I recently bought an 86 Sport model and am wanting to know what the difference is between the sport model suspension versus the base model and other models? Besides the obvious things like 5 lug bolt pattern and 4 piston front brakes, etc.
Thanks,

 

sport model had same suspension as GXL or GTU, but NO LSD. so 24 mm front sway bar instead of 22mm

main thing about the sport model,

NO SUNROOF, DUCKBILL Wing

also T2 seats, manual windows, manual mirrors. NO A/C option. P/S was an option in '87


there was also a base model, aka super base, not to be confused with SE base (phone dials + sunroof)

super base had 14" STEEL rims. 4 lug, NO Options, no wing, NO SUNROOF.


super base and sport are the best frames IMO.

 

I once owned an '86 Sport that I purchased new. It DID have A/C.

 

the sunroof was an option on the sport model as well.

also the 86-87 sports came with the bas model seats, the 88 GTU has the turbo seats, mirrors, LSD, and manual windows

 

I'm confused, I have an 86 car. It has 4 lug (aftermarket wheels when I got it) Sunroof, Cruise Control, and rear seats. Manual steering, windows, but electric mirrors. There were no decals on the fenders thou.

 

what color interior/exterior?

did it come with sunroof, power mirrors?

 

Sport model never came with sunroof. Yes the dealer brochure has the option, but I personally never seen one, it was always a modified original SE or GXL. Just because it has a duckbill wing, it doesn't mean it is a sport model.

86 sport came with base model seats.

87 sport came with t2 seats.

none of the 88 models came without sunroof, however I've seen some automatics and some odd SE models (4lug + phone dials) without sunroof, very rare!

 

sound like a typical SE model

 

https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generati...atures-642372/

 

Funny, back in 1987 I drove my friends '86 sport. With a factory sunroof and AC. And yes, it was a sport model - manual windows, spoiler and 5-lugs.

Just because you haven't seen one doesn't mean they don't exist.

-b

 

I'm looking for more specific information like sway bar sizes, shocks and springs, etc.

 

i have seen several sports with sunroof, and every single one also had AC. the 87 sports also came with normal base seats.

 

sounds like you have the rx7 "luxury package"

I had the same exact options on my 87 "base model"


my 86 sport had no sunroof, but had power steering, and ac.

 

correct, that would become the SE package in 1988

 

hard top, no sunroof is what is special about the sport model.

then what is special about the one with sunroof, a duckbill wing?

if it has a sunroof, how can you tell if it is a sport model, 5 lug and manual windows?

 

lol, the sport packages adds the aero kit, the 4 piston brakes, and the big sway bars to the base model. all of the other base model options were available, including the sunroof.

https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generati...atures-642372/

 

I understand about the suspension and aero kit options, but I just can not wrap my head around the fact how do you add sunroof to a car.

 

You don't add them. Mazda did: The sunroof and A/C were noted as optional for the 85 and 87 sport. That means on some cars, Mazda built with those options.

Additionally, A/C was available to add as a dealer installed option.

 

i have an 87 fc i just picked up last week. it has a duckbill, but no sunroof. has power windows and 5 lugs. i may think mine has some features swapped in by previous owner. how do i know if it's a sports model?

 

Dark gray exterior (desert silver ?) / maroon interior. No sun roof and manual mirrors.

 

you have to look really closely, as most things came in option packages, so if you don't have all the options, than someone changed something.

since power windows only were available on the gxl or turbo in 87, and those both had sunroofs, then someone has added that.

look in the brochure

 

The 86 LX (my car) would have had alloy phone dial wheels (4 lug), cloth interior seats, remote mirrors, manual steering and windows and a non-base stereo, and the windshield sunscreen. Anything else was an added option.

 

87 sports came with T2 seats!

 

Most likely its an original Sport. See if it has 24 or 22 front sway bar. Coil springs have different thickness between Sport and SBase, but I forgot the measurements. You could remove the duckbill wing and see of the holes are factory. Review the sway bar and suspension hardware.

It could also be a Super Base with all the items added, but those are less common than Sports.

 

not from the factory it didn't. i can see the seats not matching the door panels in your picture. if it was factory they would match.