Trivia for car nuts: what kind of car did I buy today?

[david c.]

Hi guys,

This should be a little bit of fun. I bought an unusual car today and I think it *might* be a bit of a stumper for you all to guess what it is.

I will give you a few clues and will answer inquiries that can be answered in yes/no fashion.

It's a car.

It is turbo-charged and intercooled.

It has four wheel disk brakes.

It has full time four wheel drive

It's not a Subaru or Audi.

---- fire away!!!

[Adam]

Renault R5?

[cegerer]

Dave, more importantly than 'what kind?' is the question, 'do you really need another car?'

I'll guess the Mazda GTX (I think that's what it was called) from the late 80's, but not sure if that was turbo'd ......

[Stanley]

Im guessing it's a Volvo if its a new car. I know that the new type "R" Volvos are intercooled, not sure if the other ones are though.

To play your game:

1. The car new?
2. If so is it a Volvo?
3. If Volvo is it a "R"?

[BlueSkyJaunte]

959

[island911]

VWTDI Syncro

[Andyrew]

Is it a new car?

[david c.]

I should have said it was a used car. My fault.

I am absolutely astonished that you guys figured this out so quickly, but Curt (cegerer) got it right. And he has the mind to do it so I'm not surprised it was him. Good call, Curt!

It's a 1988 Mazda 323 GTX. It's a homologation rally car. Mazda only sold about 1200 of them in the USA and not all that many more worldwide. I've wanted one since I was a kid and I found one, of all places, about five minutes from my house.

The car has a locking center differential, some really large disk brakes (for the period, anyway) and some other odd-ball techno-goodies.

In US trim the car was detuned. But the Japanese spec version had over 180hp from what I remember. I think the parts are basically interchangeable. I really haven't had time to do any research. I saw the car in the local "Pennysaver" in the cheap car section. I called up the number, drove right over (at 10pm) to look at it. I offered asking price and then I had to go out of town.

I was positive the car would sell in a matter of a few days and was relieved that the seller did the honorable thing and waited for me to get back into town. We did the paper work this afternoon and the car is here at my house right now.

It's a ball to drive. Transitionally at moderate speeds, the grip is incredible. And that's on junk tires. I am looking forward to doing some appropriate resto/upgrades. I'll try to post a pic later.

I'm still amazed Curt... heck of a good guess. And I would like to have an R5 someday too!!!

[bell]

a good friend of mine has an ex-groupB rally gtx............it's his winter car and is simply spooky
post some pics....i wanna see

[david c.]

Hey Bell,

I've been thinking of coming to Akron for an autocross one of these days. When the 912E gets back together, I'm sure I'll make it up there.

What's "spooky" about the car? Do you mean handling, speed, grip? Tell me more. I'm on the steep uphill part of the learning curve right now.

David

[Andyrew]

Lets see some pics man!!

[bell]

you have boost......grip......and all wheel drive, what more needs to be said
let me know when you want to come up.....if you do our pca region autocross you'll get around 10-20 runs in and be done by 2pm.....
the scca-neohio ones you'll get 4-6 runs, be there til 5-6...... but there's better competition

[CamB]

Lotsa of the GTX here in NZ. They have pretty good performance potential and it is a well trodden road. I think the gearbox is the weak link.

The GTR was the rare factory race homologation one (but still not THAT rate). Apparently it has a MASSIVE turbo, which can flow enough for an easy 250hp. The GTX turbo is smaller. GTR is identified by a front lower spoiler with massive fog light holes.

They (the GTX - with a select few lusting over the GTR) were THE boy racer car here in the mid 90s. It has moved on to WRXs, EVOs, Skylines, Sylivas, etc now.

For the guessing record, I would have chucked in (all 4wd turbo 4 cylinder):

- Mitsi Galant VR4
- Mitsi Lancer Evo I to VII
- Toyota Celica GT4
- Nissan Pulsar GTiR

Plus a few obscure ones (it is amazing what there is available in the japanese domestic market).

[david c.]

Cam,

The GTR wasn't available in the USA, so we had to make due with the detuned GTX version. From what I understand, many of the high-performance parts that were swapped off the USA car can be reinstalled now.

With regard to your list, I don't know of any of those cars. I think, actually, the only one on your list that was available here was the Galant. I remember looking over the Galant VR4 in the Mitsu showroom when we bought the Eclipse new back in '91. It was a neat car.

[cegerer]

Dave, I had a friend (who raced in SCCA Pro Rally several years ago) who owned one of these as his street car. Very cool car and I figured this would be right up your alley! -- Curt

[david c.]

Well Curt, if the 912E isn't pieced back together by the next East Coast "R Gruppe" event, you will be more than welcome to thrash it if you like! Any plans for such an event on your mind? What about the Rennsport Reunion at Daytona?

[cegerer]

The 'Rennsport Reunion Raid Rally' is in the planning stages. We hope to have R-Gruppe and/or Pelican cars from all over the eastcoast and midwest meet up along the way to Daytona and find an 'official' hotel. You interested????

No other plans right now, but I'm always open to suggestions!

[david c.]

Curt,

I am most definately interested. But, a mid-spring event someone nearby would also be welcome. The Pittsburgh winter is dismal and a 'late March/early April' event somewhere south would be welcome. Like South Carolina maybe?

David