Hey Im from ssm ontario and am going to look at a first gen rx7. He said it needs some work, but anyways. I was wondering what i should be looking for when i go and see this? All I know is that its a 1980.

 

Make sure it starts easily both when the engine is cold AND when the engine is hot. If the seller has already warmed the engine up before you get there, ask to come back and see how it runs when the engine is cold...

Start the engine cold, let it run for a couple minutes so that oil pressure comes up, then give it a couple quick revs... Not quite red line, but close... Check for THICK dark blueish smoke from the exhaust... This would indicate that the oil control rings are going bad.

Keep in mind that a little smoke is normal... I'm taking stuff you can't see through.

Check the underside of the doors for rust.

Also remove the rear wheels or the storage bins behind the seats to check for rust. There's a bracket that's double layered steel in this area. Water and road chemicals in cold climates gte caught in between the layers and causes rust.

Other than that, the 12A engine found in these cars is pretty reliable.

Check for leaks, how well it runs, how straight it drives, and body damage like any other used car.