Duffman's 79 Spark Yellow Restoration Project
10-18-10, 07:35 PM
#1
Duffman's 79 Spark Yellow Restoration Project
For around 5 years now I've been looking for a 1979 Spark Yellow to restore and over these years I've come across only a handful. They were either too far gone, overpriced, or beat within an inch of their lives.
The first one I found I happened to spot in a field as I was driving by, I didn't know it was a Spark Yellow at the time cause the elements had definitely taken their toll on the poor thing. Well it turns out that particular one was a 3/78 car, there's a thread floating around here somewhere with the pics of that one. The second was an original owner/daily driven car, the owner was a nice enough fella but the car had seen better days and he wouldn't budge on the price so I had to pass. The third was almost the same story but it had be molested over the years and I felt that it was a lil more than I could handle.
Fast forward to Tuesday of last week. A buddy of mine posted up a link to one of those scam FDs, you know the ones with the $2,500 price tag and already in a container ready to ship to you in Albuquerque, NM. Yea, those are great deals. Anyway, he had been looking for an FB so I though I'd have a look at his choices. About halfway down the page one post caught my eye, it said '1979 MAZDA RX7 - $250' so I clicked to see what it was...and when it opened I involuntarily let out an 'Oh SH*T!'.
The posting was from early September and I prayed that the car was still available so I sent the poster an email. There was a phone number too but no area code and I didn't realize till a couple hours later that 1) I have the internet, 2) the internet has numerous internet phone books, and 3) that those have area codes. Dialed up the number...1 ring...4 rings...7 rings...robot voice... Crap.. I got an answering machine and to tell the truth, I was a lil discouraged but I left my name and number hoping for the best. A few hours later I had a call from a 505 area code, YES!! The owner and I spoke for awhile, I asked him a few questions about the car, condition, if the price was right, etc and 20 minuets later it was mine. I told him I'd be coming from Dallas and that I'd be on his doorstep come Saturday afternoon, he just laughed and said 'alright'.
Here's what I was greated with:
Loaded up and ready to go: (pardon the blur, I think my camera is on its way out)
PIT STOP!
Some 1400 miles later and she was home:
The first one I found I happened to spot in a field as I was driving by, I didn't know it was a Spark Yellow at the time cause the elements had definitely taken their toll on the poor thing. Well it turns out that particular one was a 3/78 car, there's a thread floating around here somewhere with the pics of that one. The second was an original owner/daily driven car, the owner was a nice enough fella but the car had seen better days and he wouldn't budge on the price so I had to pass. The third was almost the same story but it had be molested over the years and I felt that it was a lil more than I could handle.
Fast forward to Tuesday of last week. A buddy of mine posted up a link to one of those scam FDs, you know the ones with the $2,500 price tag and already in a container ready to ship to you in Albuquerque, NM. Yea, those are great deals. Anyway, he had been looking for an FB so I though I'd have a look at his choices. About halfway down the page one post caught my eye, it said '1979 MAZDA RX7 - $250' so I clicked to see what it was...and when it opened I involuntarily let out an 'Oh SH*T!'.
The posting was from early September and I prayed that the car was still available so I sent the poster an email. There was a phone number too but no area code and I didn't realize till a couple hours later that 1) I have the internet, 2) the internet has numerous internet phone books, and 3) that those have area codes. Dialed up the number...1 ring...4 rings...7 rings...robot voice... Crap.. I got an answering machine and to tell the truth, I was a lil discouraged but I left my name and number hoping for the best. A few hours later I had a call from a 505 area code, YES!! The owner and I spoke for awhile, I asked him a few questions about the car, condition, if the price was right, etc and 20 minuets later it was mine. I told him I'd be coming from Dallas and that I'd be on his doorstep come Saturday afternoon, he just laughed and said 'alright'.
Here's what I was greated with:
Loaded up and ready to go: (pardon the blur, I think my camera is on its way out)
PIT STOP!
Some 1400 miles later and she was home:
10-18-10, 07:45 PM
#2
It's an 11/78 car and VIN reads 27085 so while it's not a super early production car that rotarydude and a few other have that I've been looking for, I'm more than happy to have it.
The interior definitely shows its age and that it had sat in the desert for years:
The interior definitely shows its age and that it had sat in the desert for years:
10-18-10, 07:51 PM
#3
A couple engine bay pics:
Now the owner told me that it didn't have it's original engine but one that had come out of an 80 model he had had some years back. It only had compression on the the front rotor, and that was just one lil puff, so it's gettin' the ATF treatment to see if it can be used.
Now the owner told me that it didn't have it's original engine but one that had come out of an 80 model he had had some years back. It only had compression on the the front rotor, and that was just one lil puff, so it's gettin' the ATF treatment to see if it can be used.
10-18-10, 07:55 PM
#4
Actin Like I'm Drunk
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Nice. Dustin told me about this car. It seems like more and more SA's are popping up. I'm jealous you found a spark yellow one. Looks like it needs a lot of help but at least the body looks great.
10-18-10, 07:56 PM
#5
I'm still doing my homework but here's where I need help from the vets, rotarydude, mazdaverx, and the others. I'm gonna take this thing back to as close to orginal condtion as I can, I'd like to know if there were any differences between the 79/80 engines, A/C components, etc. A lot of these parts were in the hatch but it's not all there and I want to start sourcing those as soon as I know for sure what I'm looking for.
I'm gonna be in the market for quite a few interior pieces as well so I'll be researching the differenes, if any, in 79/80 radios, surronds, dashes, etc.
