Fun-Size Fixer-Uppers: 1988 Mazda 323 GTX vs 1986 Toyota MR2

Welcome back! Today we’re taking a look at a couple of small sporty numbers that both run and drive, but neither one is quite ready for prime time. And both could benefit greatly from more sympathetic owners, it sounds like.

But first, let’s finish up with yesterday’s off-roaders. It was a close-ish vote, as I thought it might be, but the Daihatsu takes the win. It sounds like the uniqueness of it was a factor: YJs are everywhere, but how often do you get a chance at a Daihatsu Rocky? I think the little flying squirrel would be my choice too.

Several of you, including our own illustrious YJ-owner-in-chief, said that if the Jeep had had a 4.0 inline six instead of the 2.5 liter four, the voting would have been very different. I suppose that’s true, but honestly, I’d be fine with a four-cylinder YJ, as long as it’s a manual. And yes, I have driven one. Just downshift and step on it when you need to.

If there’s one thing that’s sorely missing from today’s new car market, it’s fun. We have very fast, very capable cars that will blow the doors off anything made previously, but they’re all oh so serious. The designs make them look like they’re concentrating really hard; it’s the face a pole-vaulter makes just before running down the track. Older fun cars had a more happy-go-lucky demeanor, like a puppy waiting for you to throw a tennis ball. I miss that.

Today’s cars are both in the happy-puppy camp, but both of them could use rescuing from the homes they’re in. Neither one has been treated particularly carefully, from the sounds of it. They’ll both need a little work before they can be their normal fun selves again. Let’s take a look.

1988 Mazda 323 GTX – $4,800

Engine/drivetrain: Turbocharged 1.6-liter dual overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, AWD

Location: Vancouver, WA

Odometer reading: 200,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives, but leaks oil

You know what’s a cool word? “Homologation.” All right, in most contexts it’s a boring concept; all it really means is getting something certified to say that it meets the rules. But in the context of motorsports, a homologation special is a street-legal car built in sufficient numbers to allow a company to race it in a “production” based racing class. In order to homologate its turbocharged, all-wheel-drive 323 hatchback for the FIA World Rally Championship, Mazda had to build 5,000 street-legal versions first. About 1,200 of them were sold here in the US. This is one of them.

The GTX may look like Grandma’s 323 hatchback, but under the hood is a turbocharged 1.6 liter twin-cam four, which drives all four wheels through a five-speed manual – and that’s the only choice. Automatic drivers need not apply. I have read that these gearboxes have a reputation for being fragile; just be nice to it and it should survive. This one had its engine rebuilt, and it runs and drives well, but it has a crack in the valve cover and leaks oil all over. A new cover is included; I don’t know why the seller hasn’t just installed it to fix the problem.

Outside, it has a really strange custom paint job: it’s mostly red, with what looks like either a white or silver roof, but there’s a weird fade effect on the pillars. I can’t decide whether I like it or not; it reminds me of a tequila sunrise. Or the old Tide race car.

Overall, though, it doesn’t look too bad. You’re not likely to find a running 323 GTX for cheaper, at any rate. Fixing an oil leak and putting up with some weird paint may be worth it.

1986 Toyota MR2 – $4,000

Engine/drivetrain: 1.6-liter dual overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, RWD

Location: San Jose, CA

Odometer reading: 120,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives, but hit a curb and now the brakes vibrate

It’s a genius idea, really: Take the transverse engine and drivetrain from a front-wheel-drive economy car, and move it to the back of a small two-seat wedge. Fiat created the X1/9 this way, from the 128, and later Pontiac did the same thing with an X-body to create the Fiero. Toyota joined in the fun with this car, the MR2, using the engine and transmission from the FWD Corolla.

The MR2 uses the same 4A-GE four-cylinder engine as that Corolla FX16 we looked at on Monday. This one has the correct gearbox, however. The seller says it sat for two years, on non-op registration, before being reawakened recently. It fired right up and ran great, and they couldn’t resist taking it for a little spin. And then this happened:

That’s damage from hitting a curb, and anyone who has ever pushed a mid- or rear-engine car hard knows exactly how it happened. Go into a turn too fast, and the car understeers, pushing straight ahead instead of turning. Panic and lift off the gas suddenly, or worse, hit the brakes, and the weight shifts from the rear tires to the front. The front tires gain traction, the rear tires lose it, and the car spins out. This is called “snap oversteer,” and it has humbled many drivers and ruined many sports cars. The damage looks mostly superficial, and the seller claims it still tracks straight, but the brakes vibrate now, meaning something is likely amiss in that left rear hub/brake area. And it also means they almost certainly bent one of those cool three-spoke wheels, which is a crying shame.

Otherwise, it looks really good, and it only has 120,000 miles on it. Cars like this are having their moment right now, and values keep going up, so it’s likely worth fixing. But take it easy on the curves until you get the feel of it.

The prices of these cars may look a little steep, especially considering their condition, but look at what a really clean example of either one goes for. These are, well, not bargains exactly, but decent deals. You just have to be willing to do a little work. Which one are you going to rescue?

(Image credits: Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist sellers)