Searching for a 1980 RX7 GS Tornado Silver

bbr · 06-03-2015, 07:44 PM

Hello! I am new to the forum. My first car was a beautiful 1980 RX7 GS, tornado silver with a sunroof. I wish I had never sold that car, and am now in search of a replacement. I would consider another color, but would really like a 1980 GS with a sunroof. Will pay up for top condition. If you know of an available car or suggestions on where I should be looking, PLEASE let me know. Thanks!

toRn · 06-03-2015, 10:40 PM

It's not a 1980, but it's close.

http://www.coggintoyota.com/used/Maz...2fdaa34506.htm

t_g_farrell · 06-04-2015, 07:58 AM

rx7 forum sites, craigslist, ebay ... There are lots of cars out there. Your specific
requirements will make it easy and hard to find, LOL!

1980 is the best year for SAs and that color is very dear to a lot of folks. Expect to pay
5 to 10K for a nice example. Good luck!

bbr · 06-05-2015, 08:13 PM

Thanks Coggin Toyota - but I am really hoping to find a close replacement to my old car. Appreciate your help though. If you come across a 1980 GS please let me know.

bbr · 10-07-2015, 08:39 PM

Learned a great deal from everyone on this forum and found a car. Thanks to everyone who posts!

t_g_farrell · 10-08-2015, 07:41 AM

So get some pics up of the car you got. We want to see em.

speedjunkie · 10-09-2015, 01:34 AM

Is it Tornado Silver or did you settle?

bbr · 11-26-2015, 10:03 PM

Sorry - had not checked back in a while. I don't have pictures of my own, but below is a link to photos from the previous owner. Color is Beat Black (resprayed) but to me it looks exactly like my old 1980 Tornado Silver. Same grey stripes mine had, though probably not stock stripes post-respray. No rust. Someone spent some $ to rebuild just about everything, and all remains stock. ~500 miles so far and runs perfectly. Interior is very nice - bought new floor mats. Having the radio/antenna rebuilt (cuts out regularly) and may resort to having the shift knob recovered as it seems to be impossible to find a nice replacement. So far, great fun!

http://www.2040-cars.com/Mazda/RX-7/...dition-658849/

speedjunkie · 11-27-2015, 07:01 PM

That looks really good, congrats!

GySgtFrank · 11-27-2015, 07:10 PM

You might want to check your build dates on that. The car pictured is a 1980. There were a few minor differences between the years. Dash pad and gauges are a tip off. I believe the true LE's were offered first in 1980 as well. Either way it looks to be an exceptionally clean and rare car. Very nice find.

bbr · 11-27-2015, 10:34 PM

How do you check the build date? It does have several 1979 items: the 130 mph speedometer, points ignition system, the shorter antenna, and no lower rubber on the back bumper.

GySgtFrank · 11-27-2015, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbr

How do you check the build date?

It should be on the driver's side door tag as the date of manufacture. The tag is a stick-on with the GVWR and other info. It should be just above the latch on the body shell.

bbr · 11-28-2015, 05:10 PM

March 1979 build date

bbr · 12-05-2015, 12:35 PM

So two people have said the dash/gauges are a tip-off? The gauges appear '79 correct to me: 130 speedo and the Limited digit clock. Would appreciate details if I am overlooking something.

Addition question - Best oil for a stock '79 engine, both in terms of weight and traditional vs synthetic? Thanks!

GySgtFrank · 12-05-2015, 01:09 PM

This is the gauge cluster from a December of 78 build car.

79 RX7 gauges by Kevin Frank, on Flickr

The 1979 model cars also had perforations in the dash pad for a speaker on the right side of the dash.

I believe that you have a very early build 1980 model. It would have been one of the first off the line with that build date. Arguably even cooler than a late build 1979 model if I'm correct.

Most people advise not to use synthetic oil. I would stick to the factory recommended oil in a non-synthetic if I were you.

06-03-2015, 07:44 PM	#1
bbr The Newbie Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 12 Rep Power: 0	Searching for a 1980 RX7 GS Tornado Silver Hello! I am new to the forum. My first car was a beautiful 1980 RX7 GS, tornado silver with a sunroof. I wish I had never sold that car, and am now in search of a replacement. I would consider another color, but would really like a 1980 GS with a sunroof. Will pay up for top condition. If you know of an available car or suggestions on where I should be looking, PLEASE let me know. Thanks!

