To be brutally honest, if $40k is out of your price range then this car is really not for you (at this time). Although the history of FD values have gone from pricey (when newish) to relatively cheap (10-15 years ago) to back up again, the maintenance cost has never dwindled. The truth is this car has always been quite expensive when something breaks and that is why there was an old saying here: When it comes to third gen RX-7's the purchase price is merely the entry fee.

As an FYI - FDs love to snack on $500 dollar bills.

 

Extended jumbo financing is out of control right now. You can buy anything.

 

Totally agree. At the end of the day, banks always find a way to make the money, it'll crash, then they'll do it again. General public has not learned to do better since the last crash.

 

I'm still kicking myself over the last minute bidding snafu on that red R1 on eBay... anyone have a red R1 (or R2) they're looking to sell? I'm expecting to pay $40-65k depending on condition/mileage.

I'm not looking for a project platform, I'm looking for a highly original LHD R1 in the original launch color to keep and enjoy in the future, with mods--if any--limited to reversible bolt-ons.

 

Stay patient bro, you will find it. Don't settle if you're really set on it.

 

Supra is on BaT now and it sold in February of 2021 for $50k. Will be interesting to see how much money they gain on it. See if the 6 months for a Supra outperforms the FD that was relisted after a couple years.

 

Boy I definitely did join the buying the market too late. The California tax does not help at all. I'm a cash buyer at preferably up to 45k and I've had trouble finding the right car. I think I may have missed the window to be picky. When one does pop up there's usually atleast 1 deal breaker. I'm looking for a clean, mostly stock, slick top and black interior car if any of you guys are wanting to sell.

 

Yep stay firm on the must have's otherwise you'll never be happy with what you got. However with that said, I get the not wanting the tan interior on the 93's:






^^ Just too much tan for most people's taste.


But the 94/95's IMO are not worth skipping out on if everything else is what you are looking for. I say that because the only tan those cars have are the seats and carpet. Which are very easily replaced if you absolutely hate tan. Carpets are like $200 bucks and seats can be had for around $600 (unless prices have drastically changed in the last few years).





Personally, I completely dislike the 93's tan interior but actually like the 94/95's.

 

Yep I agree with you completely about the tan on the 94/95! I was about ready to fly out to Las Vegas last night for a 94 Montego with the plan in mind to switch out the carpet and seats. Unfortunately I missed out on what I thought seemed like a great deal.
I don't mind the tan too much having come from a montego with full tan interior NA miata but I'm ready to move on to full black interior.
Trying to stick to my wants as much as I can but unfortunately at the rate prices are rising I fear the clock is ticking. Until then my eyes have been constantly peeled !

 

I don't think your list of must have's is going to keep you from finding the car you want. But given the low production numbers these cars have, still takes patience to find the right one.

 

and you gotta pull the trigger when it's time, the good opportunities move quickly

 

You'd be hard pressed to find a pair of nice black seats with plastics for $600, and finding nice used black OEM carpet for $200 is a bit like winning the lottery

 

Will definitely pay to have a fund set aside for an FD lol

High key want to try to convince myself to get a 2002 911 Turbo in the future or something as a second car instead of another FD that I want rn

 

another FD is always the answer…

 

Would kill for a Silver FD right now lol

I agree though, that's what my number one priority for a second car is if I get one for fun.

 

I knew that one was going to bite me but that's why I said I don't keep up with prices. Fully knowing that these cars have been exponentially increasing in value which influences the used part market quite quickly.

With that said, I bought a pair of mint R1 seats for $500 bucks merely a couple of years ago. Just goes to show how quickly things change. Funny thing was that I wasn't even looking for some, they just kinda fell on my lap. Now non-OEM carpets can be had for around $200 though. One of my friends just bought one and I was quite impressed. And it's just a carpet on a driver's car so no harm done to anything relating to value.

​​​​​​Judging how much these cars have been increasing in price: I think we can agree that it is cheaper to purchase a car that ticks most of the boxes (tan seats and carpet and with the intent of paying top dollar for replacements) now than to wait 1 year for a car that literally ticks all the boxes.

 

Local member bought NIB FD black leather seat set out of Japan for C$5000.

Thing is his original seats were not that bad.

Nothing like the fresh leather smell, I guess

(Even if it has been bagged for 25 years.)


No holds barred build begins.

 

Yup, split the driving duty to 99.99 / 0.01, problem solved

 

Great looking R1! Is it stock? Got any more pics? Don't worry I won't ask you to sell it just like seeing them unmolested. : )

 

Thanks! It's missing an engine and trans, other than that everything else is original. Found it hibernating in a climate control garage for 10 years, with the fuel tank stored dry, interior smell and look new. PO wanted to LS swap it so he pull the engine and trans, but other than that he didn't do much else with it as he has other projects.

 

Wow - the mythical clean roller. I thought those only existed in the imagination. (I spent some time looking for one of those back in the day found only absolutely thrashed FDs.)

 

Such an amazing find.

 

What a backstory! Hopefully a rotary powertrain will find its way back into that car at some point.

FDs are somewhat unique in that a non-original engine isn't as big of a value detractor as it is on some cars, both because replacements are so common and because the engines were never serial number matched to the chassis.

 

Absolutely, rotary only for me

I wanted to ticker with something since the BB pretty much in my comfort zone since 2016, but it has to be something worth restoring and this one fits the bill.

 

A little FYI ----which will probably add to the value of these cars when the value goes beyond $100k and the older they get, the engine is matched to the chassis. So when the time comes these will be like a 60-70s muscle cars that are numbers matching. So a matching engine will definitely add value I would assume( but who knows for sure). From the Vin# you can tell what each FD Rx7 came from the factory with ie. color exterior/interior what model type(R1/2, touring, base), engine number and date when it left the factory. I am sure there is more but this what I remember