The Elusive '88 model..........What is it exactly?

[carsick]

Who got this FJ?  speaking of Elusive models

That is the Tootsie Roll special edition- Brown and Orange.

[andyb]

Honestly that just looks like a bad quality scan of the black/red/white from 84, as the tires are brownish also.  Wonder if it was a prerelease thing.

[Fred]

I have seen (in the US anyway) bikes titled for the year they were sold. I'm not sure if this due to a particular state's laws or a dealer not wanting the customer to know a bike has been hanging around the showroom for a while.

[Arnie]

My '91 has a production date of late Nov 90.......... which should put it as a '90 model, but it is '91, with rubber engine mounts and the trapezoid headlight.

Harvy

That's quite interesting as my neighbor has a bike titled as a '90, but it is blue and white with the manly pink stripe, trapezoidal headlight, rubber mounted engine etc.  I'll have to get the serial number and compare it to both my '91 and yours.

Cheers,
Arnie

[carsick]

My '91 has a production date of late Nov 90.......... which should put it as a '90 model, but it is '91, with rubber engine mounts and the trapezoid headlight.
Harvy

That's quite interesting as my neighbor has a bike titled as a '90, but it is blue and white with the manly pink stripe, trapezoidal headlight, rubber mounted engine etc.  I'll have to get the serial number and compare it to both my '91 and yours.
Cheers,
Arnie

My '91 is #496 and was produced 01/91 (replete with pink stripe) according to the damn near impossible to see decal over the oil cooler.

[SlowOldGuy]

The "new model year" used to be in the August timeframe for the auto manufacturers.  Now days it seems to be more at random.  Many models are deemed "early-release" for exclusivity hype.

No surprise that a '91 model would have a production date in late '90.

DavidR.

[Travis398]

so it looks like the 88 FJ is................

the second generation 86' 87' style in blue/white and black/red  in some counties. (maybe the countries Japan didn't like, got the old stock?)

and other countries got the third generation  89' style in silver/white and "shiny black"

agree?

[rktmanfj]

so it looks like the 88 FJ is................

the second generation 86' 87' style in blue/white and black/red  in some counties. (maybe the countries Japan didn't like, got the old stock?)

and other countries got the third generation  89' style in silver/white and "shiny black"

agree?

Several '88s I have seen posted look exactly like my silver/white '89 (except for Black Sunshine, which started out looking that way).

Randy T
Indy

[DB Cooper]

I have an 88 3CV in the white, red and silver.  It is a Canadian model, which is identical to the US 89. 
Kevin.

[SlowOldGuy]

The Canadian '84 was the same red/white as the US '85

DavidR.