06-04-2015, 07:58 AM	#3
t_g_farrell Waffles - hmmm good Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Huntersville, NC Posts: 757 Rep Power: 0	rx7 forum sites, craigslist, ebay ... There are lots of cars out there. Your specific requirements will make it easy and hard to find, LOL! 1980 is the best year for SAs and that color is very dear to a lot of folks. Expect to pay 5 to 10K for a nice example. Good luck! __________________ 1980 GS stockport, Fat Nikki, RB Dual Facetfuel pumps, Holley regulator, RB Street port exhaust, 2GDFIS, MR2 MK I electric fans, 2G strut bar, relayed fans, lights and fuel pump, LEDs Project Fat Nikki Budget 12A rebuild Video setup < $30.00

06-05-2015, 08:13 PM	#4
bbr The Newbie Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 12 Rep Power: 0	Thanks Coggin Toyota - but I am really hoping to find a close replacement to my old car. Appreciate your help though. If you come across a 1980 GS please let me know. Last edited by bbr; 06-13-2015 at 04:45 PM.

10-07-2015, 08:39 PM	#5
bbr The Newbie Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 12 Rep Power: 0	Car purchased - thanks! Learned a great deal from everyone on this forum and found a car. Thanks to everyone who posts!

10-08-2015, 07:41 AM	#6
t_g_farrell Waffles - hmmm good Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Huntersville, NC Posts: 757 Rep Power: 0	So get some pics up of the car you got. We want to see em. __________________ 1980 GS stockport, Fat Nikki, RB Dual Facetfuel pumps, Holley regulator, RB Street port exhaust, 2GDFIS, MR2 MK I electric fans, 2G strut bar, relayed fans, lights and fuel pump, LEDs Project Fat Nikki Budget 12A rebuild Video setup < $30.00

06-03-2015, 10:40 PM	#2
toRn The Newbie Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	It's not a 1980, but it's close. http://www.coggintoyota.com/used/Maz...2fdaa34506.htm

10-09-2015, 01:34 AM	#7
speedjunkie RCC Loves Me Not You Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 2,089 Rep Power: 20	Is it Tornado Silver or did you settle?

11-26-2015, 10:03 PM	#8
bbr The Newbie Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 12 Rep Power: 0	1979 RX7 Limited Sorry - had not checked back in a while. I don't have pictures of my own, but below is a link to photos from the previous owner. Color is Beat Black (resprayed) but to me it looks exactly like my old 1980 Tornado Silver. Same grey stripes mine had, though probably not stock stripes post-respray. No rust. Someone spent some $ to rebuild just about everything, and all remains stock. ~500 miles so far and runs perfectly. Interior is very nice - bought new floor mats. Having the radio/antenna rebuilt (cuts out regularly) and may resort to having the shift knob recovered as it seems to be impossible to find a nice replacement. So far, great fun! http://www.2040-cars.com/Mazda/RX-7/...dition-658849/

11-27-2015, 07:01 PM	#9
speedjunkie RCC Loves Me Not You Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 2,089 Rep Power: 20	That looks really good, congrats!

11-27-2015, 07:10 PM	#10
GySgtFrank Professional Stick Poker Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Stafford, Ks. Posts: 1,008 Rep Power: 16	You might want to check your build dates on that. The car pictured is a 1980. There were a few minor differences between the years. Dash pad and gauges are a tip off. I believe the true LE's were offered first in 1980 as well. Either way it looks to be an exceptionally clean and rare car. Very nice find. __________________ 1988 N/A SE 2+2, dead stock and staying that way. 1979 SA22C stock? Not so much. http://rotarycarclub.com/rotary_foru...ad.php?t=15585 Last edited by GySgtFrank; 11-27-2015 at 07:16 PM.

11-27-2015, 10:34 PM	#11
bbr The Newbie Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 12 Rep Power: 0	How do you check the build date? It does have several 1979 items: the 130 mph speedometer, points ignition system, the shorter antenna, and no lower rubber on the back bumper. Last edited by bbr; 11-27-2015 at 10:58 PM.

11-28-2015, 05:10 PM	#13
bbr The Newbie Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 12 Rep Power: 0	March 1979 build date

12-05-2015, 12:35 PM	#14
bbr The Newbie Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 12 Rep Power: 0	So two people have said the dash/gauges are a tip-off? The gauges appear '79 correct to me: 130 speedo and the Limited digit clock. Would appreciate details if I am overlooking something. Addition question - Best oil for a stock '79 engine, both in terms of weight and traditional vs synthetic? Thanks!

12-05-2015, 01:09 PM	#15
GySgtFrank Professional Stick Poker Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Stafford, Ks. Posts: 1,008 Rep Power: 16	This is the gauge cluster from a December of 78 build car. 79 RX7 gauges by Kevin Frank, on Flickr The 1979 model cars also had perforations in the dash pad for a speaker on the right side of the dash. I believe that you have a very early build 1980 model. It would have been one of the first off the line with that build date. Arguably even cooler than a late build 1979 model if I'm correct. Most people advise not to use synthetic oil. I would stick to the factory recommended oil in a non-synthetic if I were you. __________________ 1988 N/A SE 2+2, dead stock and staying that way. 1979 SA22C stock? Not so much. http://rotarycarclub.com/rotary_foru...ad.php?t=15585