Hold My Jackaroo: 1991 Isuzu Trooper

Most people know the big three Japanese auto manufactures Honda, Nissan and Toyota for their mainstream approach to car design and sales...but Japan has many auto manufacturers for an island that has less than 2% of the world's population. If Mazda is the other Japanese car manufacturer like pork is the other white meat, and Subaru is lamb...then where does that leave Isuzu (and don't even start with Daihatsu and Suzuki)?  Isuzu might not export cars into the USA anymore, but for a few decades it was an interesting alternative to the other guys...and another other white meat...maybe ostrich? Find this 1991 Isuzu Trooper offered for $3500 in Hollywood, CA via craigslist.

Some Sorting Required: 1991 Lotus Elan M100

The Lotus Elan M100 was a wedge shaped convertible penned by Peter Stevens (Jaguar XJR-15, McLaren F1, Lotus Esprit, MG ZR, ZS, ZT & TF) and built in the UK from 1989 through 1995.  The Elan was later produced by Kia in South Korea under the name Kia Elan (and Kia Vigato).  The Elan was a pretty design and it used a lightweight chassis and a name borrowed from the historical Lotus archives...but it was powered by an Isuzu (and later Kia) 4-banger mated to the front wheels.  By all accounts it was one of the best handling front drive cars ever built...but it just seems wrong to suffer power-on understeer in a Lotus! Regardless, I find myself inexplicably attracted to the little two seater in red.  Find this 1991 Lotus Elan M100 here on eBay with zero bids and starting bid of $4500 in Citrus Heights, CA with 2 days to go.

Slow: 1981 Isuzu I-Mark Diesel

If you enjoy driving fast, you'll probably want to skip this next feature. Yeah.  You.  Just fly right by and head to the next thing that has an LS6 swapped into a dune buggy chassis.  Ok.  Its now just you, me, and CFlo reading -- he loves the slow stuff too.  The Isuzu Gemini was originally sold in the US market as the Opel by Isuzu, changed to the Buick Opel and finally in 1981 became the Isuzu I-Mark.  It was a rear drive Japanese classic holdover from another era and used a rear-drive setup, but could be powered by a  1.8 liter 4-cylinder naturally aspirated diesel engine that puts out 51 horsepower.  You might struggled to keep up with traffic on a mild grade, but the smiles and questions from strangers when you fill up at the green pump will be worth it. Find this 1981 Isuzu I-Mark Diesel offered for $5,800 in Bellflower, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Only One On Your Block: 1999 Isuzu VehiCROSS Ironman Triathlon Edition

The 1999 Isuzu VehiCROSS was an intense vehicle when it was released, just look at the name -- CROSS was in ALL CAPS FROM ISUZU.  And then there is this special edition that is known as the Ironman Triathlon version, which added remote reservoir shocks, unique badges, a black hood, upgraded tunes, and a sweet two tone red and black interior.  Why don't automakers do something like this today...imagine if Jeep introduced a CrossFIT version of the Wrangler...that'd sell like hotcakes. Find this 1999 Isuzu VehiCROSS Ironman offered for $8,500 in Payson, AZ via craigslist.

Suspension by Lotus: 1989 Isuzu I-Mark RS

The Isuzu I-Mark (I Mark, you Jane!) is part of the GM '80s compact car family, built by Isuzu but marked by GM, known as the Gemini.  The styling was started by noted Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro noted for such designs as the DeTomaso Mangusta, Iso Griffo, 'the' Delorean, Ferrari 250GT. The little I-Mark wasn't a bad looking design for the maestro, but late changes demanded by the bottom line driven bean counters at GM caused such a tiff with the Italian that he disavowed any relationship with the car. Regardless, they make for an interesting cheap classic that anybody could drive. Find this 1989 Isuzu I-Mark RS offered for $4,500 in Rocklin, CA via craigslist.  Tip from FuelTruck.

Mid Week Match-Up; An 88 Impulse For Dad

Today's Mid Week Match-Up comes as a request from Bri, who writes: Hello! Christmas is coming up and I would like to purchase a 1988 isuzu impulse for my dad. When he was a kid he had to give up this car to get money for his family, he cried. I would like to know where one of these cars would be available and the price. 

Part Attack: 1984 Isuzu Impulse

This next car comes from Matt C who writes: OK, it's a non running car and not the easiest thing to get parts for... but it's a very cool '80s Italdesign styling exercise, and you'll have the only one on the road. If you get it on the road, that is. It is rear wheel drive with a wide engine bay, which would make it an interesting engine swap candidate.  Find this 1984 Isuzu Impulse offered for $800 in Atlanta, GA via craigslist.

Tuned by Lotus: 1989 Isuzu I-Mark RS

The Isuzu I Mark is part of the GM '80s compact car family, built by Isuzu but sold by GM with the name Gemini.  The 2nd generation styling (1985-1990) was started by noted Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro (known for such designs as the DeTomaso Mangusta, Iso Griffo, 'the' Delorean, Ferrari 250GT) but changes demanded by the bottom line driven bean counters at GM caused such a tiff with the Italian master of design that he disavowed any relationship with the car.  Find this 1988 Isuzu I-Mark RS here on eBay bidding for $1,750 with 3 days to go, located in Knoxville, TN.