I'm gonna be in the market for quite a few interior pieces as well so I'll be researching the differenes, if any, in 79/80 radios, surronds, dashes, etc.
10-18-10, 07:59 PM
#7
The body itself is in excellen condition, not a single dent, ding, or scratch that I've been able to find. There is one tiny lil rough spot of bubbly paint under the RF Rx7 badge but it doen't look bad at all. I haven't had a chance to get this thing in the air yet but I'm hoping there isn't anything major. Looked clear as best I could tell from laying in the dirt and looking at the underside.
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10-18-10, 08:01 PM
#8
. The car was about 40 miles East of Albuquerque.Thanks!
I hope my paint turns out half as good as yours did, I couldn't believe it was the same car Matt showed me pictures of a year ago. 
10-18-10, 08:16 PM
#10
Sin City Rotary
Haha, about 350 in diesel but really the car only cost me $40 out of pocket, the rest was paid for with tip money I get valeting old people's cars. They'll pay me back my fuel cost in a couple weeks too, . The car was about 40 miles East of Albuquerque.
Thanks! I hope my paint turns out half as good as yours did, I couldn't believe it was the same car Matt showed me pictures of a year ago.
. The car was about 40 miles East of Albuquerque.Thanks!
I hope my paint turns out half as good as yours did, I couldn't believe it was the same car Matt showed me pictures of a year ago. Oh you know Lonecorp huh
thanks but anyone that saw it at SS13 can tell you it photo's a bunch better then it is, but I will be re-doing and adding some goodies
while being period correctOh and Love the PS prop rod!!
Last edited by 13x; 10-18-10 at 08:19 PM.
10-18-10, 08:17 PM
#11
Actin Like I'm Drunk
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I'm still doing my homework but here's where I need help from the vets, rotarydude, mazdaverx, and the others. I'm gonna take this thing back to as close to orginal condtion as I can, I'd like to know if there were any differences between the 79/80 engines, A/C components, etc. A lot of these parts were in the hatch but it's not all there and I want to start sourcing those as soon as I know for sure what I'm looking for.
I'm gonna be in the market for quite a few interior pieces as well so I'll be researching the differenes, if any, in 79/80 radios, surronds, dashes, etc.
I'm gonna be in the market for quite a few interior pieces as well so I'll be researching the differenes, if any, in 79/80 radios, surronds, dashes, etc.
Last edited by jshiz; 10-18-10 at 08:21 PM.
10-18-10, 08:20 PM
#13
I didn't see it during the show but I saw it loaded up saturday night and it looked pretty dang good. I remember Matt texting me when ya got it and we were trying to figure out what ya had and what color it was supposed to be by what he saw under the rear carpet, lol.
10-18-10, 08:23 PM
#14
I know for starters, the ignition system is completely different. And If the 79/80 ac pieces are the same, I can help you out in that department. And the speedometers and rear bumpers are different. Those are the only things off the top of my head. Your interior looks identical to my 80 SA except a different color and steering wheel.
10-18-10, 08:27 PM
#18
Sin City Rotary
Yup, and Alyssa too. I stayed at your place for a week, remember.
I didn't see it during the show but I saw it loaded up saturday night and it looked pretty dang good. I remember Matt texting me when ya got it and we were trying to figure out what ya had and what color it was supposed to be by what he saw under the rear carpet, lol.
I didn't see it during the show but I saw it loaded up saturday night and it looked pretty dang good. I remember Matt texting me when ya got it and we were trying to figure out what ya had and what color it was supposed to be by what he saw under the rear carpet, lol.
good luck with the compression my rear was toast 0 0 0.
It's been a ride this last year+ but it's been fun
Feel free to get a hold of me if you need anything
10-18-10, 08:31 PM
#20
It's not lookin' good for this one either, we'll see if the ATF helps anything. If not I've got enough 12A housing, rotors, and irons to build one.
Will do man, I think I'm gonna need quite a few lil things for the car. Hopefully you'll see it at SS next year.
10-18-10, 08:34 PM
#21
Sin City Rotary
As far as I understand the 80 keg would be period correct
The alts are diff, 79 has an external regulator
The dizzy on the 79 is points the only year to have
it's equipped with air but is an earlier 79 so I suspect and "always on" system.
4 spoke steering wheel and shifter are GS check for rear sway bar, 1 sec not roof thou??
you have an early so hopefully the speedo works cause the later 79 hate the 85 mph version
I have picked rotary dudes, choopracabra and the brains of others and yes I have been paying attention lol
The alts are diff, 79 has an external regulator
The dizzy on the 79 is points the only year to have
it's equipped with air but is an earlier 79 so I suspect and "always on" system.
4 spoke steering wheel and shifter are GS check for rear sway bar, 1 sec not roof thou??
you have an early so hopefully the speedo works cause the later 79 hate the 85 mph version
I have picked rotary dudes, choopracabra and the brains of others and yes I have been paying attention lol
10-18-10, 08:37 PM
#23
Sin City Rotary
Haha, I thought ya knew my forum name.
It's not lookin' good for this one either, we'll see if the ATF helps anything. If not I've got enough 12A housing, rotors, and irons to build one.
Will do man, I think I'm gonna need quite a few lil things for the car. Hopefully you'll see it at SS next year.
It's not lookin' good for this one either, we'll see if the ATF helps anything. If not I've got enough 12A housing, rotors, and irons to build one.
Will do man, I think I'm gonna need quite a few lil things for the car. Hopefully you'll see it at SS next year.
Oh I have two SA's local being parted but not spark yellow
10-18-10, 08:46 PM
#24
Links to these?
If you're willing I may have ya get some bits off those and send em to me.
