Ahh, finally I figured out how to (or where to LOL) post!

Hey guys and gals, I'm Jesse. I live in Middle TN (south of Nashville). I'm a Tennessee Tech grad from 2005. I autocrossed in my 1996 Nissan Maxima while I was in school. The Max finally gave up the ghost (after 320+k and two accidents) a few months ago, so I've been driving my beater work truck (1997 town and country minivan) around for the last few months. It does the job, but after driving a MT 24 valve v6 (around 200 hp) in a pretty compact car, I find myself at wide open throttle a little too often.

I had been shopping for one of two cars for my next autocross project, either a VQ35 maxima (2002 and up give or take) or one of the early lexus IS300s. Obviously I was ready to spend a little money, and in the case of the lexus, put a lot of time into tracking down one with an MT.

So anyway I was surfing Craigslist Sunday night for a bud who needed a cheap car fast, and spotted this nice little 85 model (my profile pic if I set it up right) that wasn't running for $500. Went and looked at it, and saw that it wasn't getting gas, and more importantly, the body and paint is in near perfect condition. There's some damage on each of the front fenders, but the original paint just needs a little wax, and there is NOT A SPEC OF RUST ON THIS 25 YEAR OLD CAR!!!!

So I put a deposit down and got him to agree to hang on to it for a few weeks while I make arrangements to pick it up and stuff.

I'm thinking I will go for a stock performance level restoration, may be looking at an electronic ignition to help reliability and economy, maybe better shocks/springs, and probably just replace stuff that wears out with better parts as time goes on. But for now, I can't wait to turn a wrench on this beast!

Anyway I've read on this forum before, so I figured I had better go ahead and join up now. My brother (another car geek) put it best. "So I see you have made peace with losing your mind." No more pistons or valves or any of that stuff for a while!

 

Wow very interesting story. You are going to love the Rx7 and will make a heck of an auto crosser. There are people on here with their first gens beating subbies and miatas in auto-x so I am sure you will have some success.

 

Thanks man! It's in too good shape to just make it a hardcore track **** (like most of the 1st gen rx7's i run into). But it ought to be a lot of fun in whichever stock class it falls into.

 

And here's a pic since I can't get the one I loaded into my profile to show up!

She's really quite pretty, and all original (as far as i can tell! ) except a stereo and a reman alternator. Made my day finding one that hadn't been hot rodded (not that there's anything wrong with that at all!).

 

Very nice I don't know if it's just me but I never see red 1st gens around so I love the color lol.

 

nice find. rarely see fb's with steelies. check out the SE section if u haven't already. may find some friends nearby.