Happy Friday: 1994 Isuzu Amigo

I've seen the thumb block and license plate, or even a dirty rag...but never in my time have I seen someone use a piece of tree branch to obscure a license plate.  Unfortunately the camera decided to focus on the branch, so every bit of the car was obscured...anyway, the rest of the advertisement doesn't conform to society's regular rules, but you've got to read it yourself.  Find this 1994 Isuzu Amigo that is NOT A TOY offered for $5,500 near SF Bay Area, CA.

Fifty Bells: Two 1964 Isuzu Bellel Diesels

The 1961-71 Isuzu Bellel was a first for a few reasons -- first, it was the first Japanese produced passenger car with an available diesel engine, but it was also the first independently designed car from Isuzu. The name Bellel was chosen as short for bell plus roman number for 50 (L)...which is what Isuzu means in Japanese (fifty bells). Find these 1964 Isuzu Bellel Diesels here on eBay offered for $1,100 buy-it-now or make-offer located in Oracle, AZ with 3 days to go.

Gemini In The Rough: 1976 Opel by Isuzu

Find this 1976 Opel by Isuzu offered for $1200 in San Antonio, TX via craigslist.. Tip from FuelTruck and words by Hunsbloger: As an Opel fan these were the worst. By the end of 1975 the fuel injected, swim deck bumpered Opel Manta Luxus had effectively priced itself out of competition in the US.   The DM was up and the Dollar was down.  It was killing the US manufacturer's ability to import their way into the small car market.  The Capri was similarly impacted by the same currency challenge.

A Tale of Two Trucks: 1991 Isuzu vs 1996 Mazda

Today's next two cars come from Matt C who writes: First, we have an Isuzu Hombre with a small block Chevy swap, for only $900. Of course, there is a catch. "Knock knock, who's there?" "Rod." "Rod who?" "Rod bearings..." But at least you have all the parts needed to put the engine - or a better smallblock - back in place once that's fixed. ext is a very strange Mazda build... is Looney Labor Day over yet? Let's take a closer look and see which of these two pickups is the pick-me-up that you need!

Italianese Classic: 1978 Isuzu 117 Coupe XC

Toyota got into the miniature pony car game with their 1972 liftback restyle that looked suspiciously like a 69/70 Mustang, but there was another Japanese company building fastback styled 2+2 pony cars way back in 1968 -- yes, from the company that time forgot, Isuzu.  Find this 1978 Isuzu 117 Coupe XC here on eBay offered for $21,150 buy-it-now or make-offer, located in Orlando, FL.

Auction Watch: 1983 Isuzu I-Mark Diesel

Find this 1983 Isuzu I-Mark Diesel here on eBay bidding for $2,000 with auction ending today (Monday) at 3:05PM Pacific.

Needs New Shoes: 1988 Isuzu Impulse

The Isuzu Impluse was such an unlikely combination of Italian styling (Giorgetto Giugiaro), Japanese durability, & British handling (Lotus baby!) put into a turbocharged rear-drive hatchback that it almost caused a singularity in the space-time-continuum, ending life in the galaxy as we know it.  Thankfully that didn't happen, but it is no small coincidence that Yao Ming, Martina Hingis, & the Maltese rapper known as Hooligan were born the same month as the first Impulse (a JDM Piazza) was released.  Find this 1988 Isuzu Impulse offered for $2,500 in Ontario, CA via craigslist.

Not So Mangy: 1983 Isuzu P'up Diesel

Once upon a time, before GM decided that it could spare a few thousand engineers to develop its own compact pickup truck, but after they realized they needed one, the top brass just did what any self-respecting large auto company would do in the same predicament, and bought one from Isuzu. The Isuzu Faster (...than what exactly?) was a pretty ordinary small Japanese pickup, which GM rebadged as the Chevy LUV as their bid in the captive import mini-hauler craze, competing with the Ford Courier (really a Mazda) and the Dodge D50 / Plymouth Arrow (Mitsubishi in disguise). After GM discontinued the LUV in the US and started selling their own S10 however, Isuzu marketed the truck under the parent badge, with the name P'up...short for...wait for it...Pickup. Find this 1983 Isuzu P'up Diesel 4WD for sale in Ventura, CA for $7,500 via craigslist.

A Gemini In The Rough: 1989 Isuzu I-Mark Turbo LS

The second generation Gemini was a GM backed and Isuzu built subcompact that was "sort of" styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro.  The front engine front drive setup of the 2nd generation might mean that it lacks the drift potential of the rear-drive first generation, but this one makes up for that deficiency with a spattering of badges that claim things like "LS", "Handling by Lotus", "Turbo," and "1.5T".  Find this 1989 Isuzu I-Mark Turbo LS offered for $3,2000 in Brooklyn, NY via craigslist.  Tip from FuelTruck.

Belief in Lotus Suspended: 1988 Isuzu I-Mark RS Turbo

The Isuzu I Mark (I Mark, you Jane!) is part of the GM '80s compact car family, built by Isuzu but marked by GM, known as the Gemini.  The styling was started by noted Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiario noted for such designs as the DeTomaso Mangusta, Iso Griffo, 'the' Delorean, Ferrari 250GT, but changes demanded by the bottom line driven bean counters at GM caused such a tiff with the Italian master of design that he disavowed any relationship with the car.  Find this 1988 Isuzu I-Mark RS Turbo here on eBay bidding for $4,450 with less than one day to go, located in Temecula, CA. As seen on Oddimotive.