Resurrecting a 144k FD by Fd3BOOST

9 minute(s) of a 101 minute read

Resurrecting a 144k FD

Compliments of Fd3BOOST @ www.rx7club.com

7-18-2013

iPrologue: 

I sold my last fd in 2010 just a few months before my daughter was born. While I sold the car in 2010 I really lost interest in my fd in 2007. After five or six years of constantly tinkering with car, mods, paint, polishing, a single turbo conversion and tons of cash later I was not all that thrilled with the car in general. Really die to several reasons, mostly of my own doing such as removing A/C etc. I pretty well burnt myself out on RX7's.

Now Fast forward to two months ago. I'm working a claim in a small community in Arlington VA, Just of Glebe rd near Rt50 for those in the area. Low and behold I see a red fd that had been obviously parked for a long time and it had expired tags. I looked at the car out of habit but really didn't may to much attention to it. I ended up going back to the same community a week later but this time, I couldn't help but to leave a note testing the waters. I got an email from the owner the following day. He said that he was interested in selling the car and would like $5,000 for it! I asked a few questions and then agreed to meet. A few days later I met the guy who was a Surgeon in NOVA who was in his mid 60's. He told me the story of him buying the car in Fairfax in 1992 and wrote a check for the full amount the day he drove it home. So with the cool story also came some cool miles. 

The car has 144,+++ miles on the odometer. I'm told the engine was replaced several months ago from a coolant seal failure. He also claimed to have had the radiator, AST, Hoses and even the turbos replaced. He then tells me that the car hadn't been started in months. We jump the battery which is dead and I turn the key, CHCHCHVRooommm.. She fires right up I went ahead and checked on the electronics, the wipers, lights etc and everything worked fine. The only obvious downside was the visible wear on the car. Some kids broken off both door mirrors, The drivers leather is worn through and there are some small dents on the rear fenders, faded crappy VR paint job etc...

So now knowing that I am dealing with the original owner , who has free & cleared owned the car since 1992. I'm thinking i have a major score on my hands. I counter offered him with $3000, We ended up at $3,500 for a totally stock, 1440 mile FD that I was going to drive home to Maryland. This deal is unheard of!

So here is the car the first day I saw it.

144K miles and still bone stock under the hood...

Rear side profile,