Did someone say Mazda 323 GTX slow-motion snow hoonage? Video from the weekend.

"MarquetteLa" (marquettela)
11/18/2014 at 11:30 • Filed to: mazda, 323, gtx, 323 gtx, snow, group a, marqgtx

Some of you know this by now, but after spending the first 24 years of my life in the south, I moved to Denver, Colorado in July. I bought a 1988 Mazda 323 GTX to use in the winter instead of my 2002 Miata on summer tires.

The GTX was Mazda's Group A rally homologation car, with just 1,243 cars being imported into North America over the span of two years. It has a 1.6L turbocharged engine (trivia!: this 1.6L is the engine that the first Miata's engine is based on. Miatas take boost so well because its engine was originally designed to be turbocharged!) mated to a 5-speed transmission that sends power to all four wheels, all of the time.

Last week brought the first significant snowfall to Denver. Naturally, over the weekend I decided to get some "practice" driving in the snow. Big thanks to my friend Ahmad who shot this with his fancy new iPhone 6. Excuse the SERIOUS DRIVING FACES I'm making as I have a complete blast sliding around.

Twitter & Instagram: @MarquetteLa

DISCUSSION (9)

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > MarquetteLa
11/18/2014 at 11:32

You're going to have a fun winter. Sweet find.

Kanaric > MarquetteLa
11/18/2014 at 11:39

I wouldn't say the GTX was their Group A homologation car. The car that was that wasn't sold in the US. "A limited production homologation special, the GT-Ae, appeared in May 1988 and offered an additional ten horsepower."

The serious homologation one that had all the parts the group A car had was the generation after this model. Even had the same turbo and maps on the ECU for up to 18 psi.

Those sell in Japan for like $2000-$4000. Familia GTR or Familia GT-Ae