project 88 gxl

iTrader: (19)

im trying to find out how many people on here have 1 of the 100 GTUs's made in 1990, because honestly, i am fascinated by these cars... mainly because of their rarity. please post on here and leave pics if you have one. we'll see how many are owned by club members. i know there are two of the 100 for sale right now in the for sale section. i can't wait to see them all. let's see these pieces of history. thanks guys

Icemark

They are only rare, because for the most part they are 89 models restamped to be 90 models, because the model tanked when it first went on sale.

If they were popular, Mazda would have built 10000.

But dealers couldn't sell them, and didn't understand how to market them.

88rx7gxl

Well, instead of shitting on his parade, be positive. Icemark, <edited for flaming>

For whatever reason, there were very few sold as 1990's. ANYTHING that had a small production is worth more than usual. ANYTHING!! Congrats on finding that RARE car. Take car of it, and it will be worth a mint down the road!

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

just like card collecting, there was a few cards that were rare and made names for those players by the rarity of the card, it didn't make the player any better but the rarity does have relation to value.

some people like to think of the rarity, some people like to think of the player. Mark was just stating the fact, sure it maybe wasn't appropriate but it still is true.

Madrx7racer

I have an 89...............which is the same thing as a 90 apparently ( at the "does not play well with others" comment)..............wouldn't the 92 FC3C's be the rarest factory model?

aren't you glad Mark tells it like it is instead of letting people get over-charged for the "rare" 90 GTUs? It's a non sunroof, no power anything NA with 4.33 gears.........I honestly see nothing extraordinary with this car than any other FC.....well besides the GTUs denomination....the 4.33 gears are overrated (OOOOOOH i can accelerate slightly faster and have a lower top speed)

rotorforce

I gave my brother my 89GTUs and he f*cking went v8 on me! But anyway I love the fact that the car has no sunroof and no power windows, and IMO it's the easiest of the FC's to do a turbo swap, only because the TII suspension and Braking are already there.

Madrx7racer

^yup yup.................I dunno about suspension though (the stock suspension lasted a whole 2 hours before I replaced it)

your brother needs a

rotorforce

LOL he's is an old timer (56) been around hot rods all his life so the word rotary probably scared him. On the posative side the chassis will always be mine as part of the agreement.

Madrx7racer

can't teach an old dog new tricks................I don't blame him.............he's been around it for so long it's prolly second nature.............but still....

coryscarp

I've got a '90 GTU. At least I thought i did . . . but mine has a moon roof and power windows so maybe I don't? I bought it off a guy for $1500 2 weeks ago.

It's a little rough around the edges, but it runs. I'm just trying to keep the thing alive for 15 months until i pass the bar.

Don't mind the tough face. It's me being funny.

Madrx7racer

haha....nice pose.........the GTU is different than the GTUs though.

the GTU is the base model for 89-90. The GTUs is the BASE model minus all the power stuff and sunroof.......it has different size rims(16's), 4.33 gears ( instead of your 4.10), Turbo 4 pot calipers and suspension(apparently).

Is the body straight? Interior clean? Runs? if you answered yes then it was a good buy.

coryscarp

Ahhh my bad. That's the noobie in me. I just wanted to think I had something special

Madrx7racer

you do.....it's called an RX-7.

project 88 gxl

iTrader: (19)

haha.... good one

Icemark

No GTUs model came with power windows and all GTUs models had 16 inch wheels, you have 15 inch wheels...

You have a GXL

Madrx7racer

or a GTU

Icemark

There were very few 90's of any model RX-7 sold, period.


Positive, okay:

If Mazda hade put in the originally planned normally asperatied 20B in the GTUs instead of the 4.3 rear end, the car would have really been something.

there that is something positive.

And your flaming has been edited. Flaming a moderator or admin is normally basis for a ban. One week ban for the first offense, lifetime for the 2nd. This your only warning. Flaming anyone will not be tolerated in the 2nd gen technical section.

Icemark

Nope he has factory fog lights... no fog lights on GTU models.

Madrx7racer

HMMMMMMMMMMMM........learn something new every damn day............i don't remember too well but I think My old GTU HAD fog lights...............

JMY952

maybe the previous owner added them in?

Madrx7racer

nope.....you're right.........I just busted out some old pics of My GTU..........no fogs..........

coryscarp

By golly icemark, you're right. I checked out the standard features and I have a gxl. More proof: I have a rear windshield wiper. the GTU doesn't. The guy that sold my car was wrong.

BTW - you guys are rx-7 gods. I'd trust you with my life (or at least my car).

rotorforce

Now that's what I'm talking about! I wonder if Mazda has one tucked away in some secret warehouse? JK

Icemark

There are a couple... They built two LHD10thAE (in silver) and a couple LHD GTUs mules with the normally aspirated 20Bs in them. I have a picture from back in '88 of one of the 10th AEs sitting in front of what is now the Irvine R&D building.

They ran into issues with cooling (the stock FC rad was too small for hot weather testing in AZ) and the gas consumption was horrible (around 11-12 MPG I was told).

Car and Driver, caught wind of it and printed this in mid 88


If you read the fine print, you'll notice how it says they will be powered by a 3 rotor.

the project engineer for the GTUs (his first full project for Mazda- and a major player on the RX-8) was embarrassed to be associated with the GTUs when Corporate decided to emasculate the GTUs with removing the motor of choice, and putting in the band aid of the 4.3 rear end instead.


.

classicauto

iTrader: (3)

damn..you could run a Viper on that mileage