Make An Offer: 1977 Mazda Rotary Pickup vs 1981 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

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Good morning, and happy Friday to all of you out there in Autopianland! (Wait–that’s awkward. Can’t just call it “Autopia,” though, or can we?… We’ll figure that out later. [Editor’s Note: No comment. -DT]). Usually on Fridays, I throw out the price cap so we can look at something that isn’t a rusty hulk, but we already did that on Wednesday. So today, I went looking for those most annoying of listings: the ones with no price at all. I specifically avoided ads with “$1” in the listing, because I hate that, and I avoided “$1,234,” because I hate that even more.

But before we get there, let’s circle back to our wagons:

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Corolla by a country mile. I couldn’t agree more. I think the only thing that will stop a mid-’90s Corolla is the heat-death of the universe. Or running out of oil; 4A-FEs and 7A-FEs are thirsty critters. Watch that dipstick.

A quick aside: I seem to have ruffled a few feathers by complaining that modern crossovers are badly packaged compared to these old wagons. I know that modern small crossovers sure feel more cramped than older small wagons, but I was curious about the numbers. So I went to Edmunds and looked up the dimensions of our winning Corolla, and a new Corolla Cross. And the numbers don’t lie: despite being more than 9 inches taller, 3 inches longer, and 4 inches wider, the Cross has less cargo room behind the seats, by about 5 cubic feet. Front seat room is more or less a wash, but there’s more hip and shouder room for rear passengers in the old Corolla than in the new. That’s poor packaging.

Yes, some of that is due to all the extra safety doodads and a more bulky structure. I get that. But are you really telling me that 27 years of advances in CAD and metallurgy have meant nothing? Automakers can’t eke out as much interior room from a modern “safe” car with a larger footprint as they could an old “dangerous” one?

But enough about that; let’s look at some more cars. Today’s choices are both offered for sale without a price listed. I know a lot of people hate that, and I’m not fond of it either. It’s wishy-washy and noncommittal, and makes it too easy for buyers to offer a ridiculously high or insultingly low amount. On that point, I’m not saying you should contact the sellers of these cars and offer them typical Shitbox Showdown money for them – but I’m not not saying that either.

1977 Mazda Rotary Engine Pickup – make an offer

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Engine/drivetrain: 1.3 liter Wankel rotary, 5 speed manual, RWD

Location: Chicago, IL (we think)

Odometer reading: 70,000 miles

Runs/drives? Doesn’t say, actually

In the 1970s, after winning a war of attrition with everyone else trying to make Wankel engines viable, Mazda set out to “rotary all the things,” as it were. Mazda’s rotary engines found their way into sports cars, family sedans and wagons, pickup trucks like this one, and even buses, with varying degress of success. The Rotary Engine Pickup (often REPU for short) was based on Mazda’s standard B-series pickup, which also provided the basis for Ford’s compact Courier truck. It was an interesting notion, but rotary engines by nature don’t make much torque, and like to rev, which makes them ill-suited for truck use. It didn’t take long for buyers to figure that out, and the REPU only hung around for four years.

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What few rotary pickups Mazda did manage to shift have become sought-after by the Mazda faithful, naturally. It’s a great-looking little truck, and by all accounts fun to drive (I’ve never had the pleasure myself), but not brilliant at hauling or towing or, you know, being a truck. But it has to be fun to bomb around in a mini-truck that makes rotary noises.

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This truck looks pretty clean, with only a little surface rust on the back edge of the cab, and the inevitable cracks in the vinyl dash top. I don’t know what the reproduction parts availability is like for these, with so few made, but I have a feeling you may have to learn to live with the cracks. The seat is covered up by a Mexican wool blanket – a requirement in old pickup trucks regardless of powerplant – so we can’t ascertain its condition.

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Neither do we have any indication that the little 13B rotary engine runs. The seller mentions that it has factory air conditioning (non-functional) and that the engine is original, but doesn’t specify whether it runs or not. But a rotary with 70,000 miles on it is probably due for a date with a rebuild stand anyway.

