Good morning! Today we’re going to look at a couple of strippers. Now, before you get too excited, I’m talking about automotive strippers, you know, really basic cars with no options on them. I mean, one of them is in Las Vegas, but still.
I figured yesterday’s showdown was a foregone conclusion, and I was right. Those Mazda MX-3s come up for sale so rarely, and they’re such interesting little cars, that almost nothing was going to beat it. But I am happy to see that the Z24 had its supporters. I have some very fond memories of a Cavalier Z24 that have nothing to do with the car itself, but I still smile when I see one.
For my money, between these two, I think it would come down to intended purpose. For a car to actually drive around, it has to be the Mazda. It’s going to be a lot nicer car to drive, and Mazdas from that era are utterly bulletproof when it comes to reliability. But if I wanted something to tinker with, maybe modify a bit, and keep as a toy, I think I’d go with the Cavalier. It’s easier to work on and find parts for.
If you want a good chuckle, take a look at an economy car brochure from thirty or forty years ago, and read the list of standard and optional equipment. It’s shocking what used to cost extra. And I’m not even talking about power windows or keyless entry or any of that; I mean a day/night rearview mirror. Or a rear defroster. Or any form of radio, even. Hell, some cars didn’t even come with carpet unless you ordered it as an option.
And if you didn’t want a small car, you had another option when it came to cheap basic vehicles: small trucks. Plain-Jane standard cab short-bed trucks were once a great alternative if you just couldn’t bring yourself to be seen in a Tercel or an Escort. But here again, basic meant basic. We’re going to look at a couple of these stripper models today, one car and one truck, and you can decide which one is better basic transportation.
1989 Volkswagen Fox – $3,500
Engine/drivetrain: 1.8-liter overhead cam inline 4, four-speed manual, FWD
Location: San Bernardino, CA
Odometer reading: 154,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives “perfectly”
My dad used to pinch pennies when it came to cars. It’s how he ended up with a ’67 Plymouth Barracuda with a Slant Six and a three-speed manual, and a Fiat 128 with literally no options at all (except dealer-installed pinstripes, which he refused to pay for), and possibly the only non-turbo Dodge 600 ES ever made. He loved a la carte options, and if he didn’t want it, he didn’t get it. In 1985, he bought a new VW Golf, with no options except air conditioning (my mother insisted) and “Radio Prep,” which meant it had speakers and wiring, but no actual stereo. But even that wasn’t basic enough for Volkswagen, apparently, because two years later, it introduced the Brazilian-made Fox, which made our Golf look positively luxurious.
The Fox was so basic that two things buyers take for granted these days – power steering and an automatic transmission – weren’t even available. Its longitudinally-mounted 1.8 liter four cylinder drives the front wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox, in which if I recall correctly, fourth gear is actually a slight overdrive. This one runs and drives great, but that’s all the information we’re given – and in Spanish. I guess if you want to know more, catch up on your Duolingo lessons and go look at it in person.
It looks mighty good in photos, with only a little wear and tear inside to show for its 154,000 miles. And outside, it looks practically new, though sadly it’s industrial gray. I know air conditioning was available on these, but I don’t think this one has it. Fortunately, it has a feature that no new car has – flip-out rear quarter windows.
It’s also a two-door sedan, a bodystyle that I really miss. Not a coupe, just a three-box sedan with only two doors. It’s an economy thing; why pay extra for extra doors you aren’t going to use?
1991 Mitsubishi Mighty Max – $3,000
Engine/drivetrain: 2.4 liter overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: North Las Vegas, NV
Odometer reading: 175,000 miles
Operational status: “Ready for work”
Right now, there is only one inexpensive entry-level compact pickup truck for sale in the US: the Ford Maverick. And even it’s a crew cab, with a list of standard features as long as its bed. But in 1991, you had your choice of, if I’m counting correctly, nine: Chevy, GMC, Ford, Dodge, Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, Isuzu, and Mitsubishi.
Leave every box on the option sheet unchecked, and you got something like this: bench seat, four-cylinder engine, plain steel wheels, manual transmission, unassisted steering, and “2-60” air conditioning (ask an older friend if you don’t know). And if you want music, you’d better know how to sing. Trucks even took the Spartan aesthetic one step further, by making a rear bumper an option – which this truck does not have. Maybe if it had a bumper, it could have been spared that big dent in the tailgate.
