Buying 1st and 2nd Gen Rx 7s Help Needed.

[unimexsol]

Hi there

I\'m after some information about RX7s and how much I should be paying for one.

I\'ve been offered three RX7s recently and am considering buying at least one, the only thing is I don\'t really have a clue what to watch out for or what to offer on them.  I know that it is always very difficult to give a price on a car without seeing it but I\'m really just looking for a ball park figure.

Car 1

Red E-reg non-turbo RX7.  Rotechnics rebuild engine put in in \'95. Minor accident damage to n/s wing and n/s door.  Interior used but ok ie some small rips and tears but nothing too major.  No apparent rust.  Runs and drives. Engine seems ok running, not smoky or dirty. Sunroof.  Paint faded in parts.  Looks like original alloys on it. No mot or tax but "should pass mot no problem" according to the seller.  

How much roughly?  How much will a replacement door and wing set me back?  Anything else I should really watch out for?

Car 2

White with Black stripes Y-reg RX7.  No mot or tax, no rust good interior, No sunroof?Runs and drives, Needs new master cylinder for Mot.  

Been offered it for £400, should I take it?


Car 3

White 1st Gen RX7. Runs and drives, Little rust No Mot or tax, again "should pass its mot" according to the seller but I have my doubts.  Might be bought to use for spares for Car 2.

What should I look for? What\'s it likely to fail on?  How much should I offer.


Also I was told that because the engines are actually only about 1300ccs that I can get cheap car tax is this so?

Thanks for all your help

Nig

[unimexsol]

Is this on the right forum?

Any help would be much appreciated, Thanks.

[MikeLMR]

Rust is the main problem to be honest.

on the 1st gens have a poke around the rear inner arches where the bottom suspension arm joins the bodywork I bet 95% of 1st gens have had rust in this area at one point or another. you may need to remove the rear wheel to get at this but its worth checking as its very common to rust in that area.

another point to notes is there are three distinct 1st generation rx7\'s ....

Mk1 - 1979-81  Steel bumpers, drums on the rear , different rear lights
Mk2 - 1981-83  plastic molded in bumpers, rear discs, different interior etc.
Mk3 - 1988-85 different suspension front and rear (larger struts, stronger axle) bigger brakes front and rear and minor mods to the interior and bodywork.

I\'m not 100% sure but I\'ve not seen a Mk2 or Mk3 without a sunroof ... i was under the impression that the steel sunroof was standard on all UK suplied cars.

Mike

[unimexsol]

Ah, perhaps it had a steel sunroof then, could easily have been mistaken.

What sort of money should I be looking at paying from the sparse descriptions that I\'ve given?  I\'m only after a very rough guide as to value.

What about for the 2nd gen, how much sounds like a reasonable offer?

[grinder]

depends on how many miles on the engine to be honest ( on the 2nd gen )

you can pick up these cars for anything from £400

but i wouldnt pay more than 1K - even with a rebuild

i can get you a turbo II auto with a slight problem on the box for about £750  , thats has a rebuild by rotechnics - all you need is a gear box swap and away you go !!

but if you shop round , you should fine a nice TII for not mega money ( i know i did !! )

[MikeLMR]

As above really ... 1st gens are very dependant on the condition of the car ... they range from a few hundred to around £2k for a really imaculate one ... or more if its an elford turbo or anything rare or modified extensively.

Mike

[unimexsol]

Thanks MikeLMR and grinder.  I\'m hoping I\'ve picked up a bargain on the 2nd gen then.  I take delivery of it later this week.  

I\'m quite looking forward to driving it, especially from what I\'ve read on here.

I might hold off buying the other two 1st gens for a while though, perhaps until I know a bit more about them.