Last Call: I would snatch this RX-7 in a heartbeat if I could

Colby Buchanan

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It’s no secret that I am quite the JDM fanboy so when I saw this clean RX-7 run through my Twitter, I had to stop and look. It has a decent list of modifications to it, but the fact that it still looks clean is impressive. The JDM culture is so flooded with millions of external options that I can’t believe this owner was able to stay away. There are a few spots where the car has seen better days but I’m still very curious to see what price this one will end at. Currently, it’s at 22k with 6 days left so plenty of time for it to increase but time will tell. Maybe someday I’ll be able to seriously consider flying across the country just to check something like this out. But until then I’ll have to be happy with drooling from behind a screen.

Last Call indicates the end of Hooniverse’s broadcast day. It’s meant to be an open forum for anyone and anything. Thread jacking is not only accepted, it’s encouraged.

About

Colby Buchanan

Colby Buchanan

My name is Colby Buchanan and I love all things car-related all the way from rusted 240sx’s to McLaren Senna’s and of course I have a soft spot for American Muscle. You can spot me in my bone stock ’06 350z named MackenZ.

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18 responses to “Last Call: I would snatch this RX-7 in a heartbeat if I could”

  1. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    The curves are crowded close on the Skagg’s Springs Road, and this was in a small clearing between deep forest reaches. The kind of thing that you see but are far past before it registers.
    “Left curve, bump, right curve, loose gravel, slight rise, giant fish, left curve into shadows, redwood bark in road, right cur- …what fish? Fish?!?”

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/288ca7c3610965078328f170324f9dccbcd37d92f409b56d502c623dc65c7131.jpg

    Reply
  2. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    The curves are crowded close on the Skagg’s Springs Road, and this was in a small clearing between deep forest reaches. The kind of thing that you see but are far past before it registers.
    “Left curve, bump, right curve, loose gravel, slight rise, giant fish, left curve into shadows, redwood bark in road, right cur- …what fish? Fish?!?”

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/288ca7c3610965078328f170324f9dccbcd37d92f409b56d502c623dc65c7131.jpg

    Reply
  3. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Tbh, I have never understood why JDM cars get so insanely modified on the exterior. Japan has some strange traditions there, but it’s really an exception to see a Japanese sports car not lowered, spoilered or stickered – at least.

    I follow the International Century Owners group on Facebook, and it breaks my heart every time I see someone lowering and totally hacking up one of these cars. To each their own, I guess, but going 100% against the grain with a Century looks hurtful to me, every time.

    Reply
    1. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      1. Because Japan (see also weird anime)

      2. Have you sat in many Japanese sports cars? I love em, but you’re generally talking cheap plasticky plain interiors, not surprising people personalize them

      3. Bubble era rooted car culture – at that time, young people with LOADS of disposable cash income but still not enough to buy a house so no point saving. may as well spend, hence in the 80s/90s lots of crazy almost gimmicky (in a good way) cars, and lots of money spent on personalizing them,

      4. Modifying is just part of Japanese car culture (in Japan as well as places like Ireland with a strong Japanese car culture, argulably for the size of the country, had the most devoted JDM scene outside Japan, but New Zealand probably would chalenge that). Nothing stays standard, though certain scenes have their own orthodoxy (e.g. the Irish style of doing an AE86 is uniquely different to the Japanese style). It’s something snooty FIVA definitons of “Historic” car miss, where a modified (especially outside period) car is not classed as historic, but preserving the living culture of such cars is more important than nut and bolt originality. Even CEO of Toyota, Akio Toyoda drives a Gazoo Modified Century which he has been warned “not to drift” 🙂

      http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/news-akio-toyoda-century-grmn/

      5. There’s a decent sense of humour in Japanese car culture, they don’t take themselves too seriously. Those crazy Shakotan/Garuchan cars? (commonly referred, slightly incorrectly as Bosozoku), no one with those cars lacks self awarenes that yes, they are ridiculous.

      So yeah, I agree, many mods are cringe, but I love the best bits of the crazy, non-serious culture.

      Also – I’d love an RX7, depending on the day, I think it just edges an R32 Skyline GT-R or Honda NSX for me. Part of it is that it’s so compact, it’s more like a really fast rotary miata than a GT/Supercar like its perceived rivals.

      Reply
      1. Sjalabais Avatar
        Sjalabais

        That’s a wiki-worthy answer, thank you! I’ve seen the modified Century you mention, pretty insane.

        I haven’t been in many of these, mostly RX-7 and NSX, as well as the Nissans. It’s a huge step up from a cozier interior to a winged, cambed monster though, hehe.

        Do you have any idea why many other East Asian countries lack this modification culture? I have tried to read up and gain access to Korean car culture, but there hardly seems to be any.

        Reply
        1. crank_case Avatar
          crank_case

          East asia is a big place so I couldn’t give an answer on that, I guess Korea is relatively new to making cars (Japan has been making cars since the 1900s). Some asian countries are quite poor. Some have very punitive rules/taxes on cars (e.g. Singapore or Hong Kong), but there’s sparks of modifiying scenes in other parts of Asia that are less well known. The Philipines had its Jeepneys of course and also the racier Tamiya/Tikya style where old jeeps are lowered and caged into something that looks more at home on a racetrack than a trail. https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/markbognor/10688a01c331.jpg

          Reply
      2. Zentropy Avatar
        Zentropy

        I didn’t realize there was an Irish-style AE86. Does it have more of a rally or touring-car vibe (as opposed to drift)?

