There are plenty of paradoxes in the world of cars – descriptions like “one lady owner” (okay, that’s maybe an ambiguity meant to imply gentle driving), “gas saver” as applied to 4-cylinder sports cars (more on that later), and “cheap race car”. But wait – before the crowd-sourced intelligence of the internet weighs in, how about if the acquisition cost of the race car is so low that even if some work is needed, you couldn’t build it that cheaply yourself? Check out this 1981 Mazda RX-7 race car for sale for $2500 in Fremont, CA.
The Mazda “zoom zoom” slogan dates back to 2000, so the car has at least had some attention in this millennium. Said to be SCCA, ITA, or NSA legal (why “or”? does the seller not remember?), it also has some SCCA stickers on the exterior. So hopefully this car is still competitive in some class. Even if it’s not competitive, it could be a great way to learn about racing without risking too much in terms of initial cost of entry.
Looking straight from all angles. The car is said to have a NASCAR-style roll cage, Tokico suspension with adjustable anti-roll bar, a quick-release steering wheel, and a Mazda Sport limited slip differential. The 12A rotary is said to be in good condition, and the transmission has a recent rebuild with new synchros and bearings. There seem to be some extra wheels in the trunk, and there is a huge inventory of spare parts with the car. There is an SCCA log book included, so depending on how recently it was raced, it may still be legal with them or other racing organizations. And if it isn’t, you may still be able to participate in driving school, high performance events, or autocross.
The interior looks basic, as it should on a race car. From what’s visible, the cage seems pretty stout with clean welds, and the hybrid of original dash and fabricated aluminum instrument panel seems to have the most essential information covered. While full build details are not included (picture of the engine? what?), and it would be nice to know when it was last raced, you can hardly complain at this price. For the cost of a stock RX-7, much of the painful work of stripping the interior and preparing the car for racing is already done, so even if you need to make some upgrades, this is a great jump start to getting on the track.
Rusty But Trusty 
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