Made Just For Japan.. But the Isuzu 117 Coupe Shares DNA with the Fiat Dino Coupe

It's unlikely you'll know of The Isuzu 117 Coupe, it was designed by Giugiaro and Handmade for the Japanese market only. I drive this unique JDM coupe and take a look at the history and features of this pretty car.

[@jefferysmith3930]

Just a beautiful little car. The most Italian looking Japanese car I’ve ever seen. I’d love to have one of these

[@richardjones2468]

We saw these in New Zealand, sold new along with the Bellet saloon. Some were also brought over when Japanese used imports began to arrive in huge numbers. Isuzu were marketed as slightly up market Japanese product above Toyotas and Datsuns/Nissans. The successor Piazza was sold new here in relatively large numbers and Isuzu in NZ maintains its presence by selling their utes (pickups) where they sell in reasonable numbers taking the place of the no longer made Holden utes. Here they are also known for their light and medium trucks and have a good reputation.

[@malcolmlane-ley2044]

Looks fabulous and it's literally going back in time, the clock (11:05) is ticking backwards!

[@chriscardwell3495]

A useful feature - is time going forwards or backwards today?

[@datkin21]

Glad I'm not the only one who saw that. Thought I was going mad!!

[@grahamnutt8958]

If only they had been available to us Brits - could've been a rival for the Ford Capri. Lovely little gem that's obviously loved by the current owner. Thanks to you both for sharing this hidden piece of history 👍.

[@downesy68]

I don’t remember any 117s coming to Australia but our family bought a Holden Gemini (Opel Kadett) in 1975 which had both Holden and Isuzu badging on it. The Gemini became hugely successful in Australia and it was a fantastic, reliable car. The only Isuzu I’d seen before that was the Bellett. One of my school teachers had one.

[@wiggi1968]

What a cool, good looking car. Never seen one before. They must be quite rare. Love it!

[@nickb3968]

That really is a pretty car- great review Jack. I've never seen one here Stateside, but my Dad owned a 86' Isuzu Impulse Turbo(Piazza on your side of the pond), also styled by Giugiaro- which was a fun and good looking car.

[@robsawalker]

I loved those! I had a Datsun Cherry Turbo for a while, and the guy sold it to buy a Piazza Turbo. I've always fancied one, but I bet they are rarer than a DB6 these days...

[@6ettinold]

A guy in Lincolnshire had one in this colour ( possibly this car ) for sale for what seemed like years. This was presumably as no one knew what it was and was possibly put off with the Isuzu name when they found out. It had a ridiculously low mileage, was in stunning condition when I saw it at a classic show in Nottingham about 10 years ago. Shove the usual Minis, MGB's and obligatory Ford stuff, this was the prettiest little car by far at the show and this video only proves it would've been the ideal useable classic. I love 'em. Great review👍

[@mescko]

If it is a late square-headlamp model, I think a mate of mine owns it now.

[@jehl1963]

Interesting -- the clock's second hand goes counter-clockwise!

[@caeserromero3013]

Back end looks like a Morris Marina :)

[@darylwalford8697]

HI Jack, In Australia you can buy Isuzu heavy trucks and "utes" or pick up trucks. When I was a truck driver I drove at least a million kms in Isuzu trucks, they have a well deserved reputation for being very reliable.

[@martinrussell5618]

First fire reminded me of a Lancia Beta Coupe, I had a volumex in the 80s and although flawed I loved it

[@carl_marks1626]

You won’t see another at a car show. What an interesting and pretty car.

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

At first glance I thought it was a Lancia or Alfa. Great looking thing! The Giugiaro connection really shows.

[@aogrady]

Any car with cool wing mirrors like that is a winner for me! What a lovely little thing!

[@gori277]

Lovely little car, very reminiscent of the Fiat Dino or the Taunus OSI. Good on you Andrew!

[@SuperEjep]

When I worked in Tokyo in the late 1990s you couldn't give them away. Pity, I missed an opportunity!

[@chiefrocka8604]

You find these in Russia as the Russian side of Japan was a dumping ground for almost worthless old jappa iron

[@Shyted]

Not at all surprised to see this sort of car on your channel. Quality content.

[@scottjohnson4319]

What a lovely little thing. Not fast, athletic or particularly theatrical just a lovely little car with it's very own personality. Thanks for the show and tell Jack, well worth the time.

[@ciaranburke3243]

I'm glad you decided to review it jack such a nice thing, I've never seen one before 👌

[@iankeith763]

I like this guy, full of enthusiasm. What a pretty car this is, never heard of them.

[@CT37BN]

I can see how the 2-dr. Isuzu Gemini evolved from this car, especially the 117's nearly fastback style and those tail lamps design got transferred to the Gemini. Opel/GM Europe must have referenced this car when they were designing the Kadett C/Isuzu Gemini.

