Then in Feb 2006... Now in September 2009...
This is my car. Its a 1989 Ford Telstar TX5 which is based on the GD Mazda 626 and shares pretty much everything bar some of the panels. It was made here in Auckland by Vehicle Assemblers New Zealand Ltd, back when we used to actually make some of our cars.
Mazdas GD Mark III 626 (GT)
Fords AT Mark III Telstar TX5. (My actual car. Its trim level is Ghia. Differences between Ghia and GT models are Ghia = 14" rims, elec windows, optional sunroof, optional 2.0 dohc motor. GT = 15" rims, optional elec windows, optional sunroof, only come with 2.0 dohc motor. Some import ones have adjustable suspension, 4ws, abs and awd.)
*****All stock and boring*****
This is how it was back in 2006 the day I go it (Feb 2), all stock down to the paper air filter. Only exception is I took the factory tape player out cos it was broken and chewed tapes and didnt get reception it was just a useless ornament. And I put "The Rock" and "Edge" stickers on it just to be funny. Took them off when I decided to paint the car. Im not into stickers and decals much. I like factory decals much more, may get some made.
This is going in order of whats been done from 2006 to 2009. Almost everythings been changed in some way or another throughout this time. Its taken some time and effort and money, but I now have (one of) the tidiest AT TX5 liftbacks in Auckland. Maybe even in New Zealand. It will be once my bodykit is painted and on the car.
I never set out to achieve this. It really started by me collecting whatever parts I could off trademe and storing them cos its rare to find aftermarket stuff for these old cars. Then I had an idea of what I could make this car be like and now Im well on my way to having it all done.
The Beginning
Many of these cars are sohc 1.8 or 2.0, 8 or 12 valve carby and efi grocery getters with anything from 67 kw (90 hp) upwards - a few of them like this one have the gold top 2 litre dohc 16 valve motor FE3N aka FE-Dohc from 109kw (145hp) upwards, which is available in Europe and Japan (we get the dohcs cos 90% of cars here are from Japan, whatever they get we get). Australia and America get 2.2 sohc injected n/a and turbo versions. The turbo versions have the same amount of power as the low compression fe dohc makes in n/a form (depending on cams). I love this engine. As long as you have oil and water it will go hard all day long. It sounds amazing has brilliant response revs very freely and has a mountain of torque. Possibly my favourite N/A engine. I wonder what a turbo one is like. I would try but its a daily driver so economy is the reason I hold back. It still goes well without it. And sounds beautiful with the angry cam roar. Love it.
In late 2002 both Ford and Mazda released new cars once again based on each other mechanically called the Mondeo and the Mazda 6 although now they dont share any of the bodywork. New badge and engineering but underneath it all echoes some slight recollection from almost 20 years earlier. I have driven them and like them but as good as they are I just like my old Telly better.
