I just warned someone who is selling a 1983 SJ410 that they were not selling a Samurai and they said it's on the title so it must be true.  

this might sound stupid, but how can you tell the difference?

Thanks,
Nathan

they didnt make Samurais in '83, just the 410's

Did they make a SJ410 in '88?

this might sound stupid, but how can you tell the difference?

After 85 they made the SJ413; in the States the Samurai was imported not the SJ's.
The big difference in the Samurai and the SJ410 is that the SJ410 has a 1.0 ltr engine instead of the 1.3 ltr.  Also, the SJ410 has a more desirable grill and SJ410 body tags if not removed.  Axle widths are shorter on the SJ's as well.  A lot of aftermarket parts for the Samurai don't fit the SJ410.  

I just warned someone who is selling a 1983 SJ410 that they were not selling a Samurai and they said it's on the title so it must be true.  

There is quite a bit of model information at our TECH SPEC section: http://www.zukiworld.com/main_departments_techspecs.htm

Good Luck, Eric

Yes, some SJ410s are tagged as samurais. THis has been discussed on other forums, insurance companies and state governments and all that often tag them as Samurais because that is the "closest relation" that was imported or some other big-phooey like that. Just like how my Samurai is really tagged as an SJ413, and says samurai no where on the title.

 Yes the SJ410 was made in 88, but not in North America. In the Santana plant in Spain made them into the 90s next to the SJ413/Samurai. In Canada, they had an SJ413 that was a narrow track Samurai. It had all the features of a sammy, but with SJ410 style axle width. Engine, tranny, diffs, springs, body, and most of the frame was identical to the sammy, with the exception of the spring location being under the frame instead of outboard. It's along the same lines as the sammy still being in existance as we know them here.....in South America, the Chevrolet Samurai! Available in both wheelbases, hard and soft top versions, gas and diesel, manual and automatic.
Pretty cool huh?

People still think Sidekicks are Samurais around my neck of the woods...