[@russellcarter2087]

Isuzu SUVs (4wd) and dual cab utes (4wd) are currently popular in Australia.

[@colinblick4903]

As a work manager I was qualified as a fork lift driver and had an Isuzu forklift Indestructible 😎💪🏼….. great tool!

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

Awesome and fun car. Nice video. Keep up the good work.

[@noelclark693]

In the 70's Isuzu built a lot of cars with GM in Australia that were called Toranas. I can see some of the same style cues in this one.

[@mortofromoz1]

Isuzu built/based cars were named "Gemini" in Australia They were eventually made in the Acacia ridge plant in Brisbane. The last Gemini was the front-wheel-drive RB. It was a sales disaster. Toranas were totally unrelated. Initially based on the 1968 HB Vauxhall Viva. The LC and LJ were more loosely based on their Vauxhall cousin, available in 4-cylinder short nose and 6-cylinder long nose. The subsequent LH, LX and UC were stand-alone models available in sedan or hatch with 4, 6 and 8 cylinder variants. The ultimate being the LX SS A9X 5.0 litre V8 homologation special. It is in no way related to the Isuzu 117.

[@MrMairu555]

As soon as I saw the rear view I thought "looks Citroën-ee!", and then you say "has echoes of the DS"! 🤣🤣🤣 Never seen one before, but I love it! Ichi Ichi Nana is 117 in Japanese... had to double-check though, as I learned 7 as shichi.

[@chrischarman1043]

Lovely little car, beautiful and unusual, good engineering make it a desirable thing. Rear end almost has an American look about it. Great video as ever, thanks to you Jack.

[@lasskinn474]

Isuzu is huge in thailand still. Just pickups, trucks and suv's though. Very well liked, rugged enough, kept running forever(work cost being low keeps used prices higher than you'd expect)

[@Ford4174]

Suv Isuzu???

[@lasskinn474]

@@Ford4174 well yeah, current iteration name is mu-x (used to be mu7), body on frame, 7 seater. I think a lot of it is same as the d-max pickup but i haven't really had the chance to view them side by side on a lift or something. for the price it's okay, happy enough with it... but if you check the price be aware that all of the countries that it's sold in pretty much have high car taxes. but it's like the price of a camry or it's main competitor toyota fortuner(suv toyota makes on the hilux platform, so basically both isuzu and toyota have the same thing going on here)

[@stoneylonesome4062]

A lot of people are unaware that Isuzu made performance cars, but they did. The 117 Coupé and the Piazza, most notably. And then some high-performance versions of ordinary cars like the Gemini and Stylus.

[@rosschurchouse2794]

Straight on to it! Fresh out of the box Right given that a watch - soon as I saw it I thought Is that a Fiat? What a sweet JDM classic

[@canucklehead0]

What a Beauty of a little car!! I love the old Isuzu cars and SUV's, I've owned three of the Trooper II's with various engines, lockers, and transmissions all pre-1990 when they were all square and lovely. Interestingly, a chum of mine owned an Isuzu Impulse Turbo, it was a 2 door hatch with a pointy VW Scirocco like nose and was a properly quick little thing for the mid 80's. Thank-you for reviewing this mini Dino classic, and to your viewer who owns it, Thanks to you as well, Sir!!

[@gabechiplin8140]

Thanks Jack, Can't recall having seen one in Oz before. Our early Isuzu's were Bellets mainly 4 dr but there were 2dr and I think a SSS version. Later we had izuzu Gemini which was similar to your Opel kadet? Then under a deal with Holden became the Holden Gemini. Our Torana was Vauxhall viva based I believe. Love the quirky cars!

[@petersargeant1555]

The Holden Gemini was made in Brisbane, and also came with a diesel engine. Progress was glacial.

[@danieldravot341]

The front end of this car was obviously lifted directly from the Fiat Dino Coupe, which has always been one of my favorites. The rest of the car, well, it’s reminiscent of a lot of less graceful Japanese cars of the era. When I first went to Europe (Monaco, 1973) I was intrigued by the Fiat Dino Coupe, much more so than the slightly odd-shaped Fiat Dino Spider. Today, almost fifty years later, I still put the Dino Coupe on my must-have list if money wasn’t an obstacle.

[@pashakdescilly7517]

I look at that Isuzu and think of Mazda RX3

[@pssst66]

"The front end of this car was obviously lifted directly from the Fiat Dino Coupe" Bertone used similar styling on many cars. For example a similar front was found one the 1965 Mustang one-off and the 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia SS Bertone prototype too, and I would argue that these looks the most similar to the Isuzu given that it also have similar pinched sides rather than the more rounded off from the Dino.

[@carlharvey7098]

Now thats a cool car - Great video as usual Jack.

