Crapwagon Outtake: Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE
My wife tells me that I’m not allowed to own an RX-7.
To be fair, there are any number of cars I’ll likely never own due the the varied circumstances of life and wallet, but Mazda’s rotary wonder, generally available for a budget price, is off limits due to the misadventures of relative youth. More details, someday, when I’ve recovered from the tetanus.
Yesterday, I happened upon an eBay auction for, arguably, the most desireable of the first-generation RX-7, the GSL-SE. These “five-letter” cars are the only ones with the larger, more powerful, fuel-injected 13B engine. The model also added a limited slip, larger brake discs, and more luxury features. This one also carries the limited “IMSA TARGA-7” package, which appears to be mostly tape stripes and an aluminum-looking faux-targa bar cover for the B-pillar. The car has been repainted, and generally looks good. Even the velour bordello red interior looks clean.
Then my daily Bring A Trailer email came through.
Another five letter RX-7, this time a white ’84 model with lower miles and red leather. This one is even nicer than the black ’85, with mostly original paint and functional air conditioning. While white cars are not my favorite, I’ll admit this one is stunning.
I’m curious what you, the faithful Crapwagon readers, think of these cars – especially the selling price. The black car on eBay has a Buy it Now price of $9,900. I’d imagine the reserve is closer to $8k. My guess – the white car will pull about a grand more than the black one, assuming it sells.
What sayeth the B&B?
Some enthusiasts say they were born with gasoline in their veins. Chris Tonn, on the other hand, had rust flakes in his eyes nearly since birth. Living in salty Ohio and being hopelessly addicted to vintage British and Japanese steel will do that to you. His work has appeared in eBay Motors, Hagerty, The Truth About Cars, Reader's Digest, AutoGuide, Family Handyman, and Jalopnik. He is a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association, and he's currently looking for the safety glasses he just set down somewhere.
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DIS NOT A CRAPWAGON even middling driver examples of 1st gen RX7s are five figures now good one you can send back to Japan for real money pretty easy to understand why... gorgeous styling, unique engine, driveability, collectibility... it has it all they rust too like a real italian classic
These motors use Oil, by design, to lube the APEX Seals. They don't burn oil because they are somehow broken as many people think they do. Many buyers neglected theirs and never topped up the oil between changes. No rust on either of mine which I bought with about 75 K on them. I had an 83 RX-7 Limited edition that went past 150K on the original motor in the metro NY are that had no rust. I also had an 85 RX-7 GSL that went past 150K on the original motor in the metro NY area as well. I revved those motors on the daily and they never failed me. Miss them both dearly. Rotary engine is a beautiful thing that balances nicely in these light weight cars. I would never swap them out for a V8 or anything else. Hearing the Rotary hum past redline is like music.