Today, we’re looking at two different visions of 1987. Japanese automakers were riding their bubble economy to new technological heights, and infusing their cars with all kinds of cool gadgets, while European brands were enjoying their newfound status among yuppies. And I, a car-crazy fourteen-year-old kid, loved them all. Which one is a better deal thirty-nine years later? We’ll see.
Well, I hope the little Honda Civic we looked at yesterday came with a spare tire, because that was a blowout. It didn’t stand a chance against the Nissan Hardbody Desert Runner. No love for the history of Honda tuners, huh? Many of you complained about the price, but I get the feeling there’s more to that car than the photos and description show. The ad says it comes with a lot more stuff that wasn’t pictured; maybe if they had pictured it, it would seem like a better deal.
But really, that Desert Runner is just too cool to pass up. Even the name is cool. The D21 Hardbody pickup is one of the best-looking trucks of all time, in my eyes, and that’s a variant you never see. I’d happily drive it, though I’m not sure I’d be willing to give up my Chevy for it. The little Civic looks like something I really want to build a model of, but as far as the real car goes, like the majority of you, I’ll pass.
I remember reading about both of today’s cars in the magazines back in the day, and at one time I probably could have quoted specs on both, but now I’ll probably have to look them up. I’ve heard people say that you never love anything as much as the stuff you love when you’re a teenager, which means I’m stuck with the cars, and music, and movies, of the mid- to late-’80s. Could be worse, I guess. There were some really cool cars back then, if you dug a little bit beyond the obvious. Let’s take a look at a couple of good ones.
1987 Mazda 626 GT – $6,750
Engine/drivetrain: Turbocharged 2.0-liter OHC inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Santa Clarita, CA
Odometer reading: 170,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
In some ways, I feel a bit cheated; we never had any Japanese cars when I was growing up. No one in our town did. We got away with a few European cars here and there, but for the most part all I saw were American cars. This means I missed out on a really great era of cars from Japan, cars that were not only well-made but also packed with cool high-tech features. I only got to experience them through magazine articles. This was one such car, the forerunner to the Mazda MX-6 and Ford Probe, the 626 GT.
The standard GC-chassis 626 was a nice car, but a bit dowdy. The GT version, introduced in 1986, had a much livelier personality, with a turbocharged engine, all kinds of power features, electronically adjustable shocks, and more. This car features a digital instrument panel, but it isn’t original to the car. The seller installed it, hence the incorrect mileage on the odometer. The original analog cluster with the right mileage is also included if you prefer. It runs great, and it comes with full documentation from both of its two owners.
Some heavy wear on the steering wheel rim and the shift knob gives away the actual mileage, but the rest of the interior looks really good. The GT came with better seats than the standard 626, with more adjustments, and man, do they look comfy. The seller says everything works except the power antenna, and the stereo speakers have died of old age and need to be replaced. The air conditioning, however, works fine.
It was repainted somewhere along the way, but the clearcoat is failing again, so there are some dull spots on the hood and roof. But it doesn’t have any rust, it has all four original wheels, and overall it looks really sharp.
1987 Alfa Romeo Milano Gold – $8,500
Engine/drivetrain: 2.5-liter OHC V6, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Portland, OR
Odometer reading: 127,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
When you think of Alfa Romeo, you typically think of sports cars, not four-door sedans. But in Europe, four-door Alfas are common, and Alfa sold sedans in the US from the ’60s all the way up until it left the US market the first time in 1995. This was the second-to-last Alfa Romeo sedan sold here back then, a car known as the 75 in Europe, but known here as the Milano.
The 75 was offered with a range of four-cylinder engines in Europe, but all the Milanos sold here were V6s. This being a mid-range Gold model, it has a 2.5-liter version of Alfa’s famous “Busso” V6, which is consistently ranked among the best-sounding engines of all time. The rest of its mechanical specification is downright exotic: a rear-mounted transaxle, a DeDion tube rear axle, and inboard-mounted rear disc brakes. I’ve never had the pleasure of driving one, but I’ve heard they handle incredibly well. This one has had a lot of recent work done, including a new clutch, timing belt, and brake work, and the seller says it runs great.
I can’t explain why exactly, but one of my favorite details of this car has always been the basket-handle parking brake lever. It’s a small thing, and it probably makes no difference at all to its operation, but it looks so cool. The rest of the interior screams ’80s, with its blocky dashboard and Recaro-looking (or maybe actually Recaro?) seats. It’s all in good condition, and almost everything works in this one as well, including the air conditioner.
