Build or not?? Beat up 1972 RX2

RX2Coupe · 11-20-2011, 11:09 PM

Hi guys! New here and new to the Rotary world! A real good friend gave this to me. Its a total basket case but finally got a real good look at it! It was involved in a accident and the front frame horns are bent up a little right in front of the crossmember. The rest of the rails are clean and appear straight. I am not scared to take to take it to shop and put it on a frame rack and pull them back down. im just wondering if they pull the rails down and i throw a couple hounderd HP at it will it bend again? Anyone have any good or bad experinces with unibody cars that need work like this? It needs alot of work and money but i do like it. I will get some close up pics of the rails soon. Anybody know how many RX2's were made in 72? Is it worth saving? Thanks guys!

djmtsu · 11-21-2011, 07:58 AM

They are ALL worth saving.

Glass might be an issue. Who thought it was a good idea to start shooting at it?

Whizbang · 11-21-2011, 08:49 AM

its rare, so yea, save it!

sen2two · 11-21-2011, 10:29 AM

Trust me when I say, mine is in need of more work than that. and I am going at it right now. Its worth the money and effort when you finally sit in it completed. Anyone can buy a car that's built, or a new comfy car. But how many can stare back any 100s of hours and say, "i built this from the ground up".

My front end, or lack of it...

sen2two · 11-21-2011, 10:32 AM

*But if you don't decide to save it, I'm willing to buy some metal from you off this car that I need for mine!

rotarycrazy · 11-21-2011, 10:41 AM

theres a place on ebay that sells the fornt windshields for like 280 plus shipping. I know of a rear window but it has an oil spot on it nut sure if its on the outside or in between the panes

RX2Coupe · 11-21-2011, 02:18 PM

Thats what i needed to hear! Thanks guys! Dam sen2two what happend to yours? My friend that gave it to me was in his moms belly when it got wrecked. Thats when it got parked and that was 23 years ago. Ever since that it got shot up with BB guns by kids and robbed for parts! lol maybe it was more than a bb gun, the holes in the windshield look kinda big!!! The wind is what ripped the trunk and hood off! Its full of leaves and rodent crap right now. After i get that cleaned out and get a look at the floors I will have a better idea of how bad it is. I will start on it in a couple weeks and update with what i find. Thanks agian guys!!!!

dabranco · 11-21-2011, 03:09 PM

Anything can be rebuilt. Just takes time and money and patients. It looks like you have a good foundation but finding hard to get parts may be an issue and costly. But any local company may be willing to fabticate new windows, a body shop or fab shop can repair and replace damaged body panels. Look at the bright side you have a head start on almost everyone here by getting it for free.

rotarycrazy · 11-22-2011, 01:34 AM

best thing you can do is take it apart and see how bad it really is and then depending on where you are located find someone does sand blasting and get it blasted thats what Im doing to my 2 and it going to be around 500-650 bucks but its worth it.

prrex4ever · 11-23-2011, 08:58 PM

Save her, she's worth it.

Chappies · 11-25-2011, 01:17 AM

To see one old rx2 gives me a good heart beat so save it, it is worth it

thumpgun · 11-25-2011, 09:35 PM

You really need to build that car. I'd get it running and drive the wheels off of it, rough looking or not. You should see the '61 Kafer I'm building right now. It's much worse than that.
I love all RX cars, I think they're worth saving. Plus, there's just not many around. you'd have a very original ride. Good luck!

rx3sp · 11-26-2011, 09:19 AM

From what I can see in the pictures it really doesn't look too bad to me. Are the floor pans solid?

RX2Coupe · 11-30-2011, 04:33 PM

Thanks guys for the support! I didnt realize how desirable these little rides were. I do now! I just always wanted to play with a rotary, and when i saw this on i thought it was way kool that it looked like a shrunken down muscle car, only better! The floors look solid from the bottom, havent got it all cleaned out yet, Im still out of town. The only bad rust that can be seen is a spot above the real wheel arch and a few under the back window! I will have a better idea when i get it all cleaned up and get a real good look at it! The only bad thing is that ive been working on a 82 Cadillac Fleetwood coupe with a big block Caddy that i think is going to put on the back burner for a while! This Mazda sucked me in!!!!!!!!!

thumpgun · 11-30-2011, 06:26 PM

Check out this link and watch the RX 2's and 3's dominate the race. Just hearing those rotaries scream around the track is awesome.

http://youtu.be/j5iWjPjNxOs

11-21-2011, 07:58 AM	#2
djmtsu My minds tellin' me no... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN iTrader: (10) Posts: 4,043 Rep Power: 21	They are ALL worth saving. Glass might be an issue. Who thought it was a good idea to start shooting at it? __________________ 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 2003 Toyota Tundra TRD 2015 Toyota 4Runner SR5

11-21-2011, 08:49 AM	#3
Whizbang Respecognize! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Δx = ħ/2Δp iTrader: (5) Posts: 3,190 Rep Power: 20	its rare, so yea, save it! __________________ For current updates and event coverage check out Follow on Twitter! @WhizbangRally Whizbang Rally's Webpage \| Facebook

11-21-2011, 10:29 AM	#4
sen2two KTEC Join Date: Jan 2009 iTrader: (2) Posts: 642 Rep Power: 0	Trust me when I say, mine is in need of more work than that. and I am going at it right now. Its worth the money and effort when you finally sit in it completed. Anyone can buy a car that's built, or a new comfy car. But how many can stare back any 100s of hours and say, "i built this from the ground up". My front end, or lack of it... __________________ what I have: 1985 Gs:12a All motor Drag car - 1973 Rx2: Play car What I had: 93 Touring: TRADED - 91 Coupe: TRADED - 90 GTU: RHD - 88 10AE: SOLD - 87 Base: SOLD - 86 Base: SOLD - 1985 GSLSE - 85 Gsl: SOLD - 80 Gs: TRADED - 1972 Rx2 Last edited by sen2two; 11-21-2011 at 10:31 AM..

