Im wondering if any companies out there (that may be listening) would be willing, or currently do, manufacture quality interior restoration parts for 79-85 RX-7s. There are several common failure points in our interiors that I assume would do quite well in the aftermarket if produced.

Redline, are you listening?

-79-80 door panels (a fully stitched ready to glue leather or vinyl kit)
-81-83 door panels (a fully stitched ready to glue leather or vinyl kit)
-80 door handle chrome cap replacements
-79-80 dash chrome trim
-79-80 DIN kit (basically take a mold of a stock Clarion radio surround, but alter it for a direct fit for CD players so we dont have to hack up a good OEM part)
-Leather or vinyl wrap / cap kit for the upper 79-83 dash to make it look not so cheap.
-New leather or vinyl pieces for the wheel wells and tail light cover in the cargo area.


-Ok long shot here... A bolt on plate to mount RX8 and FD seats in your first gen. Will also fit FC.






Anyone else have any requests?

 

I don't know if this is what you are looking for, and the part numbers for the 1st gen are different than for a FC.... Planted Seat Bracket Technology - Planted Technology Seat Brackets for aftermarket seats OMP, Recaro, Sparco, Cobra...

 

This might be something T3 might be up for doing?

 

Hey its worth the Ask! I mean, there are aftermarket bits for the 240Z up the wah-zoo.
As to the RX8-to-RX7 seat adapter - not going to happen. Waaay too much stuff needs to be chopped from the RX8 frame first (i.e., not just a bolt-off-swap).
Best bet is aftermarket SA/FB/C (?) frame rail set on to which you mounted modded RX8 (its rail system is part of the frame and needs to be chopped). Been there. Worth the effort tho!

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

Yeah for aftermarket seats, you need to fabricate your mount where the slider can be mounted to. The FB is kinda tricky as it doesnt have a flat floor board and I went thru the same issue when I used a SA seats on one of my RX-3s; lots of measuring and cutting of steel tubing as a spacer

 

Ok, more thoughts...

-A bolt in rear cargo shelf like the FC has.
-A short shifter for 79-80... that doesnt cost $200...

 

the wish list will only happen if there is there is a large demand where a fabricator or small shop will make profit, not just above breakeven or a few dollars above cost. Door panels can be done by any upholstery shop; however, the rest will cost bucko bucks since setting up a jig and mold is not cheap. On top of that, most RX-7 owners are bunch of cheap asses lol.

 

Don't say like that!! Instead, RX-7 owners are free spirits that are hands on. They like customizing to our own tastes. Many of us think that OEM is a bunch of BS. Our cars are like race cars. Race cars have lots and lots of tweecks.

Door upholstery can be done at home. Black Dragon has a seat kit. The entire interior can be done by a shade tree mechanic. Or you can drop $2000 and get a really nice professional treatment.

Some people have to see something in a catalog, and it has to come in a nice fancy cardboard box. They have more dollars than sense.

Rx-7 owners are mechanical alchemists.

 

K, you win...bunch of low ballers insteas of cheap ***

 

All im saying is companies like Redline goods offer grade A shift boots, ebrake boots, arm rest covers for 1st gens. Why not leather door panels, leather dash covers etc. I would gladly pay $300 for a pair of DIY glue on door panel covers. Id pay $250 for a leather dash cover. Seems a reasonable price as RB sells the seat covers for close to $280 ish.

 

I agree with you, it would be extremely nice to have a source for NLA OEM style interior replacement parts. However those with the desire and means to actually support that endeavor for these cars run out fast, leaving only the low ballers and cheap asses.

We have a simmilar problem with the overall value of the cars. There's currently only a small minority of poeple willing to invest much over 5K in a 1st or 2nd gen. Most want to mod their car and go have fun with it on a somewhat limited budget. Maybe, once the've used up most of the cars now out there and get a little older, they will see the value in a nice unmolested car, plus have more income to spend on the object they lusted over in their youth.

 

Hell, I don't even have a shade tree.

 

We need the equivalent of Moss Motors for LBCs for our rx7s. BlackDragon kind of tries to be
that company but it lacks in reproducing NLA stuff and providing OEM type solutions. Racing Beat,
Maxzdatrix, Adkins really only address mostly the hot rod side of things.

Eventually, in time someone will popup and start a company that can do that but not until the
demand is so great that it's a sure money win for the shop that does it.

 

BlackDragon would actually be a good company to support this effort if the demand was there. Not sure how many people know this, by BlackDragon is owned by LMC Truck which is a large OEM reproduction company. Their literally close to me over in Olathe Kansas. I get some parts there in person. They currently don't produce any OEM style parts themselves for RX-7. Mostly just Mazda OEM parts.

It's worth a shot to ask them.

 

I know they are LMC but I bet they are waiting for the market to mature.

Collectible J tin cars are the next wave in car restoration and collectables I think. Its just a
matter of time.

 

As i have reetored many old school RXs, i highly recommend for people to pick up a semi-complete car...meaning blown motor, ugly and burnt paint but as long as the interior is mostly there including body parts and no rust, it is worth it and will save you from massive head ache. Otherwise, get a parts car.