The seller repainted this car in its original color, and it looks good. It wears fifteen-inch Campagnolo wheels with new tires, but the original fourteen-inchers are included too. It’s funny; I remember the Milano’s styling as being much wilder than it looks now. It’s actually pretty sedate. Is it just that I’ve gotten used to it, or is it the four decades of increasingly crazier designs since then?
Honestly, I’d be happy with either one of these. They’re both fun, they’re both in good condition, and they both speak to the ’80s kid in me. If you’re my age, I’m sure you read about these two in magazines back then as well. But which one would you rather have today?
I occasionally drove a 1983 626LX Sport Coupe from 1983 to 1991. It had a 5 speed, but no turbo. It was fast and fun, topping out at about 123 on I-89 in NH. Mazda replaced the fancy valved shocks three times in 70k miles and the next owner blew the head gasket within a month of buying it. I’d take that car back. However, today I choose the Alfa.
Mazda all the way…. I have (and rely on) and excellent import mechanic shop in town and they would go nuts over it. I can already feel the drive, and the Japanese car smell, in the thing.
Another rare instance of ‘both’ being the correct choice. But I think the Alfa’s priced a little high, and coupes are so rare these days, so I voted Mazda.
That Mazda may very well be the last of its kind. But I would still take the 75/Milano, one of my absolute favorite cars EVER.
I think both is the sensible answer.
What’s the saying about Alfas and their owners?
Always Late Fixing Anything?
Abundantly Likable Financial Apocalypse?
Anyway, probably you could arrange to have at least one of these running most of the time, and they are both fairly pleasant to drive even if most Mazda and Alfa fans have forgotten they exist.
Milano Verde owner for the last 12 years chiming in. Maybe my Alfa was built on a Tuesday morning after every single factory worker was given a 20% raise and told to take 4 weeks of vacation and come back re-energized. I’ve done regular maintenance – oil changes, spark plugs and timing belt – and nothing else else beyond regularly driving the car the way Alfa Romeo engineers intended. It has never failed to start, left me stranded or had me contemplating getting something more “reliable”. Power windows, locks, sunroof, even the cruise control to this day function perfectly. It is hands down one of my favorite classic cars to drive and wring out on a twisty road, even if there are faster, less pedestrian looking choices in my garage. I simply don’t understand the fear mongering that continues to put people off from experiencing these wonderful cars.
“I simply don’t understand the fear mongering that continues to put people off”
They owned one made before the raise and vacation. Data distribution is a funny thing, a car model may be statistically unreliable on average but still have flawless individual units.
Gol-darnit, why must you insist on throwing every 626 against something so dastardly that I lust for that every time?
Used to do some yardwork/pet care for family friends that had this Mazda new. Finally gonna give this the due respect I had 39 years ago.
That said wife is out of town and that Alfa is 2 hrs away…..cash is tight but I can feed a lawn and water a dog….
I had a 626 of this era, not the GT, but it did have the nifty digital dashboard. A turbo version would be fun. The Mazda gets my vote today.
I don’t hate the Alfa, but the Mazda is more my vibe. Undoubtedly easier to find parts for too.
As much as anything built in the 80’s with 170,000 miles scares me, I gotta go with the Mazda purely to ride the wave of the Japanese bubble era and its over engineering and excess
I am a Mazda fan. I love 80s Japanese cars, especially ones with neat toys like the fancy stereos with the EQs and digital dashes.
I’m choosing the Alfa. It’s in better condition, and Busso FTW.
I love the Alfa 75,especially in this spec. The Mazda would be fine too,but it doesn’t float this boat baby.
Am I the only one that thought the Mazda looked like an 80s mustang notchback
Now that you’ve mentioned it, I kinda see it!
I remember seeing Milanos at Alfa club track days in the mid-90’s. They were quick when driven well, and they sounded GREAT. Voted.
I thought the Mazda would win walking away, but that Alfa has too much going for it, including a good color. Plus, back in the day, I always liked those taillights.
they look pretty much the same, the FWD vs RWD is a double edged sword, neither are so sports centric that it matters much, but the FWD might get you up a snowy hill as long as the one leg differential does not just pull you right into the ditch. the 626 looks pretty similar, but the overall aesthetics are better balance over the weird hump back alfa. I would probably do the Mazda if I had to.
If i wanted to use a little of that milano money to fix something and still wanted an odd, but kind of cool manual trans humpback, I would definitely go for the p1800 near that car. https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/d/portland-1973-volvo-1800es-hatchback/7936750159.html
Oof. Now I could really get myself in trouble! Except, too crusty even for me. Especially with the Campagnolo wheels on the Alfa, if that is tomorrow’s SBS.