        Reply
        1. crank_case Avatar
          crank_case

          More of a very keep-it-simple rally vibe versus the more outlandish JDM style, Trueno fixed headlight hatch style body is preferred (the holy grail being a UK/Irish market Corolla GT version), often with big Cibie spotlights up front, 13 or 14 inch wheels, not slammed or excessively lowered, Janspeed exhaust or good quality Japanese one of modest diameter, nothing too crazy on the engine tune, no crazy bodykits. Japanese Nostalgic Car even recognized it as being “a thing” http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/irish-spec-toyota-corolla-gt-ae86/

          http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/04083727/2018-Cian-Donnellan-Toyota-AE86-Ireland-for-Speedhunters-11-1200×800.jpg

          Reply
        2. crank_case Avatar
          crank_case

          More of a very keep-it-simple rally vibe versus the more outlandish JDM style, Trueno fixed headlight hatch style body is preferred (the holy grail being a UK/Irish market Corolla GT version), often with big Cibie spotlights up front, 13 or 14 inch wheels, not slammed or excessively lowered, Janspeed exhaust or good quality Japanese one of modest diameter, nothing too crazy on the engine tune, no crazy bodykits. Japanese Nostalgic Car even recognized it as being “a thing” http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/irish-spec-toyota-corolla-gt-ae86/

          http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/04083727/2018-Cian-Donnellan-Toyota-AE86-Ireland-for-Speedhunters-11-1200×800.jpg

          Reply
          1. Zentropy Avatar
            Zentropy

            I like that considerably more than most AE86s I’ve seen. I prefer the fixed headlights, too. It’s still obviously an enthusiast’s car, but tastefully restrained. Nice.

      3. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
        SlowJoeCrow

        I appreciate original and stock, or period/period correct mods as genuine artifacts of the time. Old cars done with current trends or extreme restomods leave me cold. As an example an A2 GTI with 15″ BBS wheels and a period Zender body kit is cool, one with 18″ wheels and fugly LED lights is lame, same with 60s muscle cars, The original engine and Torque Thrust wheels yes, LS swap and and 20″ billet abominations hell no.
        On the JDM side, I’d love one of those crazy Shakotan cars or a small Dekotora for sheer weirdness but my tastes run more towards a mild VIP style or serious drift car.

        Reply
        1. crank_case Avatar
          crank_case

          I like milder, functionally modded cars too, more a touge / grip track driving style. Serious drift cars are generally pretty nasty for anything other than drifting, but I think it’s nice the mental stuff exists. Thing is though, what I mean about modern modification is the parts themselves, getting OEM parts for JDM cars is hard enough, never mind period tuning parts. There sometimes some very good replacement parts or similar engines you can re-purpose from newer cars (or the Cappuccinos case, a snowmobile), but then you lose “Historic” status, which in some places has tangible benefits to keeping (like exemptions for ULEZs or being able to insure them) and not just something to impress the judges at the local car show.

          Reply
          1. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
            SlowJoeCrow

            Yeah, mild custom rather than full race is what I was aiming at. If the demand is strong enough we could see reproduction tuner parts just like people have done with 50s hot rod parts.

          2. crank_case Avatar
            crank_case

            I really hope so, we’re starting to see some manufacturer heritage programs emerging, such as for the Eunos Roadster (Miata) in Japan, R32 Skyline GT-R, Supra. Honda Beat, S2000 and one or two others, but these are relatively recent things and traditionally this has been neglected by the Japanese manufacturers. It’s often easier to find trim and body panels for an MGB or as you say, a 50s Chevy than it is for an 80s Toyota.

          3. crank_case Avatar
            crank_case

            I really hope so, we’re starting to see some manufacturer heritage programs emerging, such as for the Eunos Roadster (Miata) in Japan, R32 Skyline GT-R, Supra. Honda Beat, S2000 and one or two others, but these are relatively recent things and traditionally this has been neglected by the Japanese manufacturers. It’s often easier to find trim and body panels for an MGB or as you say, a 50s Chevy than it is for an 80s Toyota.

        2. Zentropy Avatar
          Zentropy

          Ridiculously oversized wheels are typically my biggest gripe. The aftermarket 18s on this RX-7 ruin the look, IMO.

          Reply
      4. outback_ute Avatar
        outback_ute

        Echoes my thoughts, well said

        Reply
  4. salguod Avatar
    salguod

    When these were new they already had a reputation for being fragile. In 1993 I was working my first job at an auto supplier and we were on a work road trip from Detroit to Atlanta for wind tunnel work. The single 20 something engineer with his PE was looking at buying an R1 and driving it home. As I recall the MSRP was in the mid $30K range and dealers were advertising them in the mid $20K’s. He passed, put off by the reputation.

    Reply