Junkyard Gem: 1988 Mazda MX-6

Mazda put the 626 (referred to as the Capella again house in Hiroshima) on a brand new front-wheel-drive platform for the 1983 mannequin yr, then utilized a significant replace for 1988. The U.S.-market 626 turned out there solely as a sedan that yr, whereas the coupe model received a slick-looking physique and a brand new title: MX-6. At the moment’s Junkyard Gem is a type of first-year MX-6s, present in a Denver self-service yard not way back.

Beneath the pores and skin, this automobile was mechanically equivalent to each the 626 sedan and the Ford Probe (additionally launched for the 1988 mannequin yr). Ford’s unique plan was to make the Mazda-derived coupe the brand new Mustang, however the heresy of a front-wheel-drive Mustang precipitated such outcry that the Probe turned a separate mannequin. The 626 turned the Mazda6 early within the twenty first century, so this automobile has present-day descendants in Mazda showrooms proper now.

The hand-cranked home windows and unpowered door locks inform us that this automobile is an entry-level MX-6 DX, which had an MSRP of $10,599 (about $27,140 in 2022 {dollars}). The MX-6 GT Turbo price $14,499 ($37,125 now).

In the meantime, Toyota did not even supply a two-door Camry (that got here afterward, briefly), and Honda’s closest rival to the 1988 MX-6 was the $13,495 Prelude. Isuzu provided the Impulse coupe beginning at $13,629, Nissan had the 200SX notchback for $11,899, and Subaru would promote you a futuristic XT6 coupe for $15,030. Sadly, Mitsubishi solely provided the Cordia as a hatchback and the Tredia as a sedan. Clearly, the MX-6 was deal for what you bought.

The Probe gave you all the identical mechanicals and regarded cooler, although, and its price ticket began at $10,459 — 140 bucks cheaper than the MX-6.

Each the MX-6 and the Probe have been in-built Michigan, on the then-new Flat Rock Meeting Plant.

The engine within the cheapo MX-6 DX and equally inexpensive Probe GL was this 110-horsepower, 2.2-liter straight-four. The turbocharged model made 145 horses.

The second-generation MX-6/Probe, launched for the 1993 mannequin yr, received an non-obligatory 2.5-liter V6 engine.

The bottom transmission in 1988 was a five-speed handbook, with the non-obligatory automated costing 720 further frogskins (about $1,845 right now). Anybody keen to spend the additional cash for a two-pedal rig most likely would have opted for the higher-zoot LX or GT variations.

It does have each air con and AM/FM/cassette radio, which added $795 and $415, respectively, to the underside line ($2,035 and $1,060 after inflation). Sure, that stereo was expensive and prone to theft, however you wanted it to expertise the wonderful music of the day in all its glory.

With 180,632 miles displaying, it did not fairly attain Accord-grade final-odometer numbers. Nonetheless, it received shut sufficient to 200,000 for respectability.

The inside appears to be like clear and the physique is comparatively undented, however the rust received fairly nasty and I am certain that is why this automobile ended up right here.

Like… a horse?

The MX-6 GT Turbo received extra thrilling promoting.

In Japan, this automobile was referred to as the Capella C2, and it had four-wheel steering. US-market MX-6s received 4WS as an possibility beginning in 1989.