1979 Mazda RX-7 Limited

[parttimer]

So I was conatcted to clean up a 1979 Mazda RX-7 Limited edition. Research shows a whole 3000 of these things were made and this one has a monsterous 30,000 miles on it. The owner says it has the ORIGINAL tires, not really sure but the stock photo does show these tires! Job was a simple exterior and interior, he wanted to get it cleaned up for sale. Car was NOT single stage and considering it was almost 30 years old, I am guessing it was a repaint. Some of the defects in the paint confirmed this since there were run in the paint and the CC was failing around the power antenna. Wheels were a bear since they were straight aluminium. Interior was not remarkable so I won't waste your time with those. This was not a 90% correction or anything similar, just revive it a bit and you will see, it needed revived!
He brought it over for inspection so I snapped some pictures with my phone:
Faded and swirl city:
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/20150726_164405.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/20150726_164405.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/20150726_164412.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/20150726_164412.jpg.html)

So the following day it was dropped off and I started with a good wheel and tire cleaning along with a rinseless wash. Many of the rubber seals were cracked and the sunroof would occasionally leak.

First up was the wheel cleaning. I tried using Sonax FE and some elbow grease. That removed the caked on dust but I felt the wheels could be better. Tried Sonax and ZEP citrus with no change. I dug out some old Brown Royal wheel cleaner, I have NEVER had good luck with this stuff, however, boom it did the trick. I used the same brushes I was using with Sonax but the outcome was much better. Tires where cleaned with Tuff Shine tire cleaner, wells were hit with ZEP. Wash was ONR and the I then used a speedy prep towel with ONR as lube.


Before washing:

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1780.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1780.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1779.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1779.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1794.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1794.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1791.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1791.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1767.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1767.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1768.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1768.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1769.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1769.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1771.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1771.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1773.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1773.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1774.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1774.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1776.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1776.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1785.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1785.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1788.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1788.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1789.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1789.jpg.html)

After the wash I snapped some pics:

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/20150728_185238.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/20150728_185238.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1793.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1793.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1796.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1796.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1798.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1798.jpg.html)

Into the garage to begin the chore. I tried two one step products, Blackfire TPS and Duragloss 105. Blackfire did not remove as much damage as Duragloss and left a haze. So Duragloss on a white hybrid. Here are some before picturers and after speedy prep:

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1801.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1801.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1802.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1802.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1799.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1799.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/20150728_061016.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/20150728_061016.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/20150728_061043.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/20150728_061043.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/20150728_061053.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/20150728_061053.jpg.html)

Here are a few 50/50 and finshed area shots with the Duragloss setup:

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1803.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1803.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1805.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1805.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1806.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1806.jpg.html)

Area completed:

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1807.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1807.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1808.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1808.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1809.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1809.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1810.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1810.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/20150728_210620.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/20150728_210620.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/20150728_210759.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/20150728_210759.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/20150728_210823.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/20150728_210823.jpg.html)

[parttimer]

And here is the finished product, I am debating going back and spraying the fender wells black again since much of the paint/undercoat is worn off. Is it perfect NO, perfection was not the goal, better was. There are a TON, a TON of RIDS left behind but the car is brown again not whatever off color the have and swirls made it. I also got my first change at using Solution Finish and I was pretty happy, it was just a small area but the way it was detracted from the overall appearance.

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1818.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1818.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1811.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1811.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1814.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1814.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1815.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1815.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1816.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1816.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1819.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1819.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1820.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1820.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1821.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1821.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1822.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1822.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1823.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1823.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1824.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1824.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1825.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1825.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1826.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1826.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1827.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1827.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1828.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1828.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1829.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1829.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1831.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1831.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1834.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1834.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1835.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/DSC_1835.jpg.html)

Solution Finish:

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/2015-07-28%2021.25.02.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/2015-07-28%2021.25.02.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/mazda%20RX7/2015-07-28%2019.07.22.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/mazda%20RX7/2015-07-28%2019.07.22.jpg.html)

[Setec Astronomy]

Was that the first year? No, I think it was '78. What an iconic car! Great job on a classic!

[Sizzle Chest]

Nice work reviving it! It really looks a ton better. Nice!

[rms64]

Great work!

A little depressing to see that the first car I ever bought (an '83 RX-7) may have "historical vehicle" status..

:xyxthumbs::xyxthumbs::xyxthumbs:

[CaveRacing]

Nice work! I love the first gen RX7. Iconic, indeed!

[parttimer]

Yes, I think 78 was the first year, I think the 79 Limited was actually made in 78 though. I was happy to work on something so old, however driving the thing was a pain. Never had to start a car with a "choke" lever!

[Mike@ShineStruck]

Nice SA
i had an 82 black rx7, fun car

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Nice transformation. That classic RX7 looks good.

[haris300]

Great job. I love the first gen rx7's.

[Kamakaz1961]

Beautiful work!! The RX-7 was so smooth to drive!! That Wankel Rotary Engine was something else. The one that I drove was a Red One. I had a full head of hair back then too! 1979-1983..but I digress!

[banzaitoyota]

Interested in buying the car, contact info? Would look good next to my RX2

[parttimer]

I will make sure he is ok with me giving it out!