'91 Topaz AWD auto w/71k. $750 in OR.

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/907992551.html

wait, they made an awd topaz???

I was thinking the same thing.

I thought kcbhiw had the only one. Someone explain, please.

Especially with an auto, where did the trans come from? kcbhiw used a tranny from a 323 GTX, but all of them are 5 spds.

A Topaz is a different car than a Tracer. Think Ford Tempo. There were Tempo AWD's too.

AWD Tempos were rare. I would guess that the Topaz version is even rarer. Of course, even though it is rare it is just a Topaz. Sort of like being the smartest kid on the short bus.

I wish there had been a 4 cylinder AWD Tempo/Topaz. Swap the 2.3 HSC out for a 2.3 turbo and you'd have one hell of a sleeper.

At that time there was also a Pontiac 6000 AWD (crappy GM sedan) and a Camry AWD and a Tercel Wagon AWD and I am sure some others.

SVreX wrote: I thought kcbhiw had the only one. Someone explain, please.

The Topaz/Tempo is not the same car as a Tracer/Escort.

" I wish there had been a 4 cylinder AWD Tempo/Topaz."

All of the AWD T/T s were 4 cylinder/auto powered. Ford didn't offer the V6 in the T/T until after the AWD was discontinued. Strangely, for such a mundane car, Ford produced a few oddball versions of the T/T. You could get a diesel engine, AWD, or a V6-powered T/T.

BTW, supposedly, the reason Ford offered the 2/3rds of a inline 200 cu. in. 6 in the T/T twins, was because the OHC 2.3 did not fit under the hood (too wide/long transversely, I think). The HSC ? I've only ever heard that term applied to the Escort 1.6 engine family. Even tho Ford produced a diesel model with all of 52 horepower, the HSC line wasn't used...tho it would have fit easily, and produced about as much power as the 2/3rds of a 6 did.

kcbhiw wrote:

SVreX wrote: I thought kcbhiw had the only one. Someone explain, please.

The Topaz/Tempo is not the same car as a Tracer/Escort.

Where's that embarrassed smilie when I need it??

Duh.

Bamalama is right; the 2.3 used in the T/T was called an HSC. The Ford 2.3 used in the SVO, Merk and B-Turd is a Lima. The 2.3 Lima was very tall and wide (with the turbo), but it can be made to fit. You could even mate a 2.3 Lima to an Escort/Tracer ATx trans if you wanted to, but good luck on finding a good place for the radiator. I would assume (making an ass out of myself) that one could fit a 2.3 Lima into a T/T with relative ease, but why? A 2.3 Lima turbo weighs very close to a 289/302 with aluminum heads. the 2.3 Lima is just a heavy engine is my point. That AWD T/T automatic is cool, but relatively worthless, I think.

-Les

Come on. A turbo AWD Tempo, with 5 APC stickers and some of those fake fender vents would own the skreetz.

I think it'd be cool and no one would see it coming.

Okay, well, I'll just see if it's still available and go have a look-see.

"No isues runs and drives good. Good cheap awd. call tomorrow."

-says the guy who I think is a car dealer, and emailed me back as 'doctordeezy.'

Haha, anyway, I can't resist cheap cars but these just don't look very fun. The AWD and talk of turbos tempted me but the only message board I found for these cars sucks, haha.

I once rented a "regular" Tempo...what a snooze of a car. Basically, it's an early '80s Escort...but LONGER. They pretty much took the Escort "chassis" and pulled it out to make a car that very slightly wider and slightly longer. The AWD system this car uses makes it handle worse than the FWD variant, especially on DRY roads, and the engine, as per my previous post, is 2/3s of the hoary old 200 cube inline 6. Incredibly, "across the pond," Ford brought out the Sierra (our Merkur XR4ti) admittedly at a much higher price point, to do pretty much the same basic job as the Tempo/Topaz. The styling on the Sierra and Tempo were basically variations of the same theme. The Sierra even got an AWD model, after it had been in production awhile.

For me, the only decent Tempo would be a V6 coupe, tho I don't think that engine came with a manual transmission, as it's the same V6 as is used in the Taurus. Nor was it available at the same time as the AWD drivetrain. THAT combo would have been great. Another Ford misstep.