It’s always a bonus when the collector car hobby collides with some sort of charitable organization, and these two formerly celebrated sports cars of the 1980s will benefit the Rawhide Boys Ranch with 100% of the proceeds going to their mission. This 1980 Porsche 924 Turbo here on eBay is up for grabs, as is a 1984 Mazda RX-7 GSL SE, also here on eBay. They both need work but the price could be cheap enough to make it worth bringing these track day projects back to life.
The RX-7 here is a GSL-SE model, which by many accounts is the one to own. It benefits from the more powerful fuel-injected rotary motor, which while still underpowered by today’s standards, is more than enough to be entertaining in such a light chassis. The body appear solid but I can’t tell if it’s benefiting from a quick respray of low quality. Though the “L” in “GSL” usually designates leather, this one is equipped with cloth seats. Right off the bat, you can bet the headlight motors are dead (or optimistically, a bad fuse) but I don’t see anything too overtly wrong about the car.
The 924 Turbo seen above looks like it may have been the recipient of some bodywork in the past. Specifically, the aggressive (and broken) front air dam and the wide fender flares resemble the American International Racing / SCCA D-Production body kit that isn’t seen all that often. I actually like the look, and if it was blended into the body correctly, it could even be seen as another reason to buy this car. There are a few other bits I’d like off of this 924, like the BBS-look wheels and the “Turbo” panel on the rear of the car. But the evidence of a repaint could be a warning sign to potential buyers – along with the mention on the condition report of not having any coolant in the engine.
The RX-7, like the 924, has a decent-looking interior with no clear deviations from stock. Even the radio appears OEM in the Mazda, which gives you hope that this car was donated as part of an estate clean-out or a generous collector winding down a collection of project cars. Either way, bidding is low on both vehicles and the real winners will be the affiliated charity – but at the right price, there could be winners all around. Which would you choose?
Wait…
You posted these two, and left out the Renault listed by the same seller???
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Renault-Other-N-A-/311530151879?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4888a4dfc7:g:lpwAAOSwUV9Wnqpq&item=311530151879
In all honesty Alan, I feel like I see those damn Caravelles every week on eBay. I dig the 924 as it’s a Turbo model and that body kit is a pretty rare sight; I like the RX-7 for being a GSL-SE, which makes it a touch rarer than the earlier cars (and really makes it something you can look forward to driving every day).
No harm meant to the Renault fans in the room. Plus, these two cars work much better in a head-to-head type post. ;-)
As much as I love another Porsche, especially the much neglected and unloved 924 Because they decided when Audi VW and Porsche were collaborating at the time, to stick an Audi engine into that car .
What a major mistake.
I still don’t know IF the 924 TURBO motor is a Porsche engine or a turbo charged Audi.
In any case you could pick those up very inexpensively even as of late.
I have 924 turbo and an extra engine, but have never driven the car.
As for that body kit, I am not too keen on that.
Wouldn’t you rather buy a 944, if that is what You like ?
I like the 924’s in this link for a Porsche 924 (Carrera GT) storage too, red only!
https://www.tumblr.com/search/ga:%20924
Nice car, don’t like that front air dam and those US bumpers.
Two good features here, I would have a hard time deciding on just one. It would come down tho the price I suppose.
i will go with the RX7 which at the current bid i might be able to part out at a profit. as noted above the seller has other listing that are interesting also. nice match up.
The L on the Mazda does not designate leather as leather was optional on GSL-SEs. Also, headlights in the up position do not indicate bad headlight motors. The fact they are up shows they were raised by the motors — they can be raised with a switch on the dash when the headlights are off. It’s more likely the switch is in the up position.
Horse Radish – the 924 Turbo motors are all Audi’s – began life as Audi 100 engines. I have an 82 – one of about 1,700 something imported in 1982. Unfortunately, their value is about the number imported X 1. Someday I might spend the 911 money to get it back on the road. I’ve had it for about 25 years. It did see the light of day last summer but was then pushed back in the garage……but it has not, yet, been re-covered with cardboard boxes, etc
If only it was like that Lotus Cortina from last week – a labeled VW or Audi 924 with a Porsche engine and a few Porsche badges……..or there was an air cooled engine in the trunk…….
As I remember it, it was fun to drive and the engine was adequate – regardless of who made it.
A plus for the 924 is that it runs and drives, although the radiator is empty. The RX-7 doesn’t run and needs electrical work.
I don’t think that the L and GSL means leather. I have a 1984 GSL (owned since it had 5K miles in 1988) and I’ve looked for parts cars. The GSLs that I’ve seen almost all had cloth interiors. I do agree that the SE is the car to own with the 13B engine and FI. Mine is the 12E and it just doesn’t have a lot of torque. Street porting or even bridge porting (for racing) gives the engine some oomph. I do love my car and I’ve cared for it closely over the years (original shiny paint), but most of them are pretty worn. As nice as mine is, I doubt that I could get $3K for it today. The subject car from the rust belt is not worth $500. Replacing the engine alone is $3K for just then engine. Rebuilding one is not for the faint of heart.
The 924 Turbo with that body kit reminds me of the uber-rare 924 Carrera GT, of which I have seen only one in my life, in 1988. For reference, see http://www.graypaulclassiccars.com/vehicles/porsche-924-carrera-gt/
No doubt with a few changes, like the wheels and the addition of a GT hood scoop it would have most Porsche enthusiasts give it a second look. It appears to me that the body kit and paint were pretty well done, and the steering wheel has been updated to the large horn pad 4-spoke type of the GT (as well as 944) and the seats have been swapped out for more desireable Porsche units as well. It looks like someone took pretty good care of the car and no doubt dropped some dollars into it. And did so rather tastefully, although I would remove that “turbo” rear reflector. It’s too bad about the front damage, but that can be repaired fairly easily. The simple fact that it runs and drives blows me away, as most 924s in this country have been used, abused, and neglected. If the car wasn’t so far away from me, I might consider a bid, as it might be a decent hobby car.
I agree with everything you said. I think this is a worthy project for someone knowledgeable about 924s. Looks like money was spent, and spent well, at some point.
Love the rotary engine… Owned a 2nd gen rx7 for few years. Fun car and the seamless rpm, range. My opinion a very advanced car , independent rear suspension, many , many light weight, components in them. Not a lot of hp, or power , but handled like it was on rails.
I surprised many people with that car!👍