I was at the bank and my 85 GSL-SE was parked next to the ATM I was using when some teenager walked up to me and said "it's nice to see a classic car in such nice shape." :-)

Hmmm mine looks like garbage. Thats because my paint is prehistoric and some old grandma drove it in the winter for 2 years. And the damn heat shields rattle like tin cans being towed behind. I am dirt poor for now because i love driving my car too much. I spend way too much on gas. Although this will all change this winter when i put my car away, it will come out looking like new.

Define [i]classic[/i]...
 

What's with all you guys? I hav'nt read anything here about classic "don't let 'em go"s like the Triumph GT6, Healys, old Beamer, old Volvo coups, Jags...hell; slap all the front engine Ferraris in there. They're all import sports cars, and they all had their miserable little anoyances. Lucas electronics...Gueeze, but what a car my dads 67 Healy was.
You might say I'm crazy to compare our 7s to those cars, but why is anyone comparing them to the likes of Mustangs and Camaros?

When I see a Datsun 280 Z in great condition (and I rarely do), I say, "what a beaut.". The Japanese entered the market with cars for the masses.
So as did Mr. Porsche make his debut.
And if for no other reason will our RX7s become classics will be the rotary engine within its skin.
Does anyone here seriously believe that in our lifetimes, we will not see another rotary powered vehical hit our streets...Perhaps not even by Mazda.
Interest will be piqued, and we may one day find ourselves not having to explain in less than a million words just how our beer kegs power our little monsters. People will be familiar with the rotary again, and our "classic" cars will be the testament to its durability.

20 years from now, someone will pass by us going the other direction, in his new hydrogen powered rotary driven family car, and he'll say, "Oh lookit...an old gas Rx-7!
What a classic! Man, those were the days."

Re: Define [i]classic[/i]...
 

Well said everyone! :) I think that RX-7's are in a class all by themselves (with a rotary under the hood), and if not for anything else, that'll be the main deciding factor in whether or not the RX-7 will become a classic. I tend to think that all those patriotic American muscle car fans are a little scared of a car with

A) Better-than-sluggish handling
B) Light weight
C) Aerodynamic body styling
and finally...
D) Fuel economy with a value in it higher than the number of cylinders in their car. :)

Do I think that the RX-7 will become a classic? Yes, especially the first gens, because they have the original body styling, the original motor, and the original interiors, and when someone thinks about the most desirable Muscle cars they think of the first year the car was made (64½ Mustang, etc, etc...). That's my 2 bits...

Well, I look at it this way. If Chevy Novas became classic, then anything can.

Please pay attention to the dates when Posting. This thread is almost a year old.

To be honest, classic cars also become classic for another reason. One is customizability and cheap/plentiful parts. You can trick a V8 out for half the cost as a Jap enigne.

Also, all those classics fall into the smog exempt age. Which means people can do those mods and still drive their cars. If CA doesn't screw it up and repeal that ACT, then when rotaries come around, you'll see them becomign popluar.

Heck, try and buy an RX-2 or RX-3 from 70 to 72. I haven't found one yet for less than 2500 running. That's pretty good for a 4500 dollar car.

i dont know y its not a classic even now
 

i dont know y 1st gens r not classics now. if its not classic now i think itll never be one. when Mazda started selling 1st gens here in the states it had a never ending list of waiting lists. if ur name was on the list and u did not pick up the car that very day, they would sell the car to the next person. with design and performance the car was ahead of its time. it still can out handle alot of todays cars with minor mods.

porche held the title of GT cup champions for 3 years in a row. the very year 1st gens came out, 1st gens spanked the porches and took over the title.

it has all the potentials of being a classic but i dont see y its not. however ive seen a book about american classic race cars and i saw a 1st gen. it had great reviews and history about the car. ....................................maybe 1st gens r already a classic.......... ah..... i dont know......

It better become classic! How many other cars have a rotary in them? Also, when the Rx-8 starts to sell in the States, I think this might spark interest in the Rotary's history, as well as that of the 1st gen, which could make them more desirable.

