What's it worth(long story)
04-30-10, 07:04 PM
#1
What's it worth(long story)
Hey guys,
I got an odd email the other day from a woman I met many years ago. Back in 2007 I had a gathering at my house for a bunch of RX-7 owners of the now defunct MassRX-7 club. That day I met a guy named Dan who I had "spoken" with online for a while. He was there with his girl friend,and a ratty looking black RX-07 that was leaking oil pretty bad. He told me he also had a nice one that he was working on,and that it needed a part or two.
Well fast forward to last weekend,and I get an email from his now wife telling me that he passed away about a month ago at the age of 29. I was floored as even though I only met him once it bothered me that someone that was that young passed away. His wife asked me if I could help her figure out what the deal with the car was as she had no idea. She told me he drove it last summer,and that he loved it very much. I told her that I would come by to see it in person,and asses what if anything it needed,and try to put a value on it. I also told her I would try to find a buyer if she wanted.
I just got home,and I must say the car was remarkably nice for a New England car. It wasn't perfect by how many of these are,right? The odometer showed 70k miles,but I am not sure if it is true or not. The reason being it has been painted,and how many 70k mile cars need paint?
It is sunlight silver with black interior,sunroof,new oil cooler lines(mazdatrix),new looking brake lines,new clutch master,slave,and braided line,brand new looking Sumitomo tires on stock + rims that were really in excellent shape. The body has some rust on the bottom of the door when looking on the back side(isn't showing on the front yet),some significant rust around the driver lock,and the rubber side strip just behind the drivers door. The interior is in excellent shape with only a medium sized tear on the drivers side bolster. Headliner is excellent,as are the carpets. The sunroof drains are all fine,as well as the rear hatch drains. The wheel well rot area looked great from the outside,but I didn't take the storage bins out. I doubt the car is rotted there though as it is very clean underneath. The floor boards are great,and it looks like the whole car was coated with Rusty Jones undercoating when new. The idler arm attachment are was rot free,and the under hood area was great.
Unfortunately the battery was dead,so I couldn't hear it run,but the oil looked great. The A/C compressor didn't have a belt on it so it may have an issue. I plan on going back another day with a fresh battery to get it running. The exhaust looked pretty much stock,and intact with one large cat,and all the factory looking heat shields in place. Overall it looks like a really good daily driver with a little bit of work. The fuel tank was leaking some at the seam when I jacked the front end up,but when it was level it didn't. The weather seals on the doors were cracked a bit,but not real bad. Overall I would give the car a 6-7 on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best.
The only issue with it may be the fact that it was registered in RI last as the owner had residency in both MA,and RI. The RI reg has run out,and they have no titles on cars that age in RI. The car resides in MA now,but without a title,can't be sold to a person in MA. Now maybe his wife can get a title in MA with paperwork from RI,but it may be tough with him being deceased now.
I have no idea how to value such a car. I think it could easily fetch $2k as is,but the no-title thing may be touchy. What do you guys think? I took a bunch of pics,and uploaded them to my site. See them here:
http://web.me.com/cdirado/Diradosite/82-RX-7-GS.html
Let me know. I don't want the car,but I do want to help her sell it,and would like to see it go to a nice home. Preferably local,because they are scarce around here,but I don't really care if it left the state.
I got an odd email the other day from a woman I met many years ago. Back in 2007 I had a gathering at my house for a bunch of RX-7 owners of the now defunct MassRX-7 club. That day I met a guy named Dan who I had "spoken" with online for a while. He was there with his girl friend,and a ratty looking black RX-07 that was leaking oil pretty bad. He told me he also had a nice one that he was working on,and that it needed a part or two.
Well fast forward to last weekend,and I get an email from his now wife telling me that he passed away about a month ago at the age of 29. I was floored as even though I only met him once it bothered me that someone that was that young passed away. His wife asked me if I could help her figure out what the deal with the car was as she had no idea. She told me he drove it last summer,and that he loved it very much. I told her that I would come by to see it in person,and asses what if anything it needed,and try to put a value on it. I also told her I would try to find a buyer if she wanted.
I just got home,and I must say the car was remarkably nice for a New England car. It wasn't perfect by how many of these are,right? The odometer showed 70k miles,but I am not sure if it is true or not. The reason being it has been painted,and how many 70k mile cars need paint?
It is sunlight silver with black interior,sunroof,new oil cooler lines(mazdatrix),new looking brake lines,new clutch master,slave,and braided line,brand new looking Sumitomo tires on stock + rims that were really in excellent shape. The body has some rust on the bottom of the door when looking on the back side(isn't showing on the front yet),some significant rust around the driver lock,and the rubber side strip just behind the drivers door. The interior is in excellent shape with only a medium sized tear on the drivers side bolster. Headliner is excellent,as are the carpets. The sunroof drains are all fine,as well as the rear hatch drains. The wheel well rot area looked great from the outside,but I didn't take the storage bins out. I doubt the car is rotted there though as it is very clean underneath. The floor boards are great,and it looks like the whole car was coated with Rusty Jones undercoating when new. The idler arm attachment are was rot free,and the under hood area was great.
Unfortunately the battery was dead,so I couldn't hear it run,but the oil looked great. The A/C compressor didn't have a belt on it so it may have an issue. I plan on going back another day with a fresh battery to get it running. The exhaust looked pretty much stock,and intact with one large cat,and all the factory looking heat shields in place. Overall it looks like a really good daily driver with a little bit of work. The fuel tank was leaking some at the seam when I jacked the front end up,but when it was level it didn't. The weather seals on the doors were cracked a bit,but not real bad. Overall I would give the car a 6-7 on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best.
The only issue with it may be the fact that it was registered in RI last as the owner had residency in both MA,and RI. The RI reg has run out,and they have no titles on cars that age in RI. The car resides in MA now,but without a title,can't be sold to a person in MA. Now maybe his wife can get a title in MA with paperwork from RI,but it may be tough with him being deceased now.
I have no idea how to value such a car. I think it could easily fetch $2k as is,but the no-title thing may be touchy. What do you guys think? I took a bunch of pics,and uploaded them to my site. See them here:
http://web.me.com/cdirado/Diradosite/82-RX-7-GS.html
Let me know. I don't want the car,but I do want to help her sell it,and would like to see it go to a nice home. Preferably local,because they are scarce around here,but I don't really care if it left the state.
04-30-10, 08:20 PM
#2
On RX number 8..........
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Wow...nice car. I remember growing up in MA, if I saw a car like that I thought it was clean. I guess living in TX the last four years have spoiled me. Too much rust for me. But like I said, in very decent condition for a New England car. Title issue aside, I'd say $1500-$1750. But the title issue does hinder its sellability. I dunno. Good luck.
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