E.k

Hey guys.

First of all, I'd like to say that Im so glad I found this site, I've been looking for info on RX7s for ages!

Secondly, I'm new to RX7s, so everything I'm saying here is just to the best of my knowledge so far..

My Dad owns a First Gen Savanna RX7 with a removable targa roof, & it's his pride & joy. He has rebuilt it & worked on it for as long as I can remember. But he's had some issues, because he has been using a normal Second Gen RX7 wiring harness, which is completely incompatible with his Savanna computer. Apparently his computer is 32 pin, which runs many extra components like altitude mixture control stuff & all other RX7s have a 16 pin computer..

He recently found another Savanna without an engine or gearbox & bought it. Now he's taking the wiring harness from it & other bits & pieces, & using them for his. The one he bought is now mine, a project that we're both working on.

I'm just wondering what kind of RX7 my Dad's is, to be so different from other RX7s. Do Savanna's have these features? It has japanese writing all over the plates in the engine bay, & on the stickers on the inside of the bonnet.. It's just been very hard finding any information about Savanna's.

Any help & info would be VERY greatly appreciated!

Thanks!! - E.k

smnc

OMFG! He has an actual REMOVEABLE ROOF Targa!!!???

Those are the most RARE RX-7 ever made!
It was an aftermarket conversion that I've only ever seen once, in a picture.
I'd be hugely interested in any history you or he might have on the car.


Now...
SavannaRX-7's a are japanese-spec 1st generation (also known as SA or FB) RX-7s. They are devided into 3 series. Series 1 are cars made between 1978-1980, Series 2 is '81-83 and Series 3 is '84/'85

Now, I'm not super knowledgeable about j-spec cars, but believe the only fuel injected model they had was the GT-Turbo...?

I can't begin to imagine why it would have a wiring harness from an FC (2nd generation).

Now I know my car has two connectors to the ecu (computer). 1 - 21 pin, 1 - 13 pin, and has a bunch of other components in addition to the ecu.
I doubt the 2nd generation cars would have as few as 16 pin.
I rather suspect he might have the wiring harness off of a carburated 1st generation RX-7.
They have a much simpler computer used only for emission control.

DJAngelicon

Hey E.k, Welcome to the forum! I hope you enjoy your stay.

If is possible can you post some pictures of the Rx7 ya own. Would be great what kind of speciment ya have that is so rare. Thanks In Advance!

tempusfugitive

got any pics?

smnc

Here is the only Targa pic I've seen...

mortenf

There was also a GT-X version in Japan

E.k

Yeah it has a targa roof, but not like that convertable RX7.. It's more like the one at the back, except it has a bar down the centre, so the roof comes apart in two pieces by easily un-screwing two nuts inside.

Heres some pics I took a while ago with my mobile.. I will get better ones today with a digital cam.









I'm from Australia by the way.. Dad said he swapped $20,000 and his Porche 911 for the car, ages ago before I was even born. It was apparently an ex race car, & was blue & white with all the stickers, number 43 Stuyvesant. Theres a photo somewhere of him standing with it with all the stickers on it, I've seen it & have been trying to find it again.

Since then he's painted it white, then pearl white, then silver, now it's a really nice light gold colour. The interior is entirely leather, the door trims, roof, dash, seats, back seats.. He's spent so much work on it.

E.k

Is it really as rare as you guys say it is?? It has Targa badges on it too, as you can see in the pic 2nd from the bottom..

Maybe if he kept it all original it would be worth more lol... It's probably the most modified & most worked on car I've ever seen.

z-beater

Pics did not work...I need to see the targa one!

Rusty Shackleford

here ya go

gonzz

Any better pics?

E.k

rmriggin

That thing is sexy. Pics! Pics! Pics! Oh yeah... Welcome to the forum, hope you enjoy your stay!

lovintha7

That looks more like T-tops than a true targa top. But T could stand for targa I guess.

glewsRx

iTrader: (1)

those pictures look rusty, shackleford. Way to give it the college try though.