If the Edsel (a flop in the 50's, but one of the rarest cars today) became classic, then I'm sure the Aztech (ugliest car in existence) will too.

sadly, i would probably have to say no. i don't think the Rx-7 will be a classic. at least, not in the sense that i think you mean when you say "classic." meaning, i never see it garnishing the same general public response as ... say ... a 60's Mustang or something. it's really a shame, too. because, my personal feelings aside, i do believe that it should become a classic.

however, i believe that the general ignorance (in terms of a complete car and a complete driving experience) and elitism of the people in this country will never let it become a classic. add to the fact that a new generation is coming into it's own now, and they are pretty much spoiled by cup holders and electric windows and such ... i really don't see them appreciating what a great car the Gen I Rx-7 truly is. also, people in the country are too capitalist-oriented, meaning, money plays too big a role in decisions that should be made with passion. even if there were to a movie like F&F or Gone in 60 that featured a first Gen car, i think the interest sparked would be short-lived. finally, practically no one undertstands the rotary engine, and have very little interest in changing that.

i admit that i am smitten the Gen I Rx-7 (and things rotary), but i think i am objective enough to say this. i mean, i've driven a Gen III car and there is no doubt about it's superior capabilities, but something is still missing there. when i got my MR2, i still caught myself always comparing it to the Rx-7 (as if the Rx-7 was the standard for pleasurable driving :D) but i realize that few cars exist out there that give you the same "feeling" (and, i find it hard to put into words what the feeling means) despite superior engine management technology, IRS, power and the absence of gasoline and exhaust fumes :D - and i dare say that no car of the future ever will.

yea, what manntis and directfreak said.

hmm. i don't see the problem with posting in old threads. if someone has something to add, who cares how old the thread is...

am i the only one?

All I can say is that in 1973 my Dad picked up an extremly rare 64 1/2 Mustang, that was a special edition car "287 of 500 produced" for $500, that the only problem it had was with the clutch and the rear end. Classics weren't always classic, its hard to say how the masses might view the 7 in 5-10 yrs. But I think it will become a classic, and will begin to appriciate in value

Actually, this is the kind of thread is absolutely perfect for resurrection. After all, a year has passed and we can once again evaluate the 7's position in the world.

Having said that, I've noticed that an awful lot of 7's have been popping up in junkyards over the last year, and the one's for sale seem to be creeping up to the $1500-$2000 mark more often than $700-$1000. I've seen several RX-7's in babied condition listing for $3000-$4000. They are beginning to creep up in price.

Also, look at forum membership...I think it's almost doubled over the last year...

toyota 2000 gt a clasic jap car itat increases its value

Datsun 240Zs were reconditioned BY Nissan and sold a few years ago at around $25,000 a pop...

The 1st Gens will be classic. Light, tossable, smart looks, unique rotary.

2nd gens look too much like other cars (Porsche 944 with Camaro tail lights). Got too heavy, just as the 240Z did.

Speaking of the 240Z, it grew fat in the late 70s and early 80s to the 300Z...except it was both heavy AND ugly! The original 240Z is only a styling knock-off of the Jaguar XKE. It was nevr very fast, and never handled very well.

I mentioned my Rex to a couple (he has a Porsche 928, she has a BMW ISetta) and they both knew of the Rx and both mentioned the "Wankel Rotary" by name. Of course, they are both car people, but the Rex has a following..

And... happy birthday to this thread!

IMO, it has much more in common with cars like the 275GTB Ferrari. The E-type uses much more rounded forms and the resemblence to an E-Type is non-existant in the rear third of the Z.

a 240z shares only sugar scoop headlamps with an XKE. In Japan it had a G-nose option which made it's Ferrari "inspiration" much more obvious.

And when it was released it was decently quick for the price, and handled great. 4 wheel disc brakes and IRS in 1972?? At a low sticker price?? these things made it a well-respected part of automotive history.

I agree with the Ferrari comments... I was going to mention that originally, but forgot...

However, on the handling.... yes, it had IRS, but the total package did not perform very well without significant tweaking. Out of the showroom stock it hada ton of body roll, offsetting the benefits of ITS and the other goodies.

I agree :)

No doubt the Z was a seminal car...as was the first gen rex. Let's hope the 350Z and the RX-8 fair as well.

yeah, who cares how old the thread is!!! Come on!!! Obviously there is interest in this topic..as for the rx7 being a classsic?? I hope and think so. But I am bias..I just don't see how people don't think this car has class and timeless style. It also seems that a lot of these cars are being raced and modified so, the "original" in excellent shape will command money ...down the line..I , in fact, see the prices going up already.If you buy one now, keep it in good shape, 5 years from now, I bet you will be able to "at least" sell it for what you bought it at...and believe it or not, your car has appreciated...PEACE to you old thread haters

I guess you could say that this is a classic thread. :D