igoski1

Hello everyone. I am new, never posted here. This site sounds like a good place that I might get some questions answered about my 1989 RX7 GTUS. I have been told that this car is very rare and only made in 1989. I am needing some input on the worth of the car and how much time and money I should spend on its restoration. Or should I sell it as is. It is all original. The body has 65,000 miles on it. It has never been wrecked, but the driver side quarter panel has a crease in it from a parking lot. The over all paint is dull with a few small door digs, so a quality paint job is needed. The interior is nearly flawless, with one small defect on the driver seat. The engine is out of the car and needs rebuilt. Is there something special about the engine to rebuild or could another rebuilt engine be good enough? I have only seen two of these cars, mine is one and the other was a totaled parts car. How rare is a GTUS? Should I fix the car or sell it as is? I can’t find a GTUS listed in RX7 pricing guideline books. What is the car worth as is? What is it worth fixed with new rebuilt engine and quality paint? I don’t know a lot about RX7’s and I am needing some input from people that may know more than I do about my car. Or were else I can go to get the information. Thanks.

Madrx7racer

There are VER VERY few 90 GTUs', if I remember right 100 came out of the assembly line before the GTUs line was discontinued in 1990 that is why it does not appear in any of the 90 brochures(in the US)....those are the RAREST ones........ I think yours can go for 1000USD easy as is....I have seen them for more in the same condition as yours.....in good running condition you might get more from an enthusiast. The GTUs has a regular NA engine so any other engine will work, you have a 4.3 differential which is also very rare( all other 7s have 4.1s, and autos have 3.9s), you have the turbo brakes(front 4 piston) no sunroof.....

igoski1

Thanks for responding. I didn’t know about the 1990s. I think I am going to restore it. I paint my self. I do need to find a rebuilt engine. And needing to know the worth after restoration.

Madrx7racer

edited my post.......about the price of it restored; it all depends on the buyer, if the buyer knows it is a rare car then he/she will pay more, but to the avg. Joe it will just be an Avg. non-power anything, no sunroof base RX7. It all depends on the buyer....... Good luck and post some pics. BTW if any of my info seems to be incorrect please feel free to correct me.......
Hassell

igoski1

You are write about the average Joe on this car. I would like to know where to find the number of manufactured in that year. I did have a rebuilt engine for it, but it has an oil leek in the oil pan gasket seal. So I took it back out and I am trying to find out if the guy is going to be able to fix the leek.

LI FC Greg

There are no official producton numbers for the 1989 RX-7 GTUs. Mazda claims they did not keep track. However, it is thought that about 1500 were made. As the previous poster stated, exactly 100 were made for 1990. It is a rare car and it is not mentioned at all in my 89 sales brochure from Mazda published in 89. It may be in an 89 brochure published earlier in 88 but I do not know. It is mentioned in my 1990 accessories brochure published in 89.

The "official" value of the car is no different than that of any other naturally aspirated (NA) 1989 RX-7 coupe. It only hold extra value to the few people who recognize that it was uniquely equipped.

The GTUs was the only NA RX-7 to produced with:

1) 16" wheels (with the aluminum spare)
2) 4.30 viscous limited slip differential
3) Aluminum hood (For 89-91)
4) Turbo model dampers
5) Special 5th gear ratio which makes the transmission a true 5 speed rather than a 4 speed + overdrive.
6) Red over black , Black over black or White over blue colors.
7) Turbo spec cloth covered seats
8) AM/FM radio only
9) Standard Turbo spec front air dam (1990 at least)


All other features (including the brakes) were available on other RX-7s.

