilityhandling and it's engineering. By the time I swapped the engine out it had 275,216 miles on it. The engine was not dead however. On one of my trips to the junkyard I had come across a 1982 RX7 with only 40,000 miles on it and decided it would be a fun project to swap out the engine in my yard. So on the morning of the expected engine delivery I proceeded to do some prep work on the car such as removing the exaust and radiator etc. By that night I was able to hear the new engine run in it's new home. Looking back at it now I wish I had left the original engine in to see how far it would go, despite the noticeble power increase with the new engine. Well to make a real long(sorry readers) story shorter, after a few weeks I started a new project, taking the old engine apart. When I was done I decided that I would display one rotor in my living room, the other I would give back to the man who sold me the car. So about four years after I bought it I headed back to his place of buisiness were I first layed eyes on my car. After a little catching up with the car's previous owner I presented him with his gift. He was very gratefull to say the least. A few years later I was starting a family and gave the RX to my younger brother who drove it a few more years before retiring it to the junkyard, the New England winters had secured it's destiny and final resting place. That original rotor still sits on my desk at work these ten years later to remind me of the best car I had ever driven and the best I ever owned, unless the RX8 proves otherwise.
Last edited by maikeru; 07-27-02 at 06:56 PM.
mine is from the original owner who bought it in 79. we have a gentleman's agreement that i will offer it to him first when i decide to sell it.
07-29-02, 02:56 PM
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great story, how did "you" ever part with it. Like giving your child away (well....almost)...You should have kept it cause you may have wanted to re-build it ....and the nostalgia of the car....anyway...if rust got it , well , then I guess you have to say , Bye Bye!!! gonna get another one??? I have a 84 GSL_SE and they are so much fun to drive...see ya....cjf
07-29-02, 09:14 PM
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Well, It was tough giving my him the car but he need a vehicle and I needed something with four seats. I guess I also felt that when he was ready to get something else he would give it back to me. That didn't happen however, as he drove it to California and that's where it ended up. I currently drive a 2nd gen with 160,000 miles on it which still runs like new. I'm hanging on to this one.
07-30-02, 10:41 AM
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I Feel for Yuh...
All I can say, Buckaroo, is get a bigger corral...
Once you increase the size of your corral you don't have to limit your collection of hosses. Understand 'bout the little wranglers, we had Mazda 626's for our younguns when they were stretching up. But you should've held on to your 1st gen, even if you had to cover and store it. But I understand your situation, kids, brothers, etc. Nice that you have a 2nd gen, but from your story I can see you have some pretty decent mechcanical skills. Get yourself a nice garage/barn, a bigger parking area/corral and enjoy life....Not to mention teaching the younguns how to deal with tools, something they will cherish the rest of their lives....
Happy Trails, Dad....
That Retro-Cowboy,
Denny
Once you increase the size of your corral you don't have to limit your collection of hosses. Understand 'bout the little wranglers, we had Mazda 626's for our younguns when they were stretching up. But you should've held on to your 1st gen, even if you had to cover and store it. But I understand your situation, kids, brothers, etc. Nice that you have a 2nd gen, but from your story I can see you have some pretty decent mechcanical skills. Get yourself a nice garage/barn, a bigger parking area/corral and enjoy life....Not to mention teaching the younguns how to deal with tools, something they will cherish the rest of their lives....
Happy Trails, Dad....
That Retro-Cowboy,
Denny
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