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Man, I miss rope hooks on the sides of trucks. Nothing says “let’s carry some shit” like a place to tie everything down built right into the truck.

This truck is listed on Craigslist in Los Angeles, but the ad says the truck is actually in Chicago, but was a California truck. And someone has done the Vermont registration trick with it, which makes me think it might actually run, wherever it is. You don’t bother plating a project that doesn’t run, do you?

 

1981 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 – make an offer

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Engine/drivetrain: 5.7 liter V8, 4 speed manual, RWD

Location: Dyer, IN

Odometer reading: unspecified

Runs/drives? Oh yeah

All right; break out your mullet jokes and crank up the Iron Maiden, because I’ve got another Camaro for you. This time it’s the swoopy second-generation, a last-year Z/28 with all the trimmings, and – even better – a four-speed stick.

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Chevy’s signature cheap-thrills machine was completely redesigned for the 1982 model year, which makes this 1981 model the last of its kind. Vehicles that weathered the regulatory storms of the 1970s with the same bodystyle often got uglier as well as slower as the regulations piled on, but I always thought the Camaro (and its Firebird sibling) wore the required rubber bumpers well. The early second-generation Camaros are gorgeous, but these later ones have a style all their own, and I think they pull it off.

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This Camaro is said to have been a lifelong Arizona car, and restored in 2016. It does look nice. It’s certainly the cleanest interior I’ve seen in this era Camaro in a while. Nice shiny paint and what I assume are reproduction decals round out the package.

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It’s powered by a Goodwrench “crate” 350 cubic-inch engine, which is certainly the quick and easy way to get a Chevy back on the road. It might even have a little more snort to it than the factory engine; these only had 165 horsepower to begin with. Enough to do donuts on your lawn, but not exactly a speed demon. Goodwrench crate engines came in a variety of power levels; you’d have to ask the seller which one this is.

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If you’re going to buy a second-generation Camaro, it seems to me that you’d want to buy a good one, or not bother at all, because the bad ones are really bad. This looks like a good one. It’s probably going to set you back some; after languishing in the “Thrifties” section for ages, these cars are finally getting their due. Hagerty lists this car’s value at $35,300 in “Good” condition.

That’ll do it for this week. Tune in next week for… well, I don’t know what yet. But it’ll be a good time. Until then, you’ve got these two choices to mull over. And put your offers in the comments, and on Monday we’ll see who “wins.” Have a great weekend!

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(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)

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78 thoughts on “Make An Offer: 1977 Mazda Rotary Pickup vs 1981 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

  1. Let’s see, we have a broken down ugly piece of shit that needs everything and a beautiful complete Camaro with a crate motor that is ready to rock(?) whoever the band is.

    Really tough choice! Chevy power for me.

    PS I owned a Camaro like this one but one year older black over black while living in Germany where I discovered that it’s top speed was limited to 115 mph or so.

  2. I’d throw my hypothetical dollars at the Camaro, but only after finding out if it is a factory Z28. You don’t want to pay a factory Z28 price for a tribute.

  3. I offer a large box of Slim Jims and a pair of cheap sunglasses for the Mazda.
    I offer a crate of Bartles & James wine coolers and a suitcase of Lite beer for the Camaro.
    When can I pick up my new rides?

  4. Just a quick note of appreciation for all you grease-monkey, gear-heads that post on this site. Great comments and interaction here. I learn interesting (and even sometimes USEFUL) things I never thought I would, with a little fun in the bargain. What else could I ask for for free?

  5. Mark, this “Make Offer” segment has some promise. I think. Maybe. Make it a tacit requirement to post an “offer” in the coments for your selected vehicle? I dunno. Just thought it might be a way for everyone to have a little more fun. Keep it up, awesome job, Brah.

