RX2 Project from BAD to MIRACLE
 

This will take a while to expalin. But stick around it has a good ending. I've been looking for an RX-2 for about 4 years now. Looked at a couple but they needed to much work. Looked at some more but eigther I did not have the money or when I did I it was too late, the car was sold or could not find one. Placed a couple of bids on e-bay but somehow got outbidded. A month or so ago. There was a white RX-2 4 door on ebay. Placed a bid but of course got outbided. I get an ebay e-mail a couple of weeks later saying the highest bidder backed out. I contacted the seller and arranged to see the RX-2. Took a 5.25 hours drive to see the car. The car was in pretty good shape but needed some trim pieces, a posi rear and a gas tank. The owner and I agreed on $4500 for the car. We shook on it ,and I told him that I am going to leave him a deposit and will pick the car up the following week. As I am driving to the ATM I called a friend in Atlanta trying to score some trim pieces, a gas tank and an already fitted posi-trac rear end. Tells me he has a friend in Florida selling his RX-2 but the body was shot. The drive train was the only thing salvageable. I buy the car over the phone and arrange a transporter company to deliver the car. All this took place while I was still looking for an ATM machine. I return to leave the deposit and the guy claims his wife won't let him sell the car for $4.500. If I wanted the car to shell out an extra $500. I guess this guy thought I was not serious or desperate. I was serious in getting the car. When I shake someone's hand on deal. In my mind it's the seal of a deal.

Continuation
 

I drive back 5.25 hours and did not leave a deposit. Told him I had to go ask my wife if it was all right to shell out $500 more. The predicament I'm in is that I gave my word to the gentleman in Florida that I was purchasing his car. Like Tony Montana " I don't break my balls or my word for anyone" I am stuck with the car. Here is what i got.

Continuation
 

My friend was not kidding. This was the ultimate rust bucket. I am not a fan of bondo. I honestly don't think bondo would have saved this car. The floor boards all rusted out. In the trunk, in the back, the front, the fenders. Rust here, rust there, rust every where.

Strip down
 

The good thing about the car was a couple of trim pieces, some glass and definately the rear disc break from a GSL, a 13B 4port with webers and headers.

man im sorry man i def feel u on that one, i had a similar prob with an rx2 4dr i was going to purchase over the phone here in orlando florida as well, i tld him that i was gonna get the money to him but it was gonna take a while since i was outta state for a while it was gonna b a daily transaction from my atm so he was cool with it, lil while later he calls me an say's no im not gonna sell it 2 u bla bla bla we exchange words like me asking y an sayin i tld u was gonna take a lil bit but im almost got the full amount, the end he said no, so i was like alright whatever, he calls me back sayin he wants 2 sell it 2 me again, but i tell him no since he acted like such a dick for not understading somethin i already tld him before...wierd how it's prob's with rx2 4drs lol or mayb just a strange coincidence or somethin, but hey as long as u made good an everythin went well with no major major headaches...an you can prob sell that shell to a race car guy once your done they can prob make a good 3/4 chassis drag car or somethin outta it lol

Miracles Happen
 

I am stripping the car away because my wife is giving me hell and worried that the rust is contagious and does not want her Jetta getting it. I have searched high and low. As far as California and New York. For gods sake I had people in Japan looking for one. I get a late Christmas present from my cousin. A plastic RX-3 model car that he purchased on e-bay from Australia. As I'm unwrapping my present his wife tells us that she has seen a car like the model but the tail lights were different. She then recalls the tail lights being round. I literally had this poor girl in a head lock so that she could remember were she saw the car. After a grueling interogation session, she remembered. I jumped in my car and went searching for the RX-2. Sure enough it was exactly where she said it was. Needless to say I got the car. A 1973 Mazda RX-2 automatic(YUK), with 78.000 original miles, twin distibutor 12A and it runs. The car has been sitting in that driveway for 8 months. The car was 10 minutes from my house. Like I stated earlier. Miracles do happen. Tell me what you guys think of the car. Can you tell I'm excited. :lach: :lach: :ylsuper: :lol: :op: :smiley309 :101384_l: :buttslay: :jump:

More pictures
 

More pictures

Sorry to read about that. What an A-Hole that guy was for backing-out on the initial deal and for bumping the price-up higher. Let alone, you having to drive back and forth for hours. I guess he and his wife got greedy.
Well, at least you kept your word on the other RX-2 from Florida and you got some good parts from it. Good-luck on finding another Rx-2 that's in better condition, so that you can put all them nice parts that you found in it.

aww man what a deal! thats soo cool! where abouts in florida was the other one??

Tarpon Springs. The car had sand everywhere. I even found sea shells in it. The guy I bought the car off of was mad cool. He knew my friend who vouched for me. I was not going to go back on my word. A deal is a deal. When in doubt, don't shake on it.

Good things come to those who wait
 

And I waited a long time. Found the perfect one.

Nice find! I guess patience, miracles, and being true to your word pays off.
Congratulations!
I waited 15 years to find the perfect one! A '73 Rx-2 coupe, all-original 50k miles, automatic, black interior, and orange exterior. Keeping it that way.

Many years ago at one point I had (2) RX-2's sitting in my yard. I bought my 1st one (it was red w/black interior) for $1200. It was my daily driver for high school and college and I raced the SH** out of it every weekend. Then I bought a yellow one from a junk yard for $100 delivered to my house. Boy do I wish I had kep them all of these years.

I had an artist buddy of mine draw up a sort of iso view of an RX-2 on mylar. I think I may still have it laying around somewhere if it would be of interest to the RX-2 enthusiast's.

Nice story. Makes me want to get my previously rat infested sedan going that I picked up several months ago. I've been slowly working on it but have sort've slacked off over the winter months. I may actually sell it though as I'm up to 7 cars now which is just out of control for 1 person, heh.

Mike

Great story man! I'm willing to bet you got a better deal on this one near your home than the one over 400 miles away too! :D

BTW: I spoke to Billy (bwaits) at ReSpeed the other week and he's got some really insane parts coming out for us RX-2 owners. No ETA yet and I don't want to spill the beans but it's going to be trick!