It runs great, according to the seller, and has new tires. And since it’s a later model Mighty Max, it enjoys a standard feature that earlier ones really could have used: electronic fuel injection. I mean, power steering by Armstrong is one thing, but there’s no reason for anyone to put up with a feedback carburetor.
It always amuses me how empty the engine compartments of base-model cars and trucks look. There’s so much empty space, and so many unused brackets and mounting holes. And look at that “accessory” drive belt; it’s a triangle, with only three pulleys: crankshaft, water pump/fan, and alternator. Everything you need, and that’s it.
I know that super-plain cars like these aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I just love them. There’s something about having only what you need, without any extra bullshit getting in the way, that really appeals to me. Which one of these appeals to you?
(As a final note: I have a policy about not featuring cars that have sold since I found them. I have done it a couple of times, and once or twice a car has sold between me putting this column to bed and the post going up in the morning. But generally, if something sells, and I notice it, I find a substitute. That Fox was one such substitute; the car I was going to feature was a first-generation Hyundai Freaking Excel. When was the last time you saw one of those, for sale or otherwise? Actually, you know what? Screw it; I’m going to throw it in the poll anyway, as a little bonus. Vote for it if you want.)
(Image credits: Facebook Marketplace sellers)
Mitsubishi is better than VW, so I pick the Mighty Max
VW Fox for me. From a driving experience perspective, they are actually pretty good. It’s basically a cheapened and simplified Audi 4000/Fox/80.
And it’s way more efficient than that Mitsubishi pickup. And since Fox is a very basic car, it means it’s as close to a reliable VAG product as you can get.
The Mighty Max is such an easy choice here. Basically a gimme
Mitsu for the utility of it. I have to acknowledge the owner of this vehicle – opting to own a small black pickup with no A/C in Vegas is quite a choice.
Well, an ac compressor would probably slow its acceleration to a snails pace when the truck is loaded down. And if I had one, it would be loaded. You get these trucks for work.
Small cheap truck gets my vote. Perfect to haul the bikes around and get supplies for the cottage. Like the french doors I have to get this weekend.
I haven’t seen a Fox in at least 20 years in my area. There are a handful of Jettas and Golfs of that era around but the foxes all seem to long since disappeared. I mostly remember seeing the wagon version.
I’ve seen more VW Foxes on this series than I ever have IRL.
I have more use for the Mitsu. It is strange to me to think they sold them so far into the 90s though. In high school our next door neighbors had a basic blue one, or maybe a Ram 50, as a backup car. It could have been 10 years old, or 20 years old. Maybe stranger to think how a 2nd gen Tacoma is nearly a 20 year old truck…
Paging TriangleRAD if they know if someone that frequents RAD or Cars and Coffee bought the Excel.
I somehow missed that listing, and I have no idea who bought the Excel. We can always dream that it may show up someday at an event.
I took the Mighty Max.
My first car was a 1992 Hyundai Excel. It was…a car. That was the nicest thing you could say about it. I was 16 and it got me places, so I didn’t really care. It eventually blew up while driving home on I-75. I had a large brick Nokia cell phone for emergencies and I called home for a ride.
That Fox was such a pure thing to behold in its day, but nostalgia has its limits. Were I to have to live with my decision I’d rather live with the Mitsu.
Mighty Max!
I’m going to be pedantic. Brazil speaks Portuguese. Why were the instructions in Spanish?
Also, VW…what a box! And run from anything 80’s or 90’s Hyundai. There’s a reason they pioneered a 10 year/100,000 mile warranty. They had such a horrible reputation for reliability, and it was well earned. Mitsu by default.
Can I be pedantic about your reading comprehension? It’s the ad that’s in Spanish, not the manual
No contest. Who’s not gonna vote for a Vegas stripper? Especially one that comes with its own bed!