[@daveshongkongchinachannel]

Great video and this is definitely the kind of car I would like to see more of. I love the looks of cars from that era and those wing mirrors are great.

[@deviltube36]

Owned one when I was stationed in Iwakuni in the mid 1980’s.

[@jeandibb4111]

Thanks Jack - really enjoyed that.

[@MrCarrera28]

Great video, as always enjoyable to vicariously savour a rare car through your excellent descriptions and your unadulterated emotional responses. Great content for enthusiasts.

[@Number27]

Thank you chap!! Really good to hear you’re still liking the content… even when it’s a bit off the wall!

[@johnchapman3601]

Did I imagine it, but the second hand on the clock was going backwards 🙄

[@nixonthomas806]

I also noticed that

[@robsawalker]

I thought you were doing something on the Lancia Beta. Lovely looking car, Jack.

[@chrischarman1043]

Lovely story behind the car and the owner, he sounds like a top bloke. Respect due.

[@barryfeatherstone1616]

I remember these when I lived in Japan in the 70s. They were a very pretty design & much loved by the Bosozoku... 😊

[@sammygirlie345]

Ohh like that I had a piazza for a time loved that there is somthing very attractive about Japanese design

[@MaximilianvonPinneberg]

I'm getting a lot of Fiat and Lancia in the design of this. What a fascinating little car.

[@beatglauser9444]

Wen I saw this car in a car magazine of the Seventies I was immediatly in love with it. Look at the design! You see the design ideas of the ISO Grifo and the Fiat Dino Coupe. This is not amazing as Giugiaro was part of the Bertone team. I must say that Giugiaro designed a lot of cars I did not like at all. But this Isuzu is stunning! Thanks for showing this car to us!

[@IOWPCV]

Absolutely love the Dino,the shape has to be one of my all time great car designs along with the Miura. This is an interesting off shoot of design.Shame it doesn't have a more interesting power plant ! .. Another interesting vid thanks 🙌🙌😎😎

[@davidramsay-kerr1959]

Hello Jack, The Isuzu 117 was not confined to thr Japanese market -- it was also sold in Australia and New Zealand. I agree with your comments on Isuzu's Piazza. I bought one after a test drive, and really liked it. They were sold in Australia as Holdens, and the competition arm of Holden cooked up (as did Lotus) an excellent handling kit (which was absolutely indispensible). As you said, the performance of the turbocharged SOHC engine was excellent. (I also owned an XK140 MC f.h.c. at the time, and the two cars had very similar - torquey- performance) A close friend had a DOHC 117, and we both liked it a lot. Apropos twin cam four cylinder two litre-ish engines from Japan in the seventies - Toyota's 1.9 litre (as I recall) Corona coupe was definitely a 'double knocker'.

[@andrewrichardson9077]

Hi David, I think you might be mixing this up ? AFAIK the 117 was genuinely Japan only - but it overlapped with the quite similar Gemini coupe which was a GM joint project between Holden, Isuzu and Opel. Plenty of these were sold in Australia and NZ mostly as Holdens. These were powered by the Isuzu G160 and G180 engines (as used in the 117) and are/were popular with racing and modding enthusiasts - including, as you point out, adding a turbocharger to the G180 SOHC. According to the blurb on a 117 recently up for sale in Aus, there are approx ten 117's currently operational in Aus. About the same number here in the UK.

[@leebuckles2364]

Another interesting car jack you keep finding these gems

[@LeapfrogAnimation]

Great video, great owner as well, thank you for sharing

[@米山哲子]

Most bautiful 4 seat coupe.

[@hondamonkeyboy]

At 11:03 that quartz clock was going backwards.

[@Number27]

Others have mentioned this… I guess that’s what it did! Or perhaps it plugged in with a reverse feed!

[@markflett5501]

Great video so interesting keep them coming

[@bobz1736]

Interesting 🤔 Isuzu is a big brand in Asia producing many popular pickups and trucks.

[@swiper1818]

It is a beautiful car - very interesting review and so much reminiscence to the Bertone Dino!

[@McGrowlers1]

What a lovely looking car !

[@patrickdixon4945]

Front is really like the Fiat 124 Sport Coupe - I had a 1608cc 'BC' (the AC and CC have slightly different looking front ends). Rear reminds me a little of Lancia Beta Coupe.

[@busterboy7505]

Nice interesting car Jack, reminds me of when I had a Nissan bluebird 180B SSS, reverse gear was were 1st is, and when you put it in reverse it would start beeping to let you know that you were in reverse, it did take a bit of getting used to, but I did love driving it,👍👍

[@santosh911]

From directly behind, it has shades of sunbeam rapier fastback in the way the back glass tapers onto the trunk away from the fenders.

[@wesleycardinal8869]

A classic design, reminds me of the Mazda 1500 from around the same era.

