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Isuzu Cars

Two companies Ishikawajima motors which were licenced to manufacture British Wolseleys in Japan between 1918 to 1927 and the Tokyo Gas and Electric company, which had built military trucks from 1916.  Merged in 1937 to form ISUZU motors.

Despite not being known in Europe General Motors took a 34.2% share in 1971.

Until 1985, the name Isuzu was virtually unknown in Europe, but  it was producing a wide range of models.

The Gemini, in 1974, used the bodywork, chassis and suspension of GM's European Opel Kadett.

When imports of  Japanese models started to bite into the US market, GM turned to Isuzu to design and build a 'domestic' rival.

In 1984 the new Gemini was launched, with 1.4 and 1.6-litre turbo and non-turbo engines. In the US it was sold as the Geo Spectrum. By 1990 the third generation Gemini had become the Stylus for US buyers, while the coupé version was using the revised Piazza name.

In 1979 at the Geneva Show, Isuzu showed a Giugiaro designed concept car, called the Ace of Clubs.

Three years later this was launched as the Piazza. There were two versions, with the 2.0-litre turbo model being sold in the UK from 1986 onwards. Lotus Engineering, then also owned by GM, was called in to sort out the handling. The quick and stylish, Piazza today remains a fondly remembered Japanese sports car by a small band of enthusiast's.

Isuzu produced its first off-roader in 1985. In Japan it was given the splendid name of the Rodeo Bighorn, but for export it had the more saleable -  Trooper name. Petrol and turbodiesel versions were available and was seen as an alternative to the Range-Rover with Japanese reliability, they did  and still sell well. GM later harnessed Isuzu's diesel expertise for several engines and vehicles.

The model range was realigned in 1989. New were the soft-top Amigo and five-door Rodeo, while the Bighorn/Trooper was restyled

The ORIGINALS were used as the basis of the Vauxhall/Opel Frontera model when Vauxhall needed a 4x4.

In 1993 Vauxhall started to market a re-badged version of the Trooper called Monterey. The Trooper importers  International Motors were not impressed, and neither were the critics - the Vauxhall vehicles did not have a good reputation for build quality.