1984 Mazda 626 Coupe TWR

626coupe · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 3:15 pm

Hello all,

I occasionally drive this:

It's now a very rare car in the UK. There are 16 survivors, an unknown number of which are still running. I currently know of three, if anyone knows anymore please let me know.

Mine has a number of the TWR extras including the original Gotti alloys, spoiler and twin driving lamps in the grille.

I'm always interested to know more about this model.

Hope you're enjoying the restoration which is 80-90% complete.
Later this year I'm hoping to complete 100,000 miles.

Kris

ben · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 3:38 pm

Welcome 626coupe! May I be the first to compliment you on that incredible interior! It looks CLEAN. Those wheels are interesting... original, you say? I don't believe the US versions ever had wheels like that.

Hirst · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:12 pm

The wheels look superb! Love the little spoiler too.

Good work!

626coupe · **Posted:** Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:09 am

Thanks guys.

To address the replies:

The wheels were in a bit of a state and I had to get them refurbished, so they're not totally original! (you should have seen the bill for such a sympathetic restoration)

The US versions I believe had two different styles of alloys. I'll have to try and find some pictures out, but if you go to mazdarecycling.com/wheels (?) you can see the two US styles there.

The interior isn't always that clean!

626coupe · **Posted:** Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:20 am

On Dan's question in the other thread:

It was a bit of a dog when I got it and I'm not sure whether I have any pictures from those bad old days.

The car was either kept in a shed (more like a kennel) or on a little access road in Kingstanding, Birmingham. In those days it was finished in the proper silver colour and looked pretty grim.

A lot of 626 Coupes suffer from rust around the back, but this was better than most in that respect and didn't look as though it had been parked in the sea for 6 months. Rust pockets and accidents have killed them all off in the UK.

It had been a well maintained car until around '97, with an extraordinary amount of providence, but it hadn't been used for 3 months when I got it in 1999. Professor Fatbloke and I went round it and got it knocked down to a £130 sale! I've probably spent around 10x that since on the respray and wheels mainly.

I've owned two others before that one which I've broken up for spares, but I'm running out of some bits now.

mazdaclassics · **Posted:** Tue Dec 18, 2007 1:45 pm

626coupe wrote:

It's now a very rare car in the UK. There are 16 survivors, an unknown number of which are still running. I currently know of three, if anyone knows anymore please let me know.

I'm always interested to know more about this model.

Kris

Indeed, a very very nice car. My wife has the Sedanversion from it. Regular one will find a pretty good one here in Holland. The German versions where cool, they had AAS, Seatwarmers, CruiseMain, Airco and some had an electric antenna and powersteering.

BUT... to find such a car in this condition and the work devoted to get it in a state like this, my compliments!

Btw, Leicester is nice place with good people. :tu:

626coupe · **Posted:** Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:08 am

Hi Hans,

Thanks for the kind words. The car has been restored at a snail's pace for some years now.

You're welcome anytime to Leicester, I'm quite new here but it is a lovely county to live in - needs more garaging though!

B1500boy · **Posted:** Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:54 am

Awesome Car there Kris, gotta love the 626 FWD coupes. I love to collect the Mazda sales brochures too, have just about the TWR items, great accessories that's for sure. I've got the 1983 GT coupe. Getting a bit thin on the ground over here too.

Wibla · **Posted:** Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:54 am

I'm really impressed with the good work you did on this one

Is it the 2.0 or 2.0i?

626coupe · **Posted:** Sat Feb 02, 2008 2:03 pm

Hi, thanks for the kind words again.

My good friends at www.oldjapanesecar.com here in the UK have furnished me with a number of period brochures, so I'll have to get scanning. My (half-done) website will have some good bits in it at www.freewebs.com/626coupe. I'll stop plugging now moderators, it's not for profit or anything.

Mine is the 2.0 carb version. I understand that the 2.0i was a bit of terror in the temperamental UK weather with it's electronic airflow mixing system.

TSiSS350 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:13 am

Nice! Is that the same TWR(Tom Walkinshaw Racing) that built the BTCC (british touring car championship) Volvos in the 90's?

626coupe · **Posted:** Tue Feb 05, 2008 12:46 am

Yes, that's the fellow. He started with Jaguar in the 70s before drifting off into other makes. He was obviously on Mazda by the early 80s.

B1500boy · **Posted:** Tue Feb 05, 2008 2:24 am

Yep, also the same man that spent a little time over here in the mid 80's on Holden Commodores for our Touring car circuit. A TWR VL Commodore will set you back a lot of money these days. Tom also did a lot of V8 engine work here for many teams.

serrasalmus · **Posted:** Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:50 pm

I have got a 626 Coupe, too. :wink:

Take a look here:

www.mazdayoungtimer.siteboard.de

there are some others with nice Gcs! :wink:

626coupe · **Posted:** Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:36 am

For benefit of anyone still reading. This is the Serrasalmus edition, which is absolutely stunning.

You even have the same spoiler, I'm overjoyed to see this.

But lower down a 626 Cabriolet, nnngh!

is that in Germany only? I've never seen this.

B1500boy · **Posted:** Tue Feb 12, 2008 2:48 pm

I'm liking that whole kit there Serrasalmus, lovely car. I've never seen a Cabriolet version, I'd own that!

RotoRmanFran · **Posted:** Tue Feb 19, 2008 5:55 am

626coupe wrote:

Hello all,

I occasionally drive this:

It's now a very rare car in the UK.
Mine has a number of the TWR extras including the original Gotti alloys, spoiler and twin driving lamps in the grille.

Hope you're enjoying the restoration which is 80-90% complete.
Later this year I'm hoping to complete 100,000 miles.

Kris

Nice ride Kris.
You've done an amazing job.
Those wheels are highly unusual, and look superb on such vehicle.
Here in Australia, we only got the 4door version, and it sold along side the Ford TX-5 Telstar.
Never seen a 2 door version before now, and thank you for sharing such a great example with us :tu:

B1500boy · **Posted:** Wed Feb 20, 2008 2:04 am

Bud, I've got one! Kris's is a lot better though, mine is the 1983GT coupe.

BrettMRC · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:23 pm

Cracking car you have there

roosterfella46 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:32 am

B1500boy..seems like u have almost all da nostalgic mazda here...
:lol:

1984 Mazda 626 Coupe TWR

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