'Show me' 80's Mazda 323s

[tome30]

Hello, anybody have any info on Mazda 323s i'm looking at an '85 1.5 glx Auto later today ?
What are they like, what to look out for?
Any J-tin ones?
Pic's please, anything on Japanese nostalgic car?


Piccy for your troubles....

[RetroMat]

1980-1985 FWD 'BD' 323



1985-1989 FWD 'BF' 323



there was also the rwd wagon versions basically a facelifted 70's model build til 1985. I suspect a 1.5glx will be the BF model
Japanese versions are Mazda Familias, U.S versions GLC also sold in some parts of the world as the Ford Laser.

What to look for: rust! rear strut tops, sills. Engines are strong early ones are timing chain, later are belts. Reliable easy to work on nice to drive, comfitable and often quite well speced for and 80's hatch.

[devilishdesigner]

Reliable, but that's about their only redeeming feature. I had an 86 model (badged as a Ford Laser), least pleasant thing I have spent any considerable amount of time driving. WAY too low geared for highway cruising (screaming at 100kph and you can watch the fuel gauge drop!), very light in the nose at 100+ too which is a bit disconcerting for a FWD, soulless handling, slow off the line, but to give it it's due, no matter what I did I couldnt kill it. ended up getting written off after a glancing impact to the drivers front guard at 70kph, bent the front end so that the passenger front door wouldnt open properly yet still drove with everything working!

[tome30]

Ok thanks, well I do a lot of motorway driving so, although they look cool, don't think this is for me.

But again thanks.

[Jowey]

I prefer the lines of these to the lines of the mk1 golf. All in all they look very similar though.
The mazda is a good blend of mk1 fez and mk1 golf.

here is one of watanabe splits.



and few vectors and photoshopdrop executed by myself






I would love to do one of these slammed and rocking the right wheel fitments but I just don't have the knowledge or equipment to go cutting all the rot out of these. Of course if a mint example came up...

few more pic dumps.


90's 323 .. achievable awesomeness.

The loon version looks like the rest from the front..

from the back..uhh is that a mk1 jetta ?






So much untapped potential.

[RetroMat]

devilishdesigner: was yours an auto? i've driven 2 manual 323's and they always seem very long geared. Mine sits at 70 very comfortably 40+mpg never driven an auto one so cant compare.

jowey: mine will probably be for sale in a couple of months, very solid car. Most of the rot has been sorted not that there was much in the first place ;D





photoshop with lotus wheels




ford laser

[scoobypete]

theres a turbo'd one on the bay at the moment for 9 hundred poundages... ;D

[Jowey]

Nov 24, 2009 19:53:25 GMT RetroMat said:

jowey: mine will probably be for sale in a couple of months, very solid car. Most of the rot has been sorted not that there was much in the first place ;D

excellent ! Would certainly be interested when the time comes.
I would only do good thinks with it of course

[Jowey]

**POST #100**
~feels proud~



Air assisted-esque photoshop

[devilishdesigner]

RetroMat: Yeah, was an auto, low kms granny spec 3spd auto 1.6. Would start in 2nd unless you nailed it and was well and truly out of breath at 100. I have heard the manuals are much better geared.

[bortaf]

Of the 2 i had i preferd the earlyer RWD 323, nice chequerd seats as well

[79cord]

Nov 24, 2009 23:19:46 GMT devilishdesigner said:

RetroMat: Yeah, was an auto, low kms granny spec 3spd auto 1.6. Would start in 2nd unless you nailed it and was well and truly out of breath at 100. I have heard the manuals are much better geared.

Small 80's autos would have to be painful wouldn't they? 5-speed ALWAYS better, a little flimsy perhaps but good fun.

A friend used to enjoy & push his mothers white '86 323 5-speed sedan (came with rear discs where laser had drums) to absurd limits & almost never drove his XB Falcon GT as a result.
It inspired/forced him to buy a white Vtec EG Civic sedan when someone pulled out in front of him & took out its front, he also looked at '80s 4wd Turbo 323 though those g/box's have a reputation for fragility under abuse.







I wanted to find a shot of those cool pineapple orange early Laser S-pack with extensive window black-outs edged with colour striping, 4-spot or black painted alloys, twin carburettors, & stylish black metal 4-spoke steering wheels.

Apparently Ford Australia got into some trouble for sharing pre-release design photos of the mk3 Escort to Mazda & the cars resulting (?) final design similarities -so Mazda was obliged to "plug" the rear 1/4 window of 5-doors for differentiation!

[goldenwonder]

My dad's got a 4x4 turbo one in the old works colours like this one:

Must get some pics of it, 220bhp out of a 1.6, great fun little car!

[tome30]

Thanks for the interest, they sure do have a lot of untapped potential I agree, but by the sounds of things an auto would be a nightmare....as I'm doing 100miles a day at the moment.

Not to go O/T on my own topic but ...... same questions but this time regarding 1982 Datsun cherry 1.3 gl, shall I start a new thread.

[scoobypete]

^ is that the silver one on the bay?

[benouzzz]

I love this convertible

[tome30]

Nov 25, 2009 19:22:58 GMT scoobypete said:

^ is that the silver one on the bay?

Yes sure is!

[Deleted]

I miss my old 323, wish id never sold it

[donttellhimpike]

:)this was mine, this is the car i regret selling the most!! msa'd reliable and fast ,self sponsorred rallying when times wer good, if the wife knew what i blew on it it would have been blue bricks!!

[goldenwonder]

Did you have any work done on that by a Greek bloke in Arnold? Just seems couple of the bits look familiar compared to my old mans