unevolved
unevolved HalfDork
2/13/11 3:21 p.m.

So I sold the RX-7 today, and picked up a new project car. Some of you may have seen this car before, it's been posted on these boards about a year or so ago.

This car was sitting on the side of highway 6 outside Waco for years, and I saw it regularly during my commute from College Station to the DFW area, and one day decided to stop and get the information. Kyle and I showed up the following weekend, and talked the owner down to $380, and somehow it made the 1.5 hour drive home without incident.

Fast forward 12 months, 5 autocrosses, 4 Kosei K1s, 4 Fuzion ZRis, 4 rotors, 8 brake pads, 1 front bumper, and 1 NRG steering wheel. As it turns out, at this point this running, titled car is worth just slightly less than a non-running, non-titled first-gen RX-7. The pain of selling a project is quickly assuaged by picking up another project less than six hours later.

Here's a few pictures of the poor bastard.

Here it is in its new home. I cut the roof off with a knife, and it actually improved the looks of the car. We've got a regular "Island of Misfit Mazdas" theme going on in our garage with the 323 GTX and this thing.

I've got a long list of work this thing needs. Mechanically, it's missing heavily under load and stalls when the headlights are turned on. Aesthetically, it needs all new paint and about every body panel replaced.

I feel like you people are the only ones that understand how excited I am about this bucket of bolts.

spritedriver28
spritedriver28 New Reader
2/13/11 3:47 p.m.

Congrats...sort of.

What are you planning for the "new" Miata? Going racing...or just a street car?

92CelicaHalfTrac
92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
2/13/11 3:52 p.m.

Don't touch the outside!

grafmiata
grafmiata Dork
2/13/11 3:57 p.m.

Sometime this spring I'm gonna be stripping my '92 before scrapping the tub. Will have some good interior bits if you're interested.

Keith
Keith GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
2/13/11 5:10 p.m.

That, sir, is one ugly Miata. I like the extra speed holes in the dash.

DrBoost
DrBoost SuperDork
2/13/11 6:09 p.m.

I weep.....

aussiesmg
aussiesmg SuperDork
2/13/11 6:16 p.m.

Nice one, De-evolved

Derick Freese
Derick Freese Dork
2/13/11 6:25 p.m.

I think it's perfect. I'd leave the body as it sits as long as there's no major rust. The interior needs work, but nothing more than dash, some bedliner for the floors, and possibly a set of new seats. Top isn't needed at all.

Nitroracer
Nitroracer SuperDork
2/13/11 8:46 p.m.

I agree with Derick, make it livable from the inside and get it running right. Then drive whats left of the doors off of it.

unevolved
unevolved HalfDork
2/13/11 9:01 p.m.
Nitroracer wrote: [...] make it livable from the inside and get it running right. Then drive whats left of the doors off of it.

That sums up my plans pretty nicely. My roommate has a JDM B6T swap sitting at his house I might buy off him...

unevolved
unevolved HalfDork
2/13/11 10:02 p.m.

I've determined the alternator and coil packs are to blame, so once those are replaced, I'll be able to drive the E36 M3 out of it again.

dankspeed
dankspeed Reader
2/13/11 10:16 p.m.

MiataRescue is a great name for a company .

Luke
Luke SuperDork
2/14/11 1:51 a.m.

Or a reality TV show.

I like your plans for it! It looks berkeleying horrible...but in a totally awesome way .

triumph5
triumph5 Dork
2/14/11 8:17 a.m.

There are towns up here where pitch-fork, torch-lit towns people would be attacking your house....you have tolerant neighbors, or GRM subscribers...

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork
2/14/11 8:20 a.m.

Aside from roughing up that "too clean" front bumper I'd leave it alone.

pilotbraden
pilotbraden HalfDork
2/14/11 8:21 a.m.

That looks like the interior of my Miata.

MrJoshua
MrJoshua SuperDork
2/14/11 8:35 a.m.

Gut the interior, cut off the windshield, buy black leather goggles/ratty black leather jacket/ratty black scarf. Done!

unevolved
unevolved HalfDork
2/14/11 8:47 a.m.

Mechanical and interior issues are definitely top priority. I know it would be comical, but I just couldn't handle a car looking that ratty forever. I am slowly going to replace fenders, hood, trunk, and repaint it fleet white one day. I like to be proud of what I own.

Tom Heath
Tom Heath Web Manager
2/14/11 9:12 a.m.

You may have taken the title from Joe Gearin's old Miata.

It's pretty gross looking. I guess as long as the seats weren't soggy...

I'll see if I can dig up some photos.

92CelicaHalfTrac
92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
2/14/11 9:14 a.m.
unevolved wrote: Mechanical and interior issues are definitely top priority. I know it would be comical, but I just couldn't handle a car looking that ratty forever. I am slowly going to replace fenders, hood, trunk, and repaint it fleet white one day. I like to be proud of what I own.

I'd be proud of that...

Pride comes from performance. Looks are shallow, and nothing to be proud of.

dculberson
dculberson Reader
2/14/11 12:34 p.m.

Just get one of those "hellafunctional" stickers.

unevolved
unevolved HalfDork
2/14/11 12:47 p.m.
dculberson wrote: Just get one of those "hellafunctional" stickers.

Funny you mention that, I'm the one that sells them. :D

You'll need to log in to post.

Our Preferred Partners
VqEgz9hSrrQLdDyUbzAqKojvZSYEIeUGZfb0N4QvfbKwJwWrIEbA2FNFSsyBzbYm