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My name is Bob, live in SW lower MI, original 1979 Rx7 (delivered 1978) from Bertles Mazda in South Bend, IN (home of Notre Dame, puts us on the map). Daytona Blue exterior with brown/camel interior. This is my first new car. I saw a half page in a magazine and put down a thousand $ to get in line, buy and pay balance as cars came into dealership. As I recall, this was my alt. selection to match up with a buddies 260 Z (the Z had more motor but Rx7 light weight / weight distribution made for close comp.).
In (?) 1996 my wife came down with cancer (she's now a 25 year survivor) and, with a 3 YO to care for and too many cars I retired what was the least practical car to focus on being Nurse Ratchet, husband, Dad. She now looks like that illusive barn find. Over the years I started the car, maintained fluids etc. but have been remiss of late (endless family health probs consume all available oxygen). It's now my intention to bring the dynamo back to life, drive it a few times then pass it on to the next guy (or girl).
Prior to having kids I joked it would go to my first born man child. When my son was 16, and I thought to give him my Rx7, the wife (who had been on plenty of high speed jaunts with me) asked just how fast it went? A: topped out doing >120 on Alligator Alley and, though the car had more, I backed out worried a bump would put us in the ditch (and there are gators so ...). Wife: nyet. Asked my son last weekend if he was interested? He needs a 4WD so no (though he will see it again this weekend).
Tangent: though old to clamber in and out of the low slung Mazda, today I drive a full size SUV with twin turbos. But, nothing corners like an Rx7 (he said, still not wanting to end up in the ditch). Ergo the decision to sell. Photos to follow. Thanks for all the info folks! Bob
Welcome to the forums. This is a great place to ask questions gain knowledge and get help on Rx-7's. As I indicated in your other thread, Daytona Blue is one of the rarer, 1st year colors. Normally, Daytona cars came with black interiors. I did see one once (also from MI) that had the white / plaid seats, but never one with the 2 tone Brown / Tan interior scheme. I imagine that might take some time to adjust too. That interior is normally found in Spark Yellow cars and in the JDM Mach Green cars.
Curious, since you took delivery in 78, is the car titled as a 78 or as a 79? (first official model year here in the US) Also, did your car originally come with a passenger door side mirror? Those were added at the Factory around Sept of 78. Prior built cars only came with drivers side mirrors but some were retro fitted at the dealerships.
Welcome to the forums. This is a great place to ask questions gain knowledge and get help on Rx-7's. As I indicated in your other thread, Daytona Blue is one of the rarer, 1st year colors. Normally, Daytona cars came with black interiors. I did see one once (also from MI) that had the white / plaid seats, but never one with the 2 tone Brown / Tan interior scheme. I imagine that might take some time to adjust too. That interior is normally found in Spark Yellow cars and in the JDM Mach Green cars.
Curious, since you took delivery in 78, is the car titled as a 78 or as a 79? (first official model year here in the US) Also, did your car originally come with a passenger door side mirror? Those were added at the Factory around Sept of 78. Prior built cars only came with drivers side mirrors but some were retro fitted at the dealerships.
Hi Banzai, the car was originally titled in 1978. It had grown old and I was considering with-drawing deposit and buying a Volvo! [fine car but hardly the same experience] I have a vague memory re: the passenger side mirror being added as an upgrade / option. But, per prior msg. here in another topic, my dealership added a couple thousand dollars in up-sells (nose boot, Tonneau cover in hatch, etc., etc.)
My question was actually, did the car get registered and titled as a 1978 or 79 model vehicle? Some cars that arrived and were purchased in 78 were registered as 78 models, even though 79 is the first official model year.
Welcome to the forum!! I would love to see pictures of your Daytona Blue 79! The interior sounds intriguing, as I don't think I've ever seen a Daytona Blue car with anything other than a black interior. Shame you have decided to sell the car. We can help you get it back up and running and you'd be surprised how much you would still be in love with the car once its up and running again!
1979 ('78) Daytona Blue / brown-camel interior, titled in 1978, will check to see what year they titled (mod. yr or actual calendar year). I suspect the former. A fun aside, when taking delivery I had already contact P&C Ins. agent, they had no idea how to quote premium and for a year was rated by cubic inches, with cars that could barely go speed limit.
All, want to reply but getting a little lost in forum nav., so posting a msg in the clear here vs in one of several tech topics (used to be a forum mod. BTW, back when the interweb was young / new). So, my mechanic bud and I are nearly at that stage, whether or not to try firing the engine. Final purge / siphon old gas in progress. And, that's my primary question:
New gas tank for the '79 appears unavailable.
Buying used could net unit worse than my own.
Must I drop and clean the tank? Prefer siphon ...
Is there a port in rear hatch to access tank top?
I have Haynes, it's with mech. Have schematic.
Our thought was, if access from above, inspect.
If no access I'll either drop/clean or trust to luck.
I know this can cause a firestorm but am asking.
I loaded a few early fotos, here again in one place.
Note: car photographed as is when cover removed.
That's 15 YO wax (airplane wax actually), still dirty.
The only way to access the tank is to drop it. 79's have no drain plug either and yes, 79 tanks are pretty much nonexistent, although one will pop up from time to time. There are some threads on here about how to do it, you have to search. Here is a link to an off site article: https://www.nellump.net/peri/tech/fu..._tank_removal/
Depending on how you stored the car, the fuel could very well be polluted and gummed up. Its a good idea to have a look inside and maybe have the tank cleaned out and re lined. POR 15 makes a kit for this or some radiator shops can perform the task.
As far as the 2 tone Brown / Tan interior, I did some looking through my files and found another Daytone Blue car with the same interior combo. You car looks to have a sister! This car surfaced a few years ago in MO. and I completely forgot about it. It was built in Sept of 78 with a little under 38K miles. SA22C 519113. Here's a couple pics of it.
