Mazda RX-7

[Cookie Monster]

When your friend gives you the chance to buy one of your teenage dream cars, you don't say no.

[CaminoRacer]

aw hell yea

[68_427]

Needs window louvers

[Rich]

Great success

[CALL_911]

Oh hell yea dude, I love the 80s plates too. Congrats

[Tave]

Nice! Which engine?

[Eye of the Tiger]

What the heck, man. I thought you were getting a scooter.

[MX793]

How long before this is gutted and turned into a nearly unstreetable track machine?

[veeman]

Congratulations!  These are such great looking cars! 

Oh hell yea dude, I love the 80s plates too. Congrats

What's an 80's plate?

[CaminoRacer]

What's an 80's plate?

License plate. California lets you use any year plate you want, so most people keep the original plate from the year the car was made.

[veeman]

License plate. California lets you use any year plate you want, so most people keep the original plate from the year the car was made.

Oh.  OK.  Never noticed that up in the Midwest or Northeast.  Cars usually rust away around 15 - 20 years. 

[MrH]

Oh wow. Awesome. This is a surprise buy that's not a motorcycle and really cool. Good job Rags

It's fun to own childhood dream cars. The S2000 was totally on my list in high school. Total nostalgic feel every time I get in.

[Payman]

I've always wondered if an NA drivetrain could be fitted to this first gen RX-7 without much fuss. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

I've always wondered if an NA drivetrain could be fitted to this first gen RX-7 without much fuss. 

That is a silly idea. Why would you got through all that trouble to get rid of spinning triangles to end up with the same amount of power? V8 swap or turbo.

[Payman]

That is a silly idea. Why would you got through all that trouble to get rid of spinning triangles to end up with the same amount of power? V8 swap or turbo.

Not silly at all. Lightweight and reliable Miata coupe. V8 swap is not the answer to everything.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

NICE!!

[Cookie Monster]

Thanks guys! :)

Some details:

- 1985 GSL-SE (yes, it's got a fuel-injected 13B, not the carbureted 12A)
- 178k
- Fully stock, other than a dope Bluetooth head unit

It is a project, though (expected of a 31 year old car). So far the known issues are:

- Needs new control arm bushings (going to replace the entire control arms since it's cheaper than getting bushings pressed out/in at a shop)
- New tie rods
- New idler arm (will probably get an upgraded one)
- Clutch is very soft (will replace the master/slave clutch cylinders)
- Fuel gauge doesn't work
- Gauge lights like to flicker at night (although to be fair, that only happened because I poked the light dimmer switch, before that it was fine )
- Rear defroster doesn't work
- Wipers don't work (front and rear)
- Power steering is on the fritz (going to just remove the pump and lines and go manual)

All in all though, it drives fine as is and the engine is very strong. It passed CA smog a few weeks ago and pulls hard all the way till redline, and you get that sweet  buzzer to remind you to upshift. All lights work (other than the instrument cluster lights on the fritz) and a lot of the issues are small. Going to focus on the front end and clutch first before addressing the smaller stuff. Parts are pretty damn cheap, and I have a car lift at my new place, so it's a great fit for a project IMO.

It did sit in Pacifica for a few years, which is by the ocean, so it has some small surface rust. No holes or anything, though, and I think the rust gives it a cool patina.

Oh hell yea dude, I love the 80s plates too. Congrats

Thanks man, I'm a big sucker for original plates. I was so excited to see this one kept its plates.

What the heck, man. I thought you were getting a scooter.

Who needs a scooter when you've got 9000 RPM?

How long before this is gutted and turned into a nearly unstreetable track machine?

Never.

It's too old for me to trust it as a track machine, and I have the NC for that. I'm keeping this one stock and just going to enjoy cruising around in it.

There's something so rewarding about driving it. I can't tell if it's just rose colored glasses or nostalgia or what, but the way it communicates and makes noises is beautiful. New cars are so disconnected (even the NC is too new for my tastes), and having something where it's only you and the car and acres of glass is so nice. The steering is weighty, the view out is amazing (sad this has now become a luxury), and it's a car that you can drive to just have fun. The NC has gotten to a point that I drive like a douche all the time since it just goads you into driving faster and faster. This car lets me slow down and just have fun.

I couldn't wipe the grin off my face at all last night. As Mike said, it's so rewarding to finally get your hands on a childhood dream car.

[Cookie Monster]

Not silly at all. Lightweight and reliable Miata coupe. V8 swap is not the answer to everything.

13B's run forever if you're not stupid and keep up with maintenance and don't add boost.

[Raza]

[Payman]

13B's run forever if you're not stupid and keep up with maintenance and don't add boost.

178,000 miles certainly backs that up.

[12,000 RPM]

How long before this is gutted and turned into a nearly unstreetable track machine?

No way. This is going to be his daily driver. 13 MPG at Cali prices 

Congrats Ragz, that thing should be a blast.

[Cookie Monster]

Eh, daily driver is still my 55 mpg WR250X. I'm not worried about gas prices.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Oh, it's the GSL-SE!

[Vinsanity]

Nice! My mom always said she wanted one of those when she was younger. But then I came around 😕

[Cookie Monster]

Cruisin' in the whip for Thanksgiving.



I need to get some better pictures. I'll do it tomorrow.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Did you just break out of jail? 

[Payman]

 

[12,000 RPM]

Pic looks 40 years old

[r0tor]

I approve

[Rupert]

Nice.