[@ti1ion]

Beautiful little car. Love it. And it is going back in time! I had to check to make sure others noticed it as well. Haha.

[@chrismadge7292]

Didn’t know about this car, very pretty. Lovely interior.

[@maxmoughal5183]

Lovely little car not seen one before

[@craigbourne4792]

Brilliant video, Loved the car. Nice to see different cars, keep doing more of these Please :)

[@jimmyquinn9639]

Looks like a Fiat nice car 🚘🚙🚗👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@matthewlok3020]

There’s another sports car from Isuzu of similar vintage that’s also considered a classic The Bellett GT-R

[@Spleen214]

I looked at the backend and immediately though MK1 Vauxhall Cavailer. Interesting car mind.

[@johnandrews3568]

Great review of a very cool, obscure car. Keep 'em coming, mate!

[@neilmustow368]

Seen one of these at a local car show 4 years ago Jack in blue

[@czarekp3552]

man, this is gorgeous

[@gazzafloss]

Hey Jack, we had lots of those Isuzu cars here in Australia, they were called Holden Geminis, not sure if they were built here at GM's Adelaide plant but there were lots sold. I think there was even a special motorsport category for them back in the day, they were "fun" cars. Though I never owned one I seriously considered buying a diesel powered one as I had a long daily commute to my work. Still lots of Isuzu's sold here but, utilities, SUV's, and light trucks now, the brand still carries with it a reputation for rugged reliability.

[@purplehaze8557]

First time seeing/hearing about one of these.

[@slaggybuttonit]

Lovely and interesting car, with a really nice ownership story. I love the enthusiasm you bring to all your vids, and a bit of Hubnut crossover is no bad thing! Next up: Honda 1300?

[@grayfool]

Lovely looking car. We missed out on some great Japanese cars.

[@geekandguide]

Oddly, I had a ride in one a few months ago. A friend has one, also in white.

[@rhettcorcoran2879]

Very interesting car, excellent video.

[@AndyD070568]

At first glance I thought that was some kind of Lancia.

[@brianweekes1]

Although I’m not really into classics, I love it! it looks classy and italian, strangely enough. Those wheels look good on it too. Lovely car!!

[@peggygeren4169]

Genuine Cromodora Daytona mags, apparently.

[@RandyWillcox]

I love the styling. From the front quarter view, it's also very Ford Capri looking.

[@simonwoodward438]

That's adorable, love the Dino as well.

[@alancsalt]

Isuzu now make SUV, light trucks, commercial vehicles and UD trucks. Back in 1972 they made the Isuzu Bellet 1800GT

[@eze8970]

Thanks Jack, 7 instrument dials is a great amount! Good looking, little fun car, glad you enjoyed yourself! Being Japanese, nothing should have broken or fallen off to?!

[@warrenpearson7907]

Love the shape of that 👌 like a mini fiat dino

[@paulriggers1558]

"just tell jack its called an itchy nanna", "tenner says he broadcasts it" 99.9% of cars have the reel at the bottom, explanation needed.... nice little vid of a nice car, really good from the front, not too keen on the back [but enough about the wife] cheers jack...

[@robtt997]

Good review. Very informative . Must have taken a lot of research ! Well done

[@bmac1205]

Reminds me a bit of the Lancia Beta Coupe too

[@leightaylor806]

Ichi (one) ichi (one) nana (seven) You nailed the pronunciation Even though "ichi" sounds like "itchy and scratchy" and "nana" sound like "Nanna" like "grandmother" to British people, this is really how Japanese people would say 117 in Japanese

[@2702simmo]

I love the look of that definitely a cool car More of this kind of video would be great Jack 👍

[@Number27]

Thanks chap!

[@doktoruzo]

Gorgeous car.

[@paulcharlton4788]

The clock is going the wrong way I think? I’ve had a certain amount of wine though….. If it is going the wrong way that tends to happen when a car is converted from positive to negative Earth.

[@Lot76CARS]

What an unusual car Jack, I’ve never seen one and I’m a total car anorak.. brilliant and informative test and I can see the Fiat Dino Coupe resemblance.

[@panji7793]

That really nice and rare car

[@toy838]

Interesting car clever engineering I have twenty year old Yaris still on original exhaust .

[@jamesengland7461]

Gorgeous!

[@geoffmarsh7986]

You have a lot of YT competition reviewing cars, classic or otherwise. Good luck.

[@turistomer3702]

I m with you on this one

[@krisjones3359]

The 117 reminds me of a Lancia Fulvia 👍

[@garrisong]

This video is the first use of the word recalcitrant I recall ever hearing 🤣

[@natjes6017]

Very cool car, thanx for sharing!

[@964tractorboy]

Every angle reminds me of another car. Ten cars in one!