the "sport" badge

[sawman]

What was the first production car to roll off the production line with a "sport" badge, and what made it different to the non sport version?

I haven't been to any pub quizzes recently, its just an idle thought that occurred whilst burning my toast this morning.

[plasticpig]

Sports models have bee around for a long time. Since the 1920's at least. For example the Austin Sport 20 came with a high compression engine and wire wheels. This was in 1921.

[Dracoro]

A good quiz question would be - Has any car bearing the moniker "sport" been in anyway sporty? Mostly it just means it has rubbish ride quality.

[sawman]

that's the kinda thing I was wondering about, different engines and lighter/fewer components certainly make for a car better suited to motorsports.
Clearly there became a point also where a "sport" badge became just another trim level and nothing to do with motorsport apart from cosmetic, so the secondary part of my musing is - at what point did "sport" get attached to cars with minimal motorsport qualities?

[anonymous-user]

The point when I realised the sport badge has no relationship to the performance or handelling of a car would be when I was 10 and took my first ride in a shogun sport..... worst 'sports' car ever.