Hi guys I have this odd question but what year AND month did the series 5 come out? was it jan '89 or mid year? Did they still make series 4 after 88? I was looking at this car for import (to australia ) and i was told it was a series 4 (by the importer) even though it's an '89 model? He said that they still made series 4 till mid year '89. The model is a GT-Limited also.

Car:
http://page7.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp...?aID=g27186439

 

North American S5 models started to be produced in Japan in 12/88

The last North American spec 88 model year was produced in the 2nd week of 12/88.

Since I do not believe that Aus/NZ/Jspec models follow North American VIN conventions it would be hard to say exactly, but I could not imagine Mazda producing a S4 model regardless of drive side after the S5 models started to be produced on the line.

Normally Mazda built RX-7s for around 2 months, then switched the line to make 323 models for the next 3 months, then switched back... I would think it would be next to impossible to bring in old stock to make S4 models, after the line was already switched to do S5 models.