Thread: when was the update change ?

As the title suggests, what month and year did the D1 get the face lift. I ask as I had a look at a D1 today that was (cosmetically) pre-update with the build plate showing Jan 1994 and the ADR showing March 1994 (VINs matched). It had 3.9 on the plenum and individual belts with the owner (for the last 9 years) stating it has the original engine. I did not get the actual engine number.

If my memory serves me correctly, I also remember seeing an up date version with a late 93 build date.

I took delivery of a 3.9 D1 Pre update early Jan 94 - when I ordered it in Oct 93 3.5s were still being sold and that is what I test drove - hence I thought the 3.9 was the new model. It had a 3.9 with V belts and had the LT77 gearbox - this became known as the interim D1.

In Feb 1994 while driving in Sydney I pulled up alongside an odd looking D1 - it seemed to have the soft dash on the then new RRC and different badging - on investigating I found that my my Interim was exactly that an Interim and there was infact a new model - the one I spotted on the road (a pre release Press car).

I went back to the dealer and got all the details - Not happy Jan as I had just spent $43K (retail was $49K) on what was not the new model afterall. Anyway did a deal on trading the old on the new with the option of selling the old myself. Purchase price of the update was $44K.

So I was able to sell the Interim with 3000km on it for what I paid for it and picked up the new Update in very early May 1994. The update was an MY95, had the serpentine 3.9 and R380 gearbox. The car I got was in the very first shipment and was available for sale in late April 1994. My build date was early Jan 1994 - almost the same day as my I picked up the new Interim.

A stressful time for me but worked out well in the end.

The Interims were really only available for sale as the New model from about late December 1993 to April 1994 (I think there were classed as MY94 but not sure of that)

garry