Isuzu technical innovation (impressive!)

[nitroman]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... 1W_001.JPG

The 1968 Isuzu 117 Coupe had an advanced 1.6L DOHC engine (click link above) and for 1970 became THE FIRST JAPANESE CAR WITH ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION! Gradually the engine became 1.8L then 2.0L, and from '79 to '81 it could also be had with a diesel engine, perhaps making it the first "sporty" Japanese car with an oil burner. Although not a high-production car, from 10/1968 to 5/1981 they could not stop making them. The sole styling change amounted to replacing the four round headlamps with rectangular ones in 1977. Bold, so very bold. Between bathroom breaks 86,192 were patiently assembled.

1968 model:

1981 model:


Here's a passle of pictures of what Isuzu, alone among the Japanese, specialized in during the 1970s & 1980s... diesel passenger cars. These pics (click link) are the penultimate 1981 model-year 117 Coupe with a 2.2L OHV fuel-injected diesel.
http://hooniverse.com/2011/09/04/hooniv ... -giugiaro/

Whilst the petrol engine was at 1817cc there were four Japanese variants:
XE 140HP (DOHC fuel injected) 120mph
XG 125HP (DOHC two SU carbs) 112mph
XC 115HP (SOHC two SU carbs)
XT 100HP (SOHC one SU carb) 106mph

[hatters]

Interesting, I have not seen one of those before

[nyssa7]

Very pretty and an early indication at how good the Japanese would prove to be at (copying), opos meant re-interpreting the best of European design. In this case the Fiat 124 Sport Coupe

[Nickydee]

Very pretty and an early indication at how good the Japanese would prove to be at (copying), opos meant re-interpreting the best of European design. In this case the Fiat 124 Sport Coupe

I believe Isuzu commissioned Guiguaro to design it. It was common at that time for the Italian styling houses to sell the essentially the same design to different manufacturers. The Austin Cambridge and a Fiat saloon of the same vintage perhaps the most blatant example.

[epipete]

Ahh yes, Austin Cambridge, those happy memories of my childhood come flooding back - Sky Blue with a cream stripe! Interestingly, from his estate, in a Bible of all things, I found an official price list for Austin dated June 1967, the price of a Cambridge (incl tax) £803.15 The basic model was £761 2s 1d, the difference was a heater I believe!

Oh, a mini saloon was £508 15s whilst an Austin Healey 3000 Mk III sports convertible came in at a staggering £1126 8s & 2d without extras!

[nyssa7]

Very pretty and an early indication at how good the Japanese would prove to be at (copying), opos meant re-interpreting the best of European design. In this case the Fiat 124 Sport Coupe

I believe Isuzu commissioned Guiguaro to design it. It was common at that time for the Italian styling houses to sell the essentially the same design to different manufacturers. The Austin Cambridge and a Fiat saloon of the same vintage perhaps the most blatant example.

Austin Cambridge, Fiat 2300 and Peugeot 404

The practice never stopped, a BMC concept on the landcrab 1800 became the Citroen CX and The Alfa 164 and Peugeot 405 have more in common than would have pleased senior management in those companies

But the most blatant of all - the Mazda MX-5, they even sold John Player red and white clones

[Nickydee]

.[/quote]

The Alfa 164 and Peugeot 405 have more in common than would have pleased senior management in those companies[/quote]

Same management I gues also peeved with the resemblance with Ferrari 456 and the 406 coupé.

[nitroman]

Ever had a (bad) dream where you went semi-nuts and decided your 4WD Impulse RS would make a great rail-buggy for driving in the desert? (Then woke up in the morning and realized it wasn't a dream after-all?) OH NOOOOO! Now you have to explain things to the wife. Think quick. Who can you blame?

Notice the intercooler atop the 4XE1 engine is the only part left insitu? They even welded simple aluminum panels together to make ram-air induction. In my next dream I'd add a snorkel so small streams aren't in my way. After all, the wife can't get any more mad about this than she already is. You might as well enjoy yourself!

Oh look. I just noticed they're Canadian, and they're really proud of it with that little tiny flag!