I am looking at a 1981 GSL it looks like it is very rough and guy wants 1k and I can whittle him down some and was wondering if anyone had some tips on what to look for or if i should get a different RX7. I don't know much about RX7s, all I know is that I want one badly and probably should have done some more research. If someone could point me in the right direction that would be much appreciated.

The guy says that It need new battery, radio, brakes bled, AC belt, and a little tuning to run. Not sure what the last part means but should i even consider this vehicle. he also says the the car is straight so minimal dings and dents

update: it has rear seats which is a rare option right?
I am looking at the car this monday and the rear seats are in medium condition.

update #2: I found out that the owner has rebuilt the carb and that it does run the carb needs tuned

 

If the body is rust free you should consider it. I paid 700 for a rolling shell in a 1980. A bit high, but I wanted an SA. Looks like crap is subjective. Is the body straight but the paint bad? is the interior complete? The big question is: are you going to depend on this car as a daily driver? And utmost... does the owner have the damned title in his name?!?!

 

He does have title minimal rust, interior is missing radio but it is rough and it has 12200 miles on it. idk how well it has been maintained. Would making it a daily be an issue? I have a pickup that I use for daily. If i got the rx7 I would probably clean everything up... thoroughly and maybe engine rebuild.

please help me out here guys all hard real life info I know about rx7s i gleaned from my last two hours of speed reading

 

Yes the rear seats are exceptionally rare, as I believe they were not a factory option. There was a 3rd party manufacturer in which I previously had a seat from. Some people have imported from AU or JP which the cars there had the rear seats for tax purposes I believe. There was a third option where people had shoe horned second generation rear seats into the back of the first generation RX-7's. The dash looks cracked and it is getting harder to find non cracked dashes. I am unaware if dash caps are still available but assume there is. In case you were not familiar, the GSL has Limited Slip Differential and rear disc brakes, from a performance point of view it is a strong foundation. Things to consider also is the mileage which i assume you meant to type 120k on the clock. 12a engine parts are no longer available new except for rebuild kits. Used housings and such are available with some digging, but they are drying up. You will need patience if you choose to get this car. It will be rewarding to restore the car but it can be challenging . For comparison: If you are accustomed to things like a Ford Mustang where you can find parts all day for what ever you need. First generation RX-7s are not that lucky. Speaking of the seats again. The rear seats are essentially useless. my 5'1" wife was cramped back there. Any kids now days require car seats. I had talked to a officer once about kids in the back showing that car seats do not safely fit and he told be it was up to the descretion of the officer if any citations would be made. I have typed enough for now. I'll let some one else have a turn.

 

If the car does not run, expected the worse. This means a rebuild at a low rough estimate of $1000 if you did if yourself.

 

for something in that condition i would expect to have to do quite a lot of work to get it to be a driver.

that being said, it looks pretty straight, and if its rust free, its worth the asking price.

i also think for something like this, you will want to rebuild the engine, and replace the clutch/radiator/hoses/ etc

 

Those rear seats look like their out’ve a FC