I bought a Turbo 2 not to long ago. Been doing some work on the car and looked at the doors data plate. My manufacture date is 04/86. But it has a t2 motor and cluster. can anyone help me figure out what model i have, because im sure that t2 rx7's were only manufactured in 87 and on.

 

It could be one of two things, It could be an 86 with a Turbo II swap, or it was produced in 86, but was an 87 production car. Does it have all the options of a Turbo car?

 

i have an 86 gxl that has a production date in 85. It's all about the model year, not production. "Turbo II" plastered on the side will be a dead give away, and the turbo cluster is a big hint as well. Most people just buy an aftermarket boost gauge instead of swapping the entire cluster... But this is all most probably. Very possible it's an 86 with an intense swap to make it look a TII.

 

no t2 on the side, i think the car had been repainted.

 

I'd say look up your VIN or check your title and registration. I think the info would be on there.

 

generally only vehicles manufactured after september of the previous year are labeled as the later model. i'd bet it's a T2 swap if you have no history on the car, which it sounds like.

 

its probably built in 86 and sold as an 87. does the vin start with jm1fc332?

 

run a vin chek, like carfax ect it it should tell you what does it say in the title?

 

i believe it does, but gotta check it out on the way home. I think my pink says 87, but also gotta check that one out as well.

 

My 87 TII had a build date of 7/86. It was a real TII, but had no fender stickers. I was under the impression mine was one of the oldest U.S. TII's, and that cars made before July would be considered an 86 or 86 1/2. I may be wrong. I guess it could be a swap. Does it look like the motor, transmission, and rear diff are dirtier or cleaner than the rest of the car? It's hard to believe they wouldn't keep the NA instrument panel with the more useful voltmeter. Does the car have 5 lug wheels with 4 piston breaks? What kind of options does it have (tilt steering column, sunroof, cruise control)? What kind of seats? I thought I once read about very few late 86 models getting turbo engines. Either way, if the title says the car is 87, and that's what the DMV says, then your car is an 87.

 

My TII was built 6/86 or 7/86...I forgot. It is a legit TII.

 

1987 model year FC Turbos were built from Jan 1986 through June 1987.
1987 model year non turbos were built between June 1986 and June 1987.

 

so it is possible that I have a legit t2. thanks ICEMARK. Not that he is the deciding factor, but more research and info will yield results.

 

Read the parts fische sometime.

 

technically, any car built after August of the current year is considered to be a car for the following model year, ie. a car built in June of 08 is still an 08, but a car build in September of 08 is an 09 model year car.

 

Not on the RX-7. They mixed up months all the time.

For example, the 1992 RX-7 FC convertible was built between 08/91 and 12/91.

Or the 1987 Turbo (as mentioned above) 01/1986 through 06/1987.

Or the 88 RX-7 models which were built as early as 6/87 and through 12/88.

Or the 89 RX-7 which didn't start production until 1/89... almost 6 months after normal model year switch over occurs.


See the RX-7 coupes were built on the same line as the 323/Familia and later the Lantis. They would build RX-7s for a couple of months then switch over and build 323s then switch over and build Familias then switch back and build RX-7's.

The RX-7 convertibles were built on the line that made the Melinnia, and Xedos6/Eunos 500 and in fact for the 91 and 92 convertibles, they used the same Hi-Reflex process turn table paint system that the Melinnia had. The Hi-Reflex process rotated and moved the car instead of the paint gun and also rotated the car in the drying ovens so that there could be a thicker and more even coat of paint with much more depth than normally allowed with a conventional system.

 

.

 

How long have you been around rotaries? I know a long time, but damn, you have some of the most random yet interesting info. Did you work for Mazda or something?

 

took a look at the vin using hailers info. Turns out to be a true T2 manufactured in early '86. Thanks Hailer and Icemark and the rest for the help. "Hailer" you might want to sticky that vin info somewhere.

 

yea, i guess mazda just wanted to get ahead of themselves, obviously they couldn't start shipping them to the states for sale until late '86 but they just built a ton of them early anticipating a huge amount of sales.

i just think it's too bad they used such tiny turbos from the start, the engine and drivetrain could obviously manage a decent size turbo and still be quite reliable.

 

The VIN breakdown can be found in the FAQ for FC sticky threads

No, they were available in dealer showrooms in March of 1986 as a 1987 model year vehicle.

Not uncommon in vehicle manufacturing.

 

Build date <> model year

Also, there is such a thing as a 1986 Turbo II...believe it or not.
I've got a couple on my registry.
I've also seen one with my own eyes.
"2" VIN + "G" year code
Although it was officially that Mazda USA did not bring in the Turbo II until 1987, there are "G" year code VIN's that are legit Turbo II's.
According to Mazda nomenclature on VIN decide, it is a 1986 Turbo II.


-Ted

 

yep that is true too.

I have seen one as well, but it was Sunrise Red and labeled a GT and was basicly a Sport with the Turbo engine and drive train (no power windows or power mirrors, and with the Sport's factory aero package). It had a 85 build date.

Interesting that the GT label is still available as a part from MNA (FB044-51-761), but I don't remember if the GT Model was the FB47 or FB61.

 

The label on the door sil of my REAL turbo car, has a date of 06/86. It's a 1987 TurboII.

Also a 1987 non turbo with a build date of 06/86. Jpgs attached. I've an *H* for both cars indicating 1987 model.

And a real deal 1986 non turbo with a 5/86 on the door and a *G* in the numerical code.

 

ive got a pair of GT stickers. only car ive ever seen with it was in one of the car mags from back in the day

which would make it rare i think, as ive seen everything else. even ReTed and theres only 1 of him!