New Guy with a ?1978? RX7

[spottyman79]

Hi All,

I am Craig from South Australia. I recently bought a series 1 RX7 in almost totally original spec.

It is originally a JDM model and while on the registration papers it is listed as a 1980 model I am pretty sure it is a 1978 model and this is a mistake.

It also reads as a SA220 model but I can see how this could be misinterpreted.

I would like to prove it is indeed a '78 as this would make the vehicle available to much cheaper "historic" rego.

The serial number of this unit is SA22C-133671, if any one has any helpful info or documentation that would be fantastic!

Notable options that might sugguest it is a 1978 model are:

JDM specs, so 180km speedo which chimes if you are driving faster than 100km!, older style air con controls, bonnet strut is on the RHS, seatbelts labels say 1978, doors feel lighter than AUS delivered cars, (doors lack extra side intrusion bars), thermal reactor exhaust manifold , twin points distributor, extra pollution gear and probably some extra stuff I don't know about yet?!

Thanks for reading,

Cheers

[Lucky]

Hi, Craig, welcome along. AFAIK the SA series 1 ran to 1980 anyway, '81 was the first model year of FB-designated cars (series 2) but I dunno if that was global or just here in the UK. But it could very easily in that case be both an SA and an '80 car? I guess components like seatbelts would have come from whatever parts bin was being used at the time, so their date of manufacture wouldn't necessarily be the same year as the actual car?

Anyway, be good to see some pics if you get a chance! Must be a bit of a rare thing to still have all the thermal reactor and emissions nonsense intact, someone must have cared for it well!

[RamoNZ]

'78 cars were very rare for what its worth.

Codge can shed some light I am sure, but the chassis number 133xxx seems high to me - I am sure they started in the 5 digit range?

[TOOL]

I've got a document at home which has proven to be fairly accurate so far re build dates. I'll take a look.

[RamoNZ]

Also - S1 cars ran through to '81 - Tims LHD Swiss car is an '81 I believe.

The 100km/h chime was common to a lot of Jap import cars going right up to the 90's, as was the 180km/h speedo and limiter. None of the jap ones had intrusion beams or rear seat belts either.

My bro in law and his mate both have Jap import '79 S1s - but no idea of their chassis numbers. I have read that the JDM cars started from 1xxxxx aswell - but no idea how many they sold in Japan and what year.

[TOOL]

If it was an RX2 or RX3 I could tell you which month it was built but not RX7 sorry.

[Chud]

All of the s1's I've got here are 80's - I do know of some 79's but I'd guess some may have been built earlier to build up stocks ready for export which may explain any '78 date stamps.

[spottyman79]

where can I post a few of photos , I'm having a bit of trouble navigating around the site,

thanks,

[spottyman79]

I've got a document at home which has proven to be fairly accurate so far re build dates. I'll take a look.

Hi , if you have the time I 'd like to see it , that would be fantastic!

[TOOL]

If it was an RX2 or RX3 I could tell you which month it was built but not RX7 sorry.

I don't have it.