Finally got my RX-7 after 35 years
05-23-19, 01:25 AM
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Finally got my RX-7 after 35 years
My father pre-ordered an Aurora White Manual that would arrive on Mazda's second shipment to the States. Dealers hadn't caught on to pinstripe markup yet and the RX-7's only addition would be a front Bra. Each dusk, when the lights were needed, I'd always volunteer to roll up the vinyl head light covers, regardless of weather. Rain, snow, didn't matter to this 8 year old. Those pop up lights were amazingly cool. And, watching movies at the drive-in while lying in the back felt like a special honor.
I cut my teeth learning how to drive in that car. First, as a little guy, just sitting on my dad's lap steering while he mashed the gas. No, seriously, he'd take it up to 60+ with me steering. But I wasn't allowed to tell mom. Later, I'd learn the gears, and "occasionally" cruise around the block. Dad promised me that the RX-7 would be mine as soon as I got my driver's license. Life was perfect. Or so I thought...
I was 14, my friends and I were already talking cars. Chris got busted driving his dad's Vette, cops started following him, he panicked and parked it into the neighbors bushes instead of his driveway. He was fucked, no license till 18. Mark tried to make his Dad's van conversion sound cool, and it was to an extent. We'd have some good times with it later, but my future RX7 kept them envious.
One evening, my dad asked me to get him something from the garage. I can't remember what exactly, which is odd considering I remember everything else like it were yesterday. Possibly the shock. Anyway, I turned the garage lights on as I nearly collided with a shinny white, brand new Lincoln Town car. I really was't too surprised to see a strange car there because my dad would often trade cars with his friends for the weekend. They'd want to take a girl/wife out. But seeing a dealer plated boat occupying my RX-7 spot raised enough concern that I need to immediately turn around and find out which friend had my 7. (Probably why I forgot what I was suppose to get from the garage). Suspicions dashed, I was screwed. Dad, "had to trade in the RX7 to pay off the tax on the new car, how do you like it son?" Are you ******* kidding me? Now, I know I didn't say that, because I was only 14 and it was the 80's. But I know I felt that way. I still love my dad, but it took me months to come around. Mom's hand me down GLC always felt like a consolation prize even though I was damn lucky to have a car at all.
Fast forward to last month, I'm doing the RX7 crawl on internet sales sites, ebay, craigs etc. You're reading this, so you know what I mean. And, I come across a rough 1983 -7 that's been basically abandoned for 15 years just outside Yosemite National Park. Its mostly complete, condition unknown, no title, locked with no key, 5 speed, white, and for $500 its mine. Hah!!! I grab my 12 year old son, tell him we're doing our own "Road Kill" and head out. My older son just finished school, so he wants in too. Wife is completely in the dark, because its better to ask forgiveness. https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/7MsAA...DV/s-l1600.jpg https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/IZUAA...Di/s-l1600.jpg
Pulling it out of the forest went better than expected. Tires were buried up to lug nuts, but held air. Seller miraculously found one Mazda key among assortment of dozens of domestics abandoned in the same lot -- unlocked. None of the brakes were seized. Brilliant. Dragged the car sideways from between a dilapidated 74 GMC and several trees that had grown around it. Had it loaded on a trailer in no time. First thing we did was pressure wash the tree moss and pine needles off. Then vacuumed up the 2 pounds of rat **** throughout the cabin and engine bay. Odometer showed 196k, radiator was nearly full with green coolant mix. Brake resevoir about 1/2 way, oil about 1/2 and not too syrupy. Front harness was completely shredded at headlights. Carb venturies looked pristine aside from the spider webs and skeletons lining the airfilter.
Tested the crankshaft by hand with a wrench and it turned, almost too easily. **** it, popped in a battery, hit it with starter fluid and the beast roared to life. Even idled. Sounded like ****, but it idled. Never mind the oil seaping out onto rotor housing's "MAZDA12A"
To be continued.... and its not what you expect.
I cut my teeth learning how to drive in that car. First, as a little guy, just sitting on my dad's lap steering while he mashed the gas. No, seriously, he'd take it up to 60+ with me steering. But I wasn't allowed to tell mom. Later, I'd learn the gears, and "occasionally" cruise around the block. Dad promised me that the RX-7 would be mine as soon as I got my driver's license. Life was perfect. Or so I thought...
I was 14, my friends and I were already talking cars. Chris got busted driving his dad's Vette, cops started following him, he panicked and parked it into the neighbors bushes instead of his driveway. He was fucked, no license till 18. Mark tried to make his Dad's van conversion sound cool, and it was to an extent. We'd have some good times with it later, but my future RX7 kept them envious.
One evening, my dad asked me to get him something from the garage. I can't remember what exactly, which is odd considering I remember everything else like it were yesterday. Possibly the shock. Anyway, I turned the garage lights on as I nearly collided with a shinny white, brand new Lincoln Town car. I really was't too surprised to see a strange car there because my dad would often trade cars with his friends for the weekend. They'd want to take a girl/wife out. But seeing a dealer plated boat occupying my RX-7 spot raised enough concern that I need to immediately turn around and find out which friend had my 7. (Probably why I forgot what I was suppose to get from the garage). Suspicions dashed, I was screwed. Dad, "had to trade in the RX7 to pay off the tax on the new car, how do you like it son?" Are you ******* kidding me? Now, I know I didn't say that, because I was only 14 and it was the 80's. But I know I felt that way. I still love my dad, but it took me months to come around. Mom's hand me down GLC always felt like a consolation prize even though I was damn lucky to have a car at all.
Fast forward to last month, I'm doing the RX7 crawl on internet sales sites, ebay, craigs etc. You're reading this, so you know what I mean. And, I come across a rough 1983 -7 that's been basically abandoned for 15 years just outside Yosemite National Park. Its mostly complete, condition unknown, no title, locked with no key, 5 speed, white, and for $500 its mine. Hah!!! I grab my 12 year old son, tell him we're doing our own "Road Kill" and head out. My older son just finished school, so he wants in too. Wife is completely in the dark, because its better to ask forgiveness. https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/7MsAA...DV/s-l1600.jpg https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/IZUAA...Di/s-l1600.jpg
Pulling it out of the forest went better than expected. Tires were buried up to lug nuts, but held air. Seller miraculously found one Mazda key among assortment of dozens of domestics abandoned in the same lot -- unlocked. None of the brakes were seized. Brilliant. Dragged the car sideways from between a dilapidated 74 GMC and several trees that had grown around it. Had it loaded on a trailer in no time. First thing we did was pressure wash the tree moss and pine needles off. Then vacuumed up the 2 pounds of rat **** throughout the cabin and engine bay. Odometer showed 196k, radiator was nearly full with green coolant mix. Brake resevoir about 1/2 way, oil about 1/2 and not too syrupy. Front harness was completely shredded at headlights. Carb venturies looked pristine aside from the spider webs and skeletons lining the airfilter.
Tested the crankshaft by hand with a wrench and it turned, almost too easily. **** it, popped in a battery, hit it with starter fluid and the beast roared to life. Even idled. Sounded like ****, but it idled. Never mind the oil seaping out onto rotor housing's "MAZDA12A"
To be continued.... and its not what you expect.
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