It would be nice to keep it. But, if you decide to sell, it would be nice to sell it to someone who would appreciate it for what it is: A factory lightweight weekend track/autoX car intended for competition use (even if Mazda did not say that specifically)

igoski1

Hey! Thanks a lot for all of that information. I didn’t know any of that. It will help me in knowing what I have. I do plan on restoring the car. I probably will just keep it after restoration. At least for a while so I can enjoy it. The list you made on what the features are on the car is great. You listed #4) Turbo model dampers. I don’t know what that is. I guess if it has a turbo. Mine doesn’t. And # 8) AM/FM radio only. Mine does have a AM/FM cassette tape player. It does have the Mazda logo on it, so I assume it is factory. Everything else matches my car to a tee. Also, I can’t find anything on the title or on the car to indicate it is a GTUs other than the two decals on the front finders. Is that the only place that would tell someone what it is? Thanks again for all of the great info.

LI FC Greg

Oh the dampers..............I just mean the shocks and struts are from the Turbo. Dampers means shocks ands struts.

I don't know if you can decode the VIN, but the plate in the drivers door jam is a definate answer to the GTUs question. If it says your orginal tire size is 205/55/16 then you have a genuine GTUs. All other NA RX-7's had 205/60/15.

An AM/FM only radio was standard. You have an optional tape player. I'm guessin you also have the optional air conditioning and that you do not have sunroof.

igoski1

Yes, I do have the optional air conditioning and do not have a sunroof. I am going to check the VIN # now.

ZachSpazz

If you need an engine, talk to Kevin Landers at www.rotaryresurrection.com He lives in Tennessee, and will be able to get you a new engine for less than $1500.

igoski1

I looked at the VIN #, and nothing there meant anything to me indicating it was a GTUs. But in the driver door jam, the sticker with the tire specs said 205/55R16, so I must have the real deal. Beside the aluminum hood, I can tell it has never been painted. So the finder GTUs decals are factory.
Li Fc Greg wrote: Oh the dampers..............I just mean the shocks and struts are from the Turbo. Dampers means shocks ands struts.
Thanks for that explanation.

Icemark

All S5 models except for the convertible and the GXL with AAS used the same shocks.

The S5 Turbo used the same shocks as the S5 base model GTU, GTUs, and even the 91 coupe.

igoski1

Zach Spazz! WOW Dude! That is awesome information. I live in Tenn. So I can probably drive to where he is. And that is a great price. Thanks for that heads up on the engine. Really!

igoski1

Hey LI FC Greg, you sound very knowledgeable about the GTUs. From your post you did not mention anything about the engine. I am assuming then there is nothing special about the GTUs engine and I could rebuild another without hurting the integrity of the car. Is this true? Thanks.

andrew lohaus

wow i think this is the first GTUs thread that rarestrx hasent chimed in on yet. hehe

igoski1

I bet rarestrx is a GTUs expert. Sense I am a GTUs dumb *** I would really love to hear anything from him. Hey rerestrx sound off man!

Madrx7racer

Yes, the GTUs engine is just an NA engine....you can rebuild another and install it, only problem will be the fact that your restored car will no longer have matching VINS..........will depreciate it as a restored car........

andrew lohaus

yeah thats true. makes me wonder what a mint #s matching 1990 gtus could fetch. i wouldnt be surprised if it sliped up tward $5-6K, considering the rarity of such a vehicle. there may not even be a single car of this description left in the world

Madrx7racer

Icemark

Typically good condition GTUs models only fetch about $1000 more than a 89-90 GTU or 89-90 GXL.

Madrx7racer

interesting, again though, it all depends on the buyer.

igoski1

Yes the matching #'s are something to consider on restoring a rare car. I do have the original engine. So rebuilding it should be done. I also have another 89 core engine that I can get what ever I need off of it. Does anyone know where the VIN #’s are on the engine to make sure that part is not replaced with the other engine in the rebuilding?

Thanks for the price guide. That will really help me put some kind of worth on it after the restoration. With consideration of the rarity the GTUs has, I knew some price increase should be assessed. Everyone’s input on my GTUs has been greatly appreciated. I have already learned a lot.

Madrx7racer

I believe it is on the drivers side of the block......exact location escapes me at the moment......