11-21-2011, 10:32 AM	#5
sen2two KTEC Join Date: Jan 2009 iTrader: (2) Posts: 642 Rep Power: 0	But if you don't decide to save it, I'm willing to buy some metal from you off this car that I need for mine! __________________ what I have:* 1985 Gs:12a All motor Drag car - 1973 Rx2: Play car What I had: 93 Touring: TRADED - 91 Coupe: TRADED - 90 GTU: RHD - 88 10AE: SOLD - 87 Base: SOLD - 86 Base: SOLD - 1985 GSLSE - 85 Gsl: SOLD - 80 Gs: TRADED - 1972 Rx2

11-25-2011, 09:35 PM	#12
thumpgun Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Dixie, baby! iTrader: (0) Posts: 59 Rep Power: 13	You really need to build that car. I'd get it running and drive the wheels off of it, rough looking or not. You should see the '61 Kafer I'm building right now. It's much worse than that. I love all RX cars, I think they're worth saving. Plus, there's just not many around. you'd have a very original ride. Good luck! __________________ '85 RX-7 GS / '73 240Z/ '61 VW Kafer

11-21-2011, 10:41 AM	#6
rotarycrazy Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spartanburg SC. iTrader: (0) Posts: 70 Rep Power: 17	theres a place on ebay that sells the fornt windshields for like 280 plus shipping. I know of a rear window but it has an oil spot on it nut sure if its on the outside or in between the panes

11-21-2011, 02:18 PM	#7
RX2Coupe The Newbie Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Phx. Az iTrader: (0) Posts: 16 Rep Power: 0	Thats what i needed to hear! Thanks guys! Dam sen2two what happend to yours? My friend that gave it to me was in his moms belly when it got wrecked. Thats when it got parked and that was 23 years ago. Ever since that it got shot up with BB guns by kids and robbed for parts! lol maybe it was more than a bb gun, the holes in the windshield look kinda big!!! The wind is what ripped the trunk and hood off! Its full of leaves and rodent crap right now. After i get that cleaned out and get a look at the floors I will have a better idea of how bad it is. I will start on it in a couple weeks and update with what i find. Thanks agian guys!!!!

11-21-2011, 03:09 PM	#8
dabranco Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Nov 2011 iTrader: (1) Posts: 47 Rep Power: 0	Anything can be rebuilt. Just takes time and money and patients. It looks like you have a good foundation but finding hard to get parts may be an issue and costly. But any local company may be willing to fabticate new windows, a body shop or fab shop can repair and replace damaged body panels. Look at the bright side you have a head start on almost everyone here by getting it for free.

11-22-2011, 01:34 AM	#9
rotarycrazy Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spartanburg SC. iTrader: (0) Posts: 70 Rep Power: 17	best thing you can do is take it apart and see how bad it really is and then depending on where you are located find someone does sand blasting and get it blasted thats what Im doing to my 2 and it going to be around 500-650 bucks but its worth it.

11-23-2011, 08:58 PM	#10
prrex4ever Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2008 iTrader: (1) Posts: 274 Rep Power: 17	Save her, she's worth it.

11-25-2011, 01:17 AM	#11
Chappies The Newbie Join Date: Jan 2011 iTrader: (0) Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	To see one old rx2 gives me a good heart beat so save it, it is worth it

11-26-2011, 09:19 AM	#13
rx3sp Rotorholic Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Georgia iTrader: (0) Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	From what I can see in the pictures it really doesn't look too bad to me. Are the floor pans solid?

11-30-2011, 04:33 PM	#14
RX2Coupe The Newbie Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Phx. Az iTrader: (0) Posts: 16 Rep Power: 0	Thanks guys for the support! I didnt realize how desirable these little rides were. I do now! I just always wanted to play with a rotary, and when i saw this on i thought it was way kool that it looked like a shrunken down muscle car, only better! The floors look solid from the bottom, havent got it all cleaned out yet, Im still out of town. The only bad rust that can be seen is a spot above the real wheel arch and a few under the back window! I will have a better idea when i get it all cleaned up and get a real good look at it! The only bad thing is that ive been working on a 82 Cadillac Fleetwood coupe with a big block Caddy that i think is going to put on the back burner for a while! This Mazda sucked me in!!!!!!!!!

11-30-2011, 06:26 PM	#15
thumpgun Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Dixie, baby! iTrader: (0) Posts: 59 Rep Power: 13	Check out this link and watch the RX 2's and 3's dominate the race. Just hearing those rotaries scream around the track is awesome. http://youtu.be/j5iWjPjNxOs __________________ '85 RX-7 GS / '73 240Z/ '61 VW Kafer