IAIS

Hey, I'm Vince, or IAIS (cuz my other choice would probably get my kicked and banned, I'll save it for the coveted DawggPownd forums and PS 3 network).

I have been in personal need of a Mazda RX7 for many years. Many years ago I found one for my brother (he could afford to buy one at the time) but he didn't take care of it and in the end, had to get rid of it. It was a Cream 1984 GSL-SE.

This past summer while driving through a small town south of Oklahoma City called Chickasha (pronounced ~ chic-a-shay), I happened to be looking over into a junkyard and spotted an RX7 sitting out next to an older Ford Fairmont. Well, I didn't give the Ford a second glance, but the RX7 "looked" to be in decent condition from the state highway. I told the friend I was driving with that I would come back the following Monday and take a closer look to see if it looked as good from up close.

Monday morning came so I drove back down to Chickasha to get that second look. The lady that ran the yard told me the car was for sale and she had considered restoring it for herself, but an old Porsche 924 caught her attention more so she dismissed the idea for the Mazda (mere mortal, she just doesn't understand). I walked down the bottom of the yard and started looking 'er over and came to the conclusion that this vehicle had been taken care of by someone, but just couldn't figure out what went wrong. She told me the guy who owned it before was determined to bring it back to what it looked like when he had purchased it in 1982, but fell short on money and time. Too bad for him, eh?

We started to discuss a couple more things about the car. She said the engine ran but the car didn’t steer; she didn’t know why but directed me to one of the ‘yard hands’ that had a bit more information about the car. This young man had disconnected the fuel lines and would bring a battery down to it every couple of months, pour a couple ounces of gas in the carburetor, then start it. I asked her the price and she shot me $700…(excuse me, did she say $700), $200 for filing for a new title and $500 for the car, to which I immediately said how much down payment do you require. $200 later, and a temporary bill of sale, and I was out the door to wait for the paperwork to be processed.

I had the young gentleman from earlier bring a battery and some gas back down to it. I really wanted to see and hear this thing run. It ran for a couple seconds till the gas ran through it, but it purred like a kitten. The real problem with it at the moment is the steering problem. I can only guess that someone, probably the guy that owned it, smacked a curb and snapped the tie rod adjusting sleeve in half. Next paycheck I will be purchasing a new left and right side set of tie rod ends and adjusting sleeves. Get a set of new tires to replace the dry rotted tires that are on it now, change the fluids, get it aligned, and then start on what ever else is wrong once I can drive it around the neighborhood.

One dent just behind the front left tire and a little bit of cancer at the bottom of the inner driver door, as well as at the bottom of the rain track from the back window, and the body is pretty well good to go. A new set of seats and refinishing the stock RX7 wheels, check the sunroof, and refinish the louvers. That’s pretty much the exterior and interior. A decent stereo will come lastly.

For $700 I feel I got a really good deal. 113,xxx miles on the odometer and the second owner of a 28 year old car. Both headlights pop up together and work, digital clock works, as well as the wipers. The car has that funky metal spoiler that wraps around the back end, along with the stainless steel ring over the back of the roof. Car is black.