I am an SCCA racer that been running 1st gen Rx7s for a few years but my winter project to restore a Rx3 GT car. The car has been heavily modified over the years and I was wondering what year the original tub is. After the fiberglass body parts are stripped away all that is really left of the tub is the roof, A, B, and C pillars, the cowl, some of the rocker panels, most of the firewall and little sheet metal around the perimeter of the engine bay.
By the way this car has been a race car since the late 70’s. I believe it started as an IMSA RS car possibly driven by Joe Varde.
Dick Patullo

 

I ran an ITA RX-3 in the Oregon Region for about 8 years. Do the rain drip rails end a few inches down from the top of the A pillars? I am not 100% positive, but that would make the car a 1976 to 1978 model year. If they run almost to the bottom of the A pillar the car would be prior to 1976. The nose that is on the car is not that of a 1972, though with the swaping of body work on race cars that would be your lease reliable way to date the car.

 

Thanks Ched,
I checked out the rain gutters and they actually end a few inched behind the top of the A pillar although I guess they could have been ground down.
And yes the nose does not count, it is a fiberglass racing part.

 

74+ trunk (floor) is reinforced also.

 

Thanks but that is long gone as well

 

Tough to say what year then. Here is a couple of photos of the gutter on my ITA car, which is a 1978. With an RX-3 it does not really matter the year, other than a few minor changes they were pretty much the same car for the entire life span.

Post some photos of the rear end/suspension. I was thinking about dumping the leaf springs and replacing them with a three link, as I dont race it in IT any longer.

 

The rear suspension uses lower control arms and a heavy duty trilink with a watts link. The watts link is backwards from stock with the ends attaching to the axel housing and the pivot point attached to a sub frame. I will need to pull the fuel cell to get a picture of the watts link. I will try to get that done and get some better pictures this week.
The watts link is new for me as my ITA cars were all converted to panhard rods.

 

This gives you an idea of the watts link setup.