Rx Seven

iTrader: (12)

Welcome to the site im sure you will find the people to be very helpful.
I would love to see more pics of the car and any other info you have on the car

MrFC3S

Hey, the rear wing on that Jspec SA22, was that like a Jspec wing or aftermarket? and where can i get one like it? (it was just posted) I know one guy that had one, but wouldnt sell it... and he doesnt know anything about it cept it fits like a glove...

PaulFitzwarryne

A company called USC in Taren Point. Sydney, Australia produced a Targo top modification to RX-7s in 1984. The prototype basically had the roof cut out and was totally flexible. Two or three cars were later modified by them as 'targa' with a steel bar between the windscreen and rear roof looking like a Datsun. The modification package included air dam, rear spoiler and flares. The cost of the modification was around $3400 when the stock price was around $24,000 The project was quickly dropped for commercial and engineering reasons. There was no stiffening to offset the castration! None every competed in a serious race as the stock model was lighter and stiffer. One later had a second hand 13B carby engine installed in an attempt to perform to its looks.

Several people added Savanah badges to Australian RX-7s and added ricer style decals. Both Jpec and Aus cars were plated as SA 22C. The quick give away is the rear end, Jspec had perspex across the back at rear light level and a cut away lowdown for the number plate. Aus had the numberplate at rear light level and a plain bottom panel. At the front Aus had distinctive headlight washer nozzles like the UK spec cars.

The only FI versions were in 1984-5 which used the 12A Turbo engine from the Cosmo and came out in the GT, GT-X and two Ltd editions. The latter two had all leather trim and were heavy luxury versions. Only GT versions were ever modified up for amateur competition. The FI was a fuel only analogue Nippon Denso unit with a Mitsubishi emmission control. There were only two injectors, a mistake in Mazda design. No cars were exported to Australia but latter second engines were imported mainly for RX-2 and RX-3.

PaulFitzwarryne

Tried to examine the photos, the back end does look like a 81 Savanna GT-J which did have a leather trim option including a 2+2 backseat If so it would have the early 12A caby engine with small wiring harness. What is strange is the apparent lefthand side tail-pipe with the stock righthand pipes. Current value in Japan would be less than the cost of shipping!

My previous comment on the variation in backend design applies to late s2 and s3 models, thus it applies to all EFI engined cars. The rear spoiler in the photo is street aftermarket, the genuine ones are smaller black rubber. The usual competion style was much larger like the Moffit Bathurst or Percey Le Mans.

What engine, and fuel system does your father's car have?

PaulFitzwarryne

Cut off in the middle of my edit while trying to examine the photos with computer enhancement! The second photo shows it is a mid period 12A engine with Nikki carb and stock air cleaner, the body plate will give the manufacture date. Most righthand drive versions carried Japanese information panels regardless of export destination but even at max magnification the lighting is too poor too read them.

paulied3

Does anyone know if a regular rx7 will tolerate the "targa" conversion.

Pauli

E.k

Hey guys.

Whoa, I never realised everyone would be so interested as to examine the pics so carefully & stuff!..

They were taken with my sh*tty Erricson T610 phone & I will get digital cam pix up soon I promise. I've taken them, they're on Dad's computer, just have to upload them.

I registered my Dad (the owner of the car) on the site, his user name is SavannaTarga.

The thing on the left on the back of the car is a spot light, added by my father, for reversing & getting rid of tail-gaters.. And as for the Targa badge deal, it is official, there are holes in the body where they fit.

riceburner1r2001

iTrader: (4)

u can go in here and put in your identification in 1 of the areas and find out what came with the car. People in here go to find out the identication and find out car fax stuff u might want to try that

smnc

Gotta love PaulFitzwarryne... haven't seen you around the forum in a while
for all the info!
Yeah, the Targa is the one in the back.

The 'vert is fairly well known conversion, and completely un-related...

smnc

The Targa is just a modified "regular" RX-7.

If you added enough strengthing to the chasis, it'd be no problem...