Isuzu 117 Coupé
Japanese obscurity with Italian genealogy, from £5000
Remove the badges and here is a car that will leave most people stumped. Styled by a young Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Isuzu 117 Coupé remains – perhaps unfairly – a largely forgotten Japanese classic with a dose of Italian flair. The perfect combination?
Developed in conjunction with Turin’s Carrozzeria Ghia alongside the Florian saloon and estate, it was first presented at the 1966 Geneva motor show. By 1968 it had gone into limited production of around 1000 cars per year, almost entirely handbuilt.
It was a very expensive proposition, marketed as a sporting GT rather than an out-and-out sports car. The 2+2 seating arrangement offered a semblance of practicality, while its double-wishbone front suspension and live rear axle were well set-up for capable (if not overly entertaining) handling.
Initially powered by a 120bhp 1.6-litre twin-cam four-cylinder, it was joined by a new EC model (for Electronic Control) in 1970. Not only was this the first Japanese road car to be fitted with Bosch electronic fuel injection, but it also pushed power to 130bhp – not bad for a 1.6. In an attempt to offer buyers a cheaper option, two poverty-spec 1800 single-cam models were added at the same time.
Sales remained slow for the first four years, yet the 117 was in demand in other ways. General Motors took a significant stake in Isuzu in 1972, and that led to some major changes for the 117. In March 1973 production was ramped up and economies of scale reduced costs in many areas, not least the pressing of body panels, as annual build numbers multiplied tenfold. Larger front and rear lights, new reflectors in the wings, a reprofiled grille and chunkier bumpers are the obvious cosmetic differences. Engine capacity was increased to 1.8 litres for all models.
As it approached its tenth birthday, the 117’s 1960s roots were starting to show. A significant facelift in 1977 filled in a few of the cracks, introducing new plastic bumpers and a different nose – with Peugeot 504 Coupé-style quad-rectangular headlights.
Changes ran far deeper, with the twin-cam engine further enlarged to 2.0 litres in 1978 to keep power levels in line with tougher emissions regulations. Five-speed gearbox, four-wheel disc brakes and a slightly more sporting suspension set-up with power steering helped to keep it competitive. Top models also got a limited-slip differential.
Isuzu offered a diesel engine as well as a string of increasingly plush special editions, the most soughtafter being a Giugiaro edition. Isuzu placed a lot of importance on the Italian connection, and it was rather fitting that the Italian designer would also create its long-awaited successor, the Piazza, in 1981.
In the UK, the 117 Coupé remains a relative obscurity, but that makes it a seriously affordable way to stand out from the crowd. Though it was never officially sold here, a few have made the journey over, but healthy numbers available in Japan give you plenty of options. It’s proof that if you are willing to think a little outside the box, you can still have something rare, beautiful and with Italian lineage for less than £10,000.