I see two side mirrors on both those cars. Talk about boujee. Us poors had to deal with just a driver side mirror and the rear view. Yes, it triggered OCD everywhere but who wants to pay for that second mirror that you hardly used. 93 Ford Escort two door hatch, no radio, no AC, manual front windows, pop out rear window, no speakers, mouse trap belts, manual trans and 13 in. steel wheels. I don’t recall if it had power steering but my guess is it did not.
You had roll-down windows?! How DARE you don’t share with your comrades!
Was that an Escort Pony?
It just said Escort on the rear but I’ve heard it referred to as the Pony later in life.
I would have voted for the Mitsu, as the Fox is perhaps the dreariest car in automotive history, but would have gone for the Excel if someone hadn’t snapped it up. A/C makes all the difference.
I have little use for a pickup, even a tiny one, but have even less use for a car that has absolutely zero entertainment value. The fox makes the late, unlamented first-gen Mercury Tracer look and feel like a Ferrari Enzo.
The Fox probably has only two doors due its origin. In Brazil, until mid 90’s, four door cars were considered “taxi” car, and had a lower resale value. I don’t really remember many Voyages, as it was called here in Brazil, with four doors, it was a really rare sight.
Any way, Mitsu might Max all day.
I voted Mighty Max, but it was close! If it hadn’t already sold, I’d have voted Hyundai Freaking Excel because it has WORKING AC!!!
My AC at home isn’t working right now, so I am extremely appreciative of my car. But the repairmen are scheduled to come today!! Hallelujah!
I love the Mighty Max, but knowing how I barely fit into first-gen single-cab Toyota pickups, I doubt I’d fit into that. So I went with the Fox.
How tall are you? I’m 6’2″ and drove an 81 Toyo P/U for 6 years without issue. (Granted, I was a skinny-ass 6’2″). In high school, we even stuffed the cab with 5 people.
6’4″. Couple inches must make a difference…. I think it’s also all about how you’re proportioned.
I’m six foot and skinny, 175 lbs. I fit any car. But being 6ft 4 and normal frame is 200 lbs, and shoulders too wide to fit most small car seats.
Yeah, exactly. I’m built like a linebacker. 🙂
I want the Mighty Max! Tiny pickup for the win.
My first car, ’78 LTDII had 2-60 A/C. If I recall it’s replacement, an ’84 LTD also had inoperable A/C. but was upgraded with power windows! (2 windows down at 60 mph).
The Fox would a fun run about, but I bet my daily hybrid gets better mileage with A/C and modern conveniences. I would actually USE the tiny pickup as it is meant to be.
If the Fox was the wagon, I would have voted for it. Since it’s not, I went with the mini pickup
I watched the mighty morphing power rangers as a kid. So I had to vote for the mighty max. Makes sense right?
Man, this one was a tough one. My best friend in high school had VW Fox, and I spent a lot of time in that car and have fond memories. However, the Mighty Max is awesome. Mmmmmm…Mighty Max, simply because small, honest trucks are getting to be impossible to find in reasonable shape.
One of two going for the excel right now, but dang that is a prime example of a car that no one remembers or misses. It’s a far too nice time capsule to not get it.
Mighty Max all day. My grandpa had one as his farm truck for probably 15 years, with an oil-burning V6. It would not die. Even with absolutely gaudy oil consumption (it burns all you put in it, my grandpa said) and a badly warped head, it would start on the first turn of the key, laying down a smoke screen of oil and burning coolant. Which would fill the cabin if you stopped, since the exhaust pipe was broken right under the cab. Hell, there were even things growing in the bed, and the dashboard was so filthy you couldn’t read any of the instruments. His cows actually learned the sound of the horn, and would come over if he honked it. The horn broke, so he would just throw it in neutral and rev the engine, which the cows also learned to recognize. He eventually parked it, though the engine never officially died. It was the first car I ever drove, at 10 years old. It’s still on his farm, though a tornado knocked a tree down onto it a few years ago.
Mighty Max! Mighty Max! Mighty Max! Was there ever any doubt? I miss little trucks like these.
It’s such a shame that, much like the Apollo program, mini-truck technology has apparently been lost to mankind. Count me in for that mini Mitz pickup.
I like to be able to get in my vehicles, and with only 2 doors and those VW door handles that are engineered to fail through excessive mushyness, that’s too great a risk.
Plus, minitruck!