    1. I’ll salt them in here and there when I find good ones. I’m thinking of a few different recurring variations on the theme, we’ll throw them against the wall and see what sticks.

      1. Hey Mark I hope to get a job offer next week. If I do I’m going to a used car dealer mechanic I know to pick out my next project. My 1st pick is a MG TD, but they have 2 Volvo 122s, a MGB, a Jaguar XKE, a Land Rover and several other project vehicles. If you like I’ll take pictures of the sub $7500 cars and if you like use them.

  6. That Camaro looks fantastic and it certainly brings back high school memories. Not the same car, but pretty much the same color of blue: back in the early 80s, I talked a used car dealer into letting 18-year-old me do a solo test drive a 1976 Trans Am with the 455 engine in it and 4 on the floor (Hurst shifter, brah!). Oh man, was that a hoot! Straight-line acceleration was like nothing I’d ever experienced before and oh the smoky donuts! I’m sure this Camaro would probably deliver similar thrills, but I don’t think I’d want to pay whatever the owner thinks it’s worth.

    So I voted for the REPU. It’s probably affordable, and it probably runs. A friend of mine in high school had an RX-3 with (I think) the same engine. It was a totally different driving experience from the ground-pounding, heart-thumping V8, but it was lots of fun to wring out that high-revving rotary. And like Mark, I think rope hooks on truck beds are one of the most useful features a truck can have.

    1. I know nothing about rotaries but “all the upkeep, none of the driving fun” sounds like it should fit right in with my essential automotive philosophy. It’s got my vote.

  7. As much as the Camaro was my hs jam, I had to go for the Mazda. With Hagarty quoting $35k, there’s no way I could be in that sweet Chevy for the $10k I would think I could have the truck sorted to my liking for. Some slotted mags, shorter tires, a bit of suspension massage, and you could have a fun little zoomy truck to bomb around in. Lots of rotary options out there, and it doesn’t weigh all that much, so I think you can get decent power to weight for the money.

  8. Had to go with the Camaro even though I’ve always been a Mustang fan. As for how much, Hemmings has US Market 1981 Z/28 listings from the high $20’s to the about $40k. Without the original engine, it’s going to go on the low side of that range. I’d go $32-33k if it was a thing I wanted.

  9. Picked the Camaro, because V8-and-four-speed is always better than anything. Unless it’s the right inline-six or a V12, but I don’t see those choices here.

    At heart, though, I’m still a REPU Man. Owned an RX-3, and drove a friend’s REPU. They were both a lot of fun if you don’t mind winding the bejeebers out of the engines, which I didn’t.

    Problems? Oh, yeah, but I expect that from nutball cars. The best bet? Buy both, so when the rotary turns into a water pump or otherwise eats itself up, you can still get around and have some fun. The Camaro certainly looks better than it did when first rolled out of the factory; GM didn’t always throw these together very well….

    1. “…V8-and-four-speed is always better than anything.”
      Back in the day? You damned skippy! Now? Honestly, ANY “car” I get in feels like I’m sitting on the street.

      1. Gotta admit everything is “back in the day” for me! Bought the RX-3 new, trading in a Honda 600Z for it. Not the best move, as the Mazda ate its rotor seals and I had a helluva time getting the dealer to honor the warranty…. Still miss the Z. Funny how you lose trust in a car when it takes a major poop and it wasn’t your fault.

        At least back then we could buy actual CARS. Or genuinely compact pickup trucks, for those who dig the REPU. In many ways, I’m glad to have gotten out of the Car Biz before it degenerated into SUVs, tall sedans and Monster Trucks. I felt like I was “sitting on the street” in my father’s Austin-Healey — given its ground clearance (almost none), I was — but towered over the crowd in his Scout 800.

  10. “It’s powered by a Goodwrench “crate” 350 cubic-inch engine, which is certainly the quick and easy way to get a Chevy back on the road. It might even have a little more snort to it than the factory engine; these only had 165 horsepower to begin with.”

