I live in Canada, but I saw a guy from the states up here with a 87 or 88 GTU. The front bumper had a different looking front lip on it, it was meatier and sticked down more on the sides. Also he had a piece of rubber or something on the side rocker panels towards the back! Is that some STOCK pieces only found on the GTUs? If someone got a pic of GTU, can they POST it so I can verify this....cause I like that front lip and side piece and was thinking of getting it for my T2!

 

The aero package was on the sport package

 

I agree. It is the 86/87 Sport with the Aero Kit, as illustrated in the Yamaguchi book. The rubber things in front of the rear wheels is a dead give away, as would be the small black spoiler (which you didn't mention). Lip soilers came on a variety of models in various configurations so your description is inadeqate to determine the model based upon that alone. The Aero Kit had a black lip spoiler (matching the other peices) that kind of stuck down in front of the front wheels. There was an optional lip spoiler on the TII and GTUs, which was rather large and body colored. Totally different thing, and very rare due to its vulnerable position and construction (fiberglass, not rubber).
--
Blake Qualley
Rotary Engine Illustrated

 

Damn Blake! Good to see you man!

Y'all really need to check out Blake's page, and positively get one of his posters that shows the cycles of the rotary- WAY cool!

Brad

 

Thanks for the info guys. I am trying to purchase the GTU front lip, but my Mazda dealer totally denies the fact the GTU had a different front lip! So I desparately need a picture of one so I can PROVE it to them. They say all the Coupes had one style of front lip and the Convertible had a different style. What style is on the convert that's different anyways?

 

Not trying to be mean, but did we not write in English? GTU dont have any different front end, thats of course he has a 89+ bumper with the factory front lip or it is a 86-87 sport model

 

Mazda had 3 different types of lips available, a 1 piece, and 3 piece, and a beefy 1 piece.

There's also a ton of aftermarket ones available for import from Japan.

 

i've only seen the 3piece once.... in my garage

 

oh BTW the GTUs was 1989 and 1990 only and the only difference in the bumper was the grills were painted black

 

GTUs uses the same bumper as all the other 89-91. They dont even have that front lip standard, it was offer as an option. I have a GXL. My grill is painted black too