Stacey's Mazda RX-7, Restoration Project Begins
This document last modified May 21, 2003.
This will probably go down as one of the greatest stories
ever told -- well, at least, the greatest story ever about an auto theft,
recovery and restoration that involved a blonde who didn't know didley
about cars and computers, and had never even
considered all of the resources and support that she had access to. You see, it
was through the efforts of literally hundreds of people -- Stacey's
friends and family, automotive and insurance professionals, and countless
strangers and new friends via the internet -- that this car has been
restored to its original condition, with no readily detectable evidence that it
ever went through the ordeal that we saw earlier.
It was a long road to recovery, however, and that's
the purpose of this web page: to document the whole ordeal. With words and images and
electrons from my computer in New Jersey to yours, where ever you are, I hope to be
able to relay not only the details about paint and interior restoration, but
also the range of emotions that were experienced throughout the past year and a
half....
JR
Before we go any further, I need to explain Stacey's
emotional tie to this car. Such irrational attachments to automobiles are
usually the domain of the male of our species. But the early RX-7, especially
the GSL-SE model that this story revolves around, is a special animal. It's not just a pretty car, although one of
Stacey's early messages to me revealed that this was one of her primary
reasons for buying the car in the first place:
"I was a 21 year old kid with no money and no brains,
but I had to have that car! I got a loan, at insane interest rates, and bought
the SE. When I look back at the memory of being at the dealership that morning
-- remember, the deal took 15 minutes, and I got a great deal. It was the
fall of 1985. The poor SE was the last one on the lot and the new [1986] RX-7's
had already arrived. I had a 1984 Mazda 626-LX as a trade in. The 626-LX had
just been voted the Car of the Year [by Motor Trend Magazine]. It was a hot
commodity then and an easy sale for any dealer. I got a very fair trade-in for
it. I'll never forget that day -- it was just one of the crazy, spur of
the moment things I've done in my [thirty-something] years. I've never
regretted any one of them, especially buying that car. I sure hope the crazy
attempt at restoration will be a fond memory as well."
(Click on the image below to see full size image. Click the back button in your browser to return to this page when done.)
Besides the impulse-buying visual appeal, the GSL-SE model
is also one of the most entertaining driver's cars that one might ever
have a chance to thrash around. Car and Driver said it well in their 1984
review of the model:
"What makes the GSL-SE so good is that Mazda has
kept the sports-car faith. For the money, there still isn't a better fling-about, redline-hungry,
tire-smoking sports car to be had."
That sentiment is echoed by current
owners even today. (The entire review can be read
online, here.)
Even Stacey's then seven year-old daughter understood
the fun-quotient of this car. Stacey told me about one of Ashley's comments:
"Last summer was the best: 'faster, mommy... go faster!' (No way!)
What she means is that, when we are at a stop sign/light and get the green, I
paste her back in her seat. (You know what I mean.) She thinks it's really fun."
