Friday 30 August 2013

MX6 Turbo..

Its definitely taken me much longer to make a post about these than it should have..
The GD-chassis Mazda MX6 (MX-6) was the 2-door version of Mazda's 626. This replaced the GC 626-coupe (pre MX6 name) in 1987, and lasting until it was (not surprisingly) replaced by the GE MX6 in 1991.

Along with being the basis of Mazda's 626; this chassis was used as Ford's Telstar/TX5 equivalents, as well as the Ford Probe of the same generation. As such, this basic architecture was sold as sedan, coupe, wagon, 5dr and 3dr hatches; fitted with an assortment of four cylinder petrol and diesel engines, most commonly driving the front wheels (with the odd exception of some four wheel drive variants).

The car above is a very late production GD MX6, being a 1991. It is a lower-spec 2WS car, with the alternative being the 4WS (four wheel steering) model. All Australian-delivered cars were fitted with Mazda's F2T 2.2Litre SOHC four. This undersquare, 12valve (3 per cyl) unit was fitted with an intercooled IHI Turbo, producing 108kw and a strong 258nm of torque.
Shifting was done with either a 5spd manual, or 4speed auto.

The interiors of the 626/MX6/Telstar/TX5 used quality materials, have aged nicely, and definitely seem to hold up well. This lower spec'ed car has a solid roof, but there was a sliding glass sunroof available.


I have a soft spot for these cars after owning a later model MX6 years ago. These earlier cars were faster, very easy and cheap to make even faster (not surprisingly the downfall of these in older age), and look great with mature lines and E30 M3-esque box flares..
Unfortunately its getting very hard to find good GD MX6's nowadays though, and I cant find a single Capella C2 (the Japanese market equivalent) for sale in Japan for comparison photos.
Its sad to see these cars at wreckers, and this particular car (which looks more than decent) is currently for sale for a shameful $599.
Other than a small devoted fan-base; people just aren't buying, restoring, or modifying MX6 Turbo's these days. As a result, they just quietly disappear from Australia's roads.. :(


Anyway, I'll have to find a GD Mazda 626 Turbo Hatch to post, as they're real sleepers! Cool stuff..




Friday 23 August 2013

Teg..

A great example here of the DA Honda Integra hatch.

This was the second generation of Integra, and was produced between 1989 and 1993.
This particular car is an early build, being a 1989.

 As the sticker on the rear hatch shows, this is the top-of-the-line (DA6) XSi model, powered by the B16A...

..Honda's impressive 118kw (160hp!) twincam VTEC 1.6litre four.
This was the first Honda vehicle fitted with this engine (also fitted to the updated Civic and CRX in the same year). Being the first of Honda's VTEC engines, this then is the first VTEC Honda. A claim-to-fame of what became a pretty big thing for Honda's over the following decade..

 Other interesting details on this car include the properly-directional wheels.

Sunroof, frame-less glass, and a rather attractive grey velour interior. B16A means a 8000rpm redline tacho, and there's a 5speed to row it along.


After seeing pics of the exterior, interior, and engine bay; its pretty clear this car is in really nice shape for its age. You'd have no reason not to believe the supposed 53,000km on the clock.
Its been for sale at a dealer in Japan for a while now, and surprisingly hasn't sold seeing the totally-reasonable purchase price. Good colour and drivetrain combination, good spec, good year.. whats not to like?
..hell, I'd happily drive a non-VTEC ZC-Powered one. Practical hatchback with folding rear seats, large glasshouse with thin pillars giving good visibility, nicely built, reliable and enjoyable drivetrains..
..May be getting a little old these days (to take the abuse, and the need to rely on), but one of these would make a great daily sportcar.


Done.

Saturday 10 August 2013

Super Supra..

Being a Japan-delivered car technically makes this a Celica XX, not the Celica Supra it was known as elsewhere..

In full, this is a 1983 GA61 Toyota Celica XX. Built in the second full year of produciton for the second generation of Celica Supra/XX's. This model ran until 1986.
This particular car is lightly modified, and it looking all the more awesome because of it.

The wheels are Work Ewing III's, complete with locking centers and properly chunky tyres.

The dark red interior always works very well against the silver exterior..
Ignoring the Italvolanti wheel and Alpine GPS unit (looking a little too out of place in my eyes!), and the overall clutter, the rest of the added audio is welcome to stay. I like the Alpine tape-deck and stacker in the rear hatch area; and speaker box/pod units are always rad.

Simultaneously separating it from the four-cylinder Celicas, putting the G in GA61, and the reason behind the TWINCAM 24 decals on the front quarters - the 1G-GEU twin-cam inline six.
This engine was only introduced one year earlier, and was impressive for its day. Despite being naturally aspirated; fuel injection, a 24valve twincam head, and TVIS helped the 2-litre six produce 119kw/160hp. In this particular car this is mated to a 5speed manual.


Cool car overall.
I usually prefer this generation of Celica XX/Supra with the extra flares and spoilers; but I'm liking this one just the way it is.





Saturday 3 August 2013

The first Panda into space...

An AE86 Sprinter Trueno currently for sale in Japan, with what looks to be some VERY wild aero...

Huge front lip, canards, large flares, side skirts with extensions, rear pods, and exaggerated spoiler; all dressed in original white on black 'panda' two-tone. The wild aero against the stock colour scheme, decals, lenses, mirrors, etc; is actually a very cool contrast. Its no doubt rediculous, but its working...!

How about those flares!
Here we have the illusion of very very wide wheels, but the rear shot shows the truth: Those watanabe's are just a very low offset on a relatively narrow wheel. You see, even if you could buy 15x15" Watanabe's (and in a one piece, not many past Hayashi seem to cast wheels remotely that wide!), what would you do for tyres?

That enormous rear spoiler, sitting atop the always-lovely 'Kouki' red-line tails.

The dealer shows no engine-bay shots, but here are a couple of the interior. Love that the digital dash has been retained, even if the looks to have been a need for a more reliable tacho!

Cool car, and currently for sale for a very pretty penny..



Edit...:
...okay, close second...