    I’m glad you worded it that way. Technically, in ’81, the 350 made 175HP, while the 305 made 165HP (150HP if it wasn’t a Z28). Butttt, also in ’81, the 350 was only sold with the automatic (except in Canada), so the 305 was the top engine with the 4-speed manual. My ’81 is a 305 due to that fact, as my uncle wanted a manual more than the extra 10HP/30 lb-ft of torque the 350 provided, so he ordered it that way.

  11. Easily the Camaro. The truck is more or less an odd curiosity…which I respect, but I’d never want to own it. In order to live with a rotary you have to be willing to do a lot more upkeep, and the truck isn’t going to be fun to drive. It’ll take a lot of time and TLC…if someone’s passion is rotaries (they’re definitely out there) then it could be a fun project, but that person is not me. I’m anxiously awaiting Mercedes’ take on it because this seems like the type of thing she’d be in to.

    But a 70s Camaro that’s in nice shape, has a newer V8 crate motor, AND a 4 speed stick? That’s gonna be a HELL YEAH BROTHERRRRR from me. Mullet jokes and stereotypes be damned, that thing is cool as hell, and it’s probably powerful enough to have some fun with without going full Mustang on you. It would make an amazing weekend car and a fun thing to bring to Cars And Coffee.

    I can hear the rumble from here…and if it was near me I might reach out to the seller and see if we’re in the same universe because I’m already having visions of cruising down a beach road blasting Def Leppard in it, and chilling in that weird middle ground where I’m being half ironic and half completely serious.

  12. Didn’t know Mazda made a rotary truck, and I like it. But that Camaro is in much better shape, and reminds me of a matchbox I had as a kid. I had one in yellow and one in red with the same Z28 decals on the side. That and the louvered rear window win the day for me.

    1. Old girlfriend had a VW Cabrio that I spent many man-years keeping running. Whenever I’d drive it, esp. with the top down (which was most of the time), I’d be sure the tunes were hard rock/metal.

        1. Ha! I’m honestly not sure though…it was the biggest PITA car to work on.

          She finally sold it when the alarm would randomly go off when you tried to unlock it. I’m terrible with electrics, couldn’t figure it out, and our trusty VW mechanic made the point to her that if she was going to keep an old economical German car running, she really needed to commit to it.

          She drives a Toyota now.

  13. Like you, I feel that the Camaro and Firebird are the only muscle cars to kept their beauty during the Malaise Era. The Mustang did not fare so well IMO. An upgraded engine makes it worth its while. Camaro all day.

  14. I went to HS in the late ’80s, so obviously one of my best friends had one of these—exact spec AFAICT, albeit with the original engine. His dad was a well-equipped gearhead, so they did whatever work was needed in their driveway.

    Anyway, lots of good times riding around in that thing (the main upgrade was the stereo of course, although we were more of a Who/Zep crowd than hair metal). Best/worst story was at very low speed: after a light rain, turning left onto a state highway, the rear end just swung out. Ended up facing backwards up against the median curb. I leaned out the window and said, “Hope that’s not your wheel we’re sitting on.” Yes, the impact with the curb snapped the wheel off and the car ended up sitting on top of it. No bueno. The only good news is that we were like 2 blocks from his house.

    1. Actually this is where Springsteen option comes in with “A Cheap Pair of Sneakers”. Because neither of these of these is worth a bid above $1,000.

  15. Camaro? Iron Maiden?

    You’ll take my life but I’ll take yours too
    You’ll fire your musket but I’ll run you through
    And when you’re waiting for the next attack
    You’d better stand there’s no turning back

    Wouldn’t touch that Mazda with Ugly Eddie’s flagpole.

  16. Mullet Madness!!! I picked the Camaro, besides it still looks good. I can hear Rupert Holmes’ Escape blaring over the speakers. Iron Maiden would be perfect in an old XJ6.

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