New Member, Old Owner
08-20-09, 08:40 AM
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New Member, Old Owner
In the Fall of 1984, I began my search for a new RX-7, GSL-SE. It had to be black with the red leather interior and had to have the moon roof. I lived in Kansas City, and my parents lived in Omaha. A dealer in Bellevue, NE found one in N. Iowa, and I took delivery on 26 Dec 1984. It is a 1985 model.
I drove it as my primary car for about 7 years. In 1991, the son of a local body shop owner agreed to take it in as a project car for refinishing. There was no body damage, but he stripped and refinished the car. The main issues were faded paint and the windshield wiper and leuvers were too flat of a paint color. He matched the ws wipers, leuvers, side mirrors and bumper covers. The body paint had a small amount of blue metal flake and several coats of clear coat.
In 1993, I left for a military tour to Japan. We stored the car for over 4 years. When I got back, I began to drive it as my primary car again. After a couple of years, we put it in the garage and put a cover over it. For about the last 10 years, I only drive it on clear, cool, sunny days. I have all of the original window stickers. I have kept a log of every ounce of oil and gallon of gas added.
It is 100% stock, including the exhaust (for now). Other than very minor mods, I plan to keep it stock (better exhaust is planned). About 8 years ago, I had an interior shop die the interior back to the original red. The good part is that all rubber, plastic and leather are the same color (unlike when new, when they were all different shades of red).
Everything works, though it is in need of an engine re-build and some suspension work - it's all stock and never needed replacement. I'm on my 5th set of tires in less than 100,000 miles. This car just drives sideways too well to keep the tires very long.
I'm preparing to begin to restore items as required, so I have reached out to find this site. I'm looking forward to exchanging info with the members here in the next few years.
John
PS: The reason we have a near show room new RX-7 after 25 years is that we had a 1972 MG B project car that was totalled. At that time, we decided that the only way to have a perfect classic sports car was to buy it new and keep it forever. We're about 1/2 way there.
I drove it as my primary car for about 7 years. In 1991, the son of a local body shop owner agreed to take it in as a project car for refinishing. There was no body damage, but he stripped and refinished the car. The main issues were faded paint and the windshield wiper and leuvers were too flat of a paint color. He matched the ws wipers, leuvers, side mirrors and bumper covers. The body paint had a small amount of blue metal flake and several coats of clear coat.
In 1993, I left for a military tour to Japan. We stored the car for over 4 years. When I got back, I began to drive it as my primary car again. After a couple of years, we put it in the garage and put a cover over it. For about the last 10 years, I only drive it on clear, cool, sunny days. I have all of the original window stickers. I have kept a log of every ounce of oil and gallon of gas added.
It is 100% stock, including the exhaust (for now). Other than very minor mods, I plan to keep it stock (better exhaust is planned). About 8 years ago, I had an interior shop die the interior back to the original red. The good part is that all rubber, plastic and leather are the same color (unlike when new, when they were all different shades of red).
Everything works, though it is in need of an engine re-build and some suspension work - it's all stock and never needed replacement. I'm on my 5th set of tires in less than 100,000 miles. This car just drives sideways too well to keep the tires very long.
I'm preparing to begin to restore items as required, so I have reached out to find this site. I'm looking forward to exchanging info with the members here in the next few years.
John
PS: The reason we have a near show room new RX-7 after 25 years is that we had a 1972 MG B project car that was totalled. At that time, we decided that the only way to have a perfect classic sports car was to buy it new and keep it forever. We're about 1/2 way there.
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