zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Buying
/
For $4,500, Join The Rotary Club
For $4,500, Join The Rotary Club-March 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:10:11

Today's Mazda B2000 is described by its seller as a True Sleeper. That's because under its unassuming hood there now spins a lusty 13B. The question is, would paying this sleeper's price keep you up at night?

I don't know what it is about engine transplants and matte black paint, but both this Mazda and yesterday's are so attired. It probably didn't help that the Bug seemed to be a little more roll your own than the ad let on, but regardless it dropped in a 61% Crack Pipe loss and straight into rattlecan Instagram irrelevance. Perhaps today's truck will fare better.

VW's Type 1 may no longer be the People's Car, but today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Beetle is a car

Mazda's B-series has spawned a slew of notable offspring including Ford's Courier pickup and a funky B2500 SUV for all you who are fit to be Thai'd. One of the Mazda's more infamous editions was the rotary engine edition based on the B1800, which combined small truck capacity with big truck gas mileage. Regardless of its drinking problems, the flared fenders and distinctive exhaust note transformed the truck from mild to macho, and is to this day a sought after commodity among Wankel wuvvers.

This ain't one of those, but it comes damn close, and has its own personality that may be even more beguiling. This does sport a naturally aspirated 13B under hood, but also some of the plainest of jane bodywork potentially making it, in the words of its seller, a sleeper.

The little Wankel looks pretty lost in the truck's engine bay and the long hoses necessary to span the distance between it and the radiator look like they may add a couple of gallons to the colling system requirements. The ad says that the engine sports a 750-cfm Holley 4BBL, which in conjunction with the engine's love of revs and a an individual exhaust for each rotor should mean that the owner's gas card will be getting as much of a workout as the five-speed backing up the little hummer. The backend gets limited slip, but you might want to invest in a couple of bags of sand to also engender limited hop.

Just like yesterday's VW, this Mazda goes black and doesn't want to go back. The hipster rash color scheme does little to mask the fact that the B-2000's design was about as exciting as CSPAN. At least this one looks whole and without major flaw or egregious Walmart auto aisle impulse purchases evident. There being no interior shots we'll just have to assume it's not full of raccoons or anything.

If you like to travel on the DL, then having a ride that's all about the go (as long as you keep the revs up) and not about the show, then this Mazda may prove to be a killer B. Sure, the whole idea of a performance mini truck is a little whacked, but what the hey, it's a REPU that doesn't give a damn about its bad reputation.

However you might give a damn about its $4,500 price tag. What do you think, has the seller set a price for this custom Mazda pickup that Wankel-able? Or, is this a REPU that's not for you?

You decide!

or go if the ad disappears.

H/T to Biased_Waffles for the hookup!

Help me out with NPOCP. Click to send a me a fixed-price tip, and remember to include your commenter handle.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Buying
The 2019 Porsche Macan Handles Better Than a Crossover Has Any Right To
The 2019 Porsche Macan Handles Better Than a Crossover Has Any Right To
On the tight and viciously twisty Mallorcan mountain roads, I watched the leading me handle a hairpin with more ferocity than a mid-size crossover has any right to. It leaned heavily into its suspension and from the outside, it looked quite precarious. But, as we were keeping up with it...
Mar 29, 2026
The Costs of Replacing Parts on a Bugatti Veyron Are Hilarious
The Costs of Replacing Parts on a Bugatti Veyron Are Hilarious
Sometimes, you don’t have to tell jokes to be a comedian. Just take a look at the nearest , which can’t even talk—its maintenance prices alone are enough to keep you laughing quite awhile, whether that be in total denial or in the realization that, yes, people do spend $42,000...
Mar 29, 2026
The 2019 BMW 3 Series Is Back to Being a Great Driver's Car Even Without the Manual
The 2019 BMW 3 Series Is Back to Being a Great Driver's Car Even Without the Manual
Where the outgoing car was dinged for a harsh ride, tight interior, vague steering and diminishing appeal, the all-new has an overhauled suspension, is stretched longer and wider, features reworked steering and has boosted both power and torque. It’s still not quite as charming as classics like the E30 or...
Mar 29, 2026
At $12,995, Will This 2007 Jaguar X-Type Wagon Let The Cat Out of The Bag?
At $12,995, Will This 2007 Jaguar X-Type Wagon Let The Cat Out of The Bag?
They say X usually marks the spot, however when it comes to Jags, that’s not always the case. Let’s see if today’s X-Type Estate makes its mark. We don’t have many repeat offenders here on NPOCP, but that’s just what happened yesterday, albeit without intention. The we perused was the...
Mar 29, 2026
This Derbi Laguna Sport Will Ignite The Spirit Of Moped Within You
This Derbi Laguna Sport Will Ignite The Spirit Of Moped Within You
Sporty-looking European mopeds like this Spanish-built Derbi kick so much ass. I’m not sure if it’s because my 50CC Honda MB5 has been dormant for too long, or because I’ve been playing on repeat for the last two years, but I have a strong desire for something with a tiny...
Mar 29, 2026
You Can Finally Score An Awesome Deal on The Buick TourX Wagon
You Can Finally Score An Awesome Deal on The Buick TourX Wagon
If you are still saddened by the news that , I’ve got some good news for you: General Motors is finally throwing some serious discounts at the . It may be time to get your wagon fix another way. Now that the end of the year is fast approaching and...
Mar 29, 2026
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved