In a quiet nook of Retro Havoc 2024, amidst a gathering of 950 modified automobiles, sat an unassuming Mazda, seemingly separated from the remainder of the present.
Whether or not as a result of a late arrival by its proprietor, Tiup, or the discerning eye of Retro Havoc organisers Alie Kuoppa and Farah Darlings, the little Mazda Familia had discovered itself in its personal show space. However what makes this ’90s hatchback so particular that it deserves a highlight? Truthfully, not a lot at first look. The Familia is unremarkable in most trim ranges, however it does share its household tree with some notable family members.
The Familia title has been round since 1963, debuting in Japan as a two-door van – then different physique types – after being penned by 25-year-old Giorgetto Giugiaro. It was often known as the Mazda 800 in abroad markets. The second technology Familia (Mazda 1000) arrived in 1967, once more in quite a lot of physique types, and with four-cylinder engines underpinning the mannequin. There was an exception, although – the Familia Rotary (aka R100) which featured Mazda’s first manufacturing rotary engine, the 10A. The high-performance Familia’s motorsport success – together with a notable efficiency on the 1969 Spa 24 Hours – marked Mazda’s early triumphs and laid the groundwork for future legends just like the 787B. Within the early Seventies, Mazda’s rotary engine was additionally fitted to the Grand Familia, higher often known as the Savanna or RX-3.
However we’re not right here to speak rotaries.
Finally, the Familia line was completely powered by four-cylinder engines. The rotary, nevertheless, continued, most notable within the Mazda RX-7. That leads us, in a roundabout method, to the world of rally.
For a quick time, Mazda Rally Group Europe used an RX-7 in Group B. Regardless of being underpowered and rear-wheel drive, the Mazda did podium on the Acropolis Rally. Sadly, that was the tip of the road; Mazda didn’t wish to again the event of an all-wheel drive RX-7, by which era Group B’s curtains had been closing. Enter Group A and the Mazda Familia in BF-series type.
At its peak within the early Nineties, the BG collection Familia – or 323 in export markets – featured an all-wheel drive, turbocharged 1.8L four-cylinder powertrain in its highest-performance JDM manufacturing fashions. For homologation functions, 2,200 Familia GT-Rs and 300 Familia GT-Ae (a motorsport base with lighter weight and that includes a close-ratio gearbox amongst different adjustments) variants had been produced completely for the Japanese home market. Whereas the Familia couldn’t match the likes of Lancia, Ford, Toyota and Subaru on the World Rally Championship stage, the 300hp Group A automobile was removed from a failure.
Whereas the sixth-generation Familia I noticed at Retro Havoc appears to be like like a GT-R/GT-Ae with the distinctive rally-style entrance bumper, grille, vented bonnet, and five-stud hubs, it isn’t. It’s not even a GT-X – the entry all-wheel drive turbo BG-series Familia. It began life as a lowly front-wheel drive, naturally aspirated variant offered new in Malaysia.
As per Malaysian automobile legal guidelines, it’s nonetheless front-wheel drive, however that’s the place most similarities between the way it left the manufacturing unit and the way it presents now start and finish. On the hunt to construct the very best BG Familia hatchback with the sources accessible to him, Tiup turned to Japan-based wreckers and public sale websites to supply the entire OEM and aftermarket components.
Inside, the automobile options GT-R leather-based seats entrance and rear – the motive force’s seat having since been swapped out for a uncommon Mazdaspeed recliner – plus a Mazdaspeed steering wheel, 240km/h speedometer, and numerous Defi gauges.
Underneath the hood, the unique 1.5L mill has given technique to a BP 1.8L turbo powerplant from a GT-R. With locally-fabricated consumption and exhaust manifolds and different power-making modifications within the combine, the engine is making way more than its authentic 210hp. That might be an issue for the driveline if the automobile was all-wheel drive – the manufacturing unit AWD gearboxes had been a weak hyperlink – however not so with all that energy being despatched to the entrance wheels. Though, traction is a matter.
Regardless of not being the Familia mannequin it visually emulates, Tiup’s construct represents all the things nice about Malaysian automobile tradition at an fanatic stage. The place there’s a will, there’s at all times a method.
Toby Thyer
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