Auction of the Day: Mint 1984 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE for a good cause
Click above for image gallery of Patti Wilhelm's GSL-SE
For the first generation Mazda RX-7, it didn't get any better than the GSL-SE. The FB cars were done by 1985, and the GSL-SE was only available for 1984-85. Carrying larger brake rotors, an upgraded suspension, revised front airdam and a fuel-injected 13B Rotary, SEs are sought after and a clean, unmolested original-owner car is a rare find, indeed. Patti Wilhelm's 1984 RX7 GSL-SE is the cleanest we've ever laid eyes upon. Even though it's traversed 291,000 miles since she drove it away from Valley Mazda in 1984, the car has been well cared for and has seen recent refurbishment and upgrades like Bilstein shocks.
Patti sadly passed away from kidney cancer in June, 2008. She wanted her RX7 to go to a good home, and that it should benefit others. Being a motorsports enthusiast and an animal lover, the beloved Mazda is being raffled off, with the proceeds going to The Humane Society of the United States. Autoweek magazine is helping coordinate online bidding, which currently stands at $7,100, and will close at midnight on December 14th. We're wowed more by the quality of Patti's life than anything, but the car is just as much a class act. Head on over to place your bid for a good cause.
Gallery: RX7 GSL-SE
[Source: Autoweek via MotorWorldHype]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
DCragtop 11:39AM (12/10/2008)
Great car, greater cause, and an even greater person. Thanks for posting Autoblog!
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Ligor 12:12PM (12/10/2008)
nice!
is it me, or is that interior is a dead ringer for the 2007-2009 Chrystler and Dodge cars
and they wonder why they're in the sh.t.er
Rich 12:16PM (12/10/2008)
Seeing as the handling and efficiency are similarly dated, I just took it for their faux-vintage fad.
Brian 3:05PM (12/10/2008)
I had an 85 GSL-SE that I got from the original owner. Mine was in just as good condition except it has porno red interior and leather seats. Wish I could have kept it.
tikirob 11:42AM (12/10/2008)
Dang It! Now I really miss my 82 RX-7. I would grab this if I could. Dang holidays...why can't my wife buy me a car...I been good i swear.
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drunkenpublicness 1:26PM (12/10/2008)
Me too. I had an '85. Still one of my favorite cars.
Mark 4:26PM (12/10/2008)
I still have my silver '79 4-speed, bought right off the boat swaddled in plastic wrap and with Japanese writing shoe-polished on the window.
Though mine only has 48,000 miles on it, it's unfortunately not in great shape. That original vinyl interior (with the red dots showing through black seats) fell apart within a couple of years and my attempts at upholstery verily sucketh, a (low speed, thank goodness) encounter with a deer left a rumple on the hood, and for the last four years it's spent about 363 days of the year squeezed into a small storage unit. The last time I took her out for a summer drive, the belts were squeaky and the engine felt mushy above 5500rpm, making me think that the seals were questionable.
I need to get the poor old girl up for sale this year and let someone come haul her away. Even if she is worth next to nothing at this point, she deserves a better home.
tragedy 11:52AM (12/10/2008)
Wow, I haven't seen a left-hand drive first gen RX-7 before. It's kinda weird. I'd love to drive that around here and people think WTF? A 1st gen RX-7 (which is already a rarity), then another take, WTF x2, an LHD 1st gen RX-7!!
RIP Ms Wilheim, let's just hope the money doesn't get lost in the bureacracy of such a large charity. A smaller one would have been better.
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Joe K. 12:39PM (12/10/2008)
On ebay, cars.com, etc. I can't find an example that isn't LHD. Is it supposed to be rare? Friend of mine in HS had one of these in almost the exact colors, of course this was 1997 so his was a little worse for wear... Great Resto, wonderful cause...
tragedy 9:58PM (12/10/2008)
I live in Japan, that's why that car is rare. An LHD example, even more rare. Any car made before 1990 is a rarity on Japanese roads.
Stow 12:01PM (12/10/2008)
Double dipping?
They should probably raffle it off OR Auction it, not BOTH
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Mobius_1 12:06PM (12/10/2008)
That looks somewhat like a Jag E-type without any "modifications". Beatiful.
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urban T 12:38PM (12/10/2008)
ahhh...common mistake, the chassis code is sa22c, not fb not commonly believed, just fyi...
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urban T 12:39PM (12/10/2008)
*as commonly believed
Brownsound 12:51PM (12/10/2008)
Actually that is your mistake. The first generation RX-7 went through 3 different series' (minor model changes). The SA chassis code was only designated through the first series (S1), in the first few years of production from 1979.
urban T 12:58PM (12/10/2008)
wow, i r nub
i learned something new for the day! thx for the correction (not sarcasm btw)
Crit 1:51PM (12/10/2008)
VIN depends on what side of the pond you're on. Worldwide, all markets except North America had SA22C chassis codes for all production, 78-85. For North America, the FB designation was taken in 81 to fit the standardized US-spec 17-digiit VIN. The Series 3 North American cars even got a unique interior, the one you see above, that the rest of the world never got. Naturally, it's LHD only, and different, so it sticks out to folks in different markets.
Xcountryflyer 12:39PM (12/10/2008)
Original stereo it looks like with one of those band graphic equalizers loved in the 80s.
I hope it is an eBay auction. It'd be better to see it go to someone who wants it.
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Tim 1:04PM (12/10/2008)
I want a 1988-91 Rx-7. If this was a little more current I would throw some money into the ring. Pull that rotary out and put in a turbo 1.6 miata engine. I think it fits in these older cars as well
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Benfolio 1:37PM (12/10/2008)
Why not? A small block Chevy V8 fits.