This next tip comes from Matt C who writes: Sure, everyone knows about the Subaru WRX and Lancer EVO. The Celica All-Trac bowed out earlier, but it's notorious for one of the most epic cheating methods in motorsports. And some rally fans will remember the Mitsubishi Gallant VR4. But how many remember Mazda's entry? Well, you can take advantage of this obscurity (and a transmission problem) to snag one for under $2000! Find this 1988 Mazda 323 GTX offered for $1999 in Canton, GA via craigslist.
This next hot hatch comes to us from Brian P, who writes: Hot hatches are awesome. This one is ratty enough that it will be cheap
but not so bad that you'll have to shower after every drive. It could be the dog hair covering the seats or that this car is literally a hot hatch, but it does seem like a interesting ride. The US badged Mazda 323 was based on 5th generation
(internal designation BF) Mazda Familia - a basic economy car for the
family, but the GTX version was a rally bred fun machine. Find this 1988 Mazda 323 GTX here on eBay
currently bidding for $200 reserve-not-met with buy-it-now of $4,500 located in Mountain View, CA.
The Mazda Familia was a little family-oriented compact that was sold variously under the GLC, 323 and Protegé nameplates in North America. Here in the states we officially got the little hot rod GTX version during the 5th generation of the Familia/323, which combined the hatchback body style with all wheel drive, a 5-spd manual trans, and a turbocharged B6T 1.6L four cylinder mounted transversely under the hood. What we didn't get however was the later 6th-gen version, but you can find this JDM import 1991 Mazda Familia GTX here on craigslist (literally, the ad says "Here" for location) in Bangor, Maine for $9500.
The US market Mazda 323 GTX was based on 5th generation (BF) Mazda Familia. It transformed the standard Familia hatch into an all-wheel-drive, manual-trans, turbocharged monster surprisingly it is still quite affordable today. Find this 1988 Mazda 323 GTX w/turbo 1.8BPT swap for sale in Vancouver, Canada via craigslist (Special note for our Candanavian friends: craigslist is the US version of Kijiji ). Big thanks to tip from Jeffrey L.
We at Daily Turismo are fans of the little Mazda 323 GTX; it was an all wheel drive rally-bred homologated turbo car introduced in the US a full 13 years before Subaru's WRX made it to our shores. Perhaps the little Mazda was too good for its time, since only 1,243 of them were sold in the two years it was available here. Regardless, this is a cheap, entertaining pocket rocket that should put a smile on any gearhead's face and we've found one for only $1500, here on craigslist in Valencia, CA. |
| The 323 GTX looks almost identical to a normal 323 hatchback. The dual rear spoilers and 7-spoke alloy wheels are the only visible giveaways of its true identity. |
The Mazda Familia was a compact car built by Mazda from 1964-2003 - a small workhorse sedan/cabriolet/coupe/hatchback/wagon/ute and by its 5th generation was badged the Mazda 323 in the USA. This 1988 Mazda 323 is one of the rare GTX editions - and is for sale with a complete extra "parts car".