Great Little Car

Oct 10, 2011

When I first saw photos of this car I thought perhaps someone had crossed a Chevette with a Pacer and stuffed a big intercooler into the front of it.

But after a quick search I learned that it is a 1977 Mazda 323, or Great Little Car as it was apparently called in North America.

Before coming across this particular one (which looks to have a boosted spinning Dorito power plant under the hood) I never really had a reason to look into these.

But now that I know they were at one point rear wheel drive I am a little bit more interested, it doesn’t hurt that this particular one looks bad ass to boot.

glc_1 — See the Pacer/Chevette resemblance?

glc_2 — I am not a rotary expert but 13b?

glc_3 — Even the back kind of looks like a Pacer... that is also a big fuel cell

glc_4 — I always thought the 323gtx was my favorite 323 but now I'm not so sure

At a reported weight of about 1800lbs stock this 323 probably went like a bat out of hell, I know these photos are a bit old but does anyone have some info on this car?

Here’s a video of another one I found on youtube in case nothing else pops up.

Happy Thanksgiving.

12 COMMENTS

Andrew Oct 10, 2011 At 2:14 pm

Dont know the specific car but its from New Zealand and they are quite a common vehicle to be rotary powered. Try and search for the 4 & Rotary Nationals or teh RotaNats for more pics of them

INfamouS Oct 10, 2011 At 4:43 pm

1 word…sick!!

go kart tyre fitment oliver Oct 10, 2011 At 5:04 pm

speed bump + intercooler =mucho €€€

C Oct 10, 2011 At 5:52 pm

The owner/builder of this car is a friend on mine. Sam’s 323 is driven on NZ roads, and drag raced when he has the time. Its currently for sale as the owner has found a passion for offroad racing and wants to build a trophy truck. Definitely one of the tidiest rotary 323 conversions Ive ever seen.

Wet unprepped track, backed off and put it on the trailer after the run

heres another http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABG2lHEc6q0

lastly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_BF1ZhfebI

Matt Oct 10, 2011 At 7:27 pm

That is beautiful, nothing better than a bit of Rotary Power!

Fastphil (Philip Law) Oct 10, 2011 At 7:46 pm

I find rotaries interesting, but that one sounds annoying as hell…. There probably isn’t a single 323 from that generation left anywhere in Canada.

DaveT Oct 10, 2011 At 10:32 pm

@Andrew – You guys out in NZ love your Rotaries eh? Thanks for the info

@Ollie ya basically 😛

@C thanks for the update, trophy trucks are pretty damn cool so I guess that’s a good reason to sell. That last video is wild!

@Phil sadly you are probably right.

C Oct 10, 2011 At 11:27 pm

@DaveT All is not lost all going to plan the trophy truck will be rotary powered 😉

Andrew Oct 10, 2011 At 11:47 pm

@Dave T, I drive Hondas, the mortal enemy of Rotaries in NZ haha. But I have seen this one as it is from the same town as me and it is perfect.

DaveT Oct 11, 2011 At 12:10 pm

C keep me posted on the project.

@Andrew you could buy it then have both enemies share space in the same garage.

Nick from NZ Oct 31, 2011 At 11:47 pm

In NZ we will pretty much rota anything! or drop a big straight 6 in it! light cars with shyte loads of power!!

- DaveT Nov 1, 2011 At 11:59 am
  
  I should visit NZ then lol