Beautiful Goodbye: 1989 Isuzu 4200R Concept

(c) sportscarsofthe1980s.wordpress.com

In the late 1980s, Isuzu Motors was selling cars in decent numbers worldwide, but had mainly front-wheel-drive sedans and hatchbacks along with perhaps its best-known product, the Giugiaro-designed Piazza (badged as Impulse in North America), and worked closely with British sports car maker/engineering firm Lotus. It was also making some very nice concept cars in the COA series (to be written up another time), but in 1989, Isuzu broke the mold with the 4200R.

The Isuzu 4200R was styled by Lotus employees working with Isuzu Europe Chief Designer Shiro Nakamura, was a sleekly styled 4-passenger grand tourer with discreet rear doors and a Lotus-engineered 4.2-liter 32-valve DOHC V8 mounted midship, Lotus-engineered active suspension, an LCD screen in the dashboard, extensive use of plastics and aluminum in its construction, and appeared to be a production-ready design.

However, Isuzu's parent company, General Motors, disapproved of the 4200R's technology and its very real threats to Corvette sales and Cadillac engineering, and just a few years after the all-new third-generation Gemini, second-generation Piazza and Yanase Ltd. exclusive PA Nero luxury coupe/wagon duo debuted with styling clearly derived from the 4200R, Isuzu car production was stopped (citing "aging designs and decreasing sales"), and Isuzu made do with badge-engineered Hondas for the Japanese domestic market and several other Asian markets until 2002. 

The 4200R was broken up and destroyed shortly after Isuzu car production ended, but in 2010, Shiro Nakamura worked with game designer Kazunori Yamaguchi of Polyphony Digital to recreate the 4200R for the video game Gran Turismo 5. 

Isuzu 4200R as seen in Gran Turismo 5. Picture (c) gran-turismo.com

This pic and all following pics (c) Isuzu and carstyling.ru

Oddball Driver's Cars On The Cheap: Japan Vs. USA

1: 1990-93 Isuzu Impulse RS

An odd but strong performer, 1990 Isuzu Impulse RS (pic from Craigslist/previous IG feature)

While this car resembles a Geo Storm, and indeed both share many parts, the Impulse RS (also known in Canada as the 1993 Asuna Sunfire) is no slouch and is a strong performer, with ties to legendary automaker Lotus and unusual but pleasant styling. The aftermarket may be small and it may be an orphan marque, but the Isuzu car fanbase and the number of parts shared with the Geo Storm and Lotus Elan M100 help keep it easy to maintain. A minor project like this car (presumably sold now) normally runs under $1000 USD, a very nice one can often be had for under $3000. As with any 90s Japanese car, reliability and engineering are good, but electrical problems can and do pop up at times, and "riced" examples are not unknown. Also, fit & finish were perhaps worse at Isuzu than any other Japanese marque at the time, and the Isuzu twincam four is known for blowing head gaskets, so those two issues are to be kept in mind.

2: 1989-99 Ford Taurus SHO

pic from Wikimedia Commons, 1989-91 model shown

Yes, it's a Taurus, the ubiquitous, bulgy, flimsy family sedan that Ford sold zillions of. But the difference in the SHO lies in its engine (Yamaha-Ford DOHC V6 in first and second generation, Yamaha-Cosworth DOHC V8 in third), brakes, suspension and virtually all other aspects that pertain to enthusiastic driving. This is not the same trashed $300 hooncar candidate seen all over your local Craigslist, it's possibly America's best attempt at a European-style sport sedan that wasn't made with a poached European design. Build quality and fit-and-finish issues are the same as with any other Taurus, that is, highly variable between great and horrible, deferred maintenance is something to watch for on all generations, automatic transmissions on 1992-99 cars are highly suspect as with the standard Taurus, and camshaft failure on 1996-99 cars is a common problem. Cost of entry is anywhere from $500 for a parts car/crapcan racer candidate to $4000 for a nice and well-sorted car.

Oddball On The Cheap: 1990 Isuzu Impulse RS Project

The second-generation Isuzu Impulse is an underrated sporty car and is a great driver's car for a front-wheel-drive design. Considering that many of its components were used in the M100 Lotus Elan and that the second-generation Impulse's suspension was engineered by Lotus, that is even more remarkable.

While its styling is polarizing and many people will confuse it for the much more common and related Geo Storm, these cars are still very much worthy of saving, and this is a very worthy project. The car needs a clutch and valve work, some very minor bodywork, removal of bumper stickers and a detail job, possibly backdating the stereo to a Geo Storm or Impulse stock head unit if you're a purist, but at $900 for a rare 5-speed Japanese sporty car that's an excellent alternative to a 240SX, MX-6, Prelude or Celica, plus a little bit of work done, you can't go wrong.

Find it here on Whidbey Island in Washington State for $900, or go here if ad disappears.

Missed Opportunity: 1974 Lotus Elite

(all photos from former seller, wirewheel.com)

While this car may no longer be available, and the "wedge" Elite may be polarizing, one still cannot deny that this was a milestone car for Lotus. 

The car in question here, recently sold by wirewheel.com, was far nicer than most other Elite projects seen on the market, had unusually good paint, fiberglass and trim for the model, which could be explained by long storage, the car has factory air conditioning and has had the ghost of Joe Lucas partly exorcised with a Crane Fireball electronic ignition and MSD coil, has had dual electric cooling fans and has only 36,000 original miles. 

Unfortunately the seat upholstery was worn and it needed work from having been stored, and I don't know the sale price, but one could do a lot worse as a starting point, and these cars are great with Ford small-block or Rover V8s.

Find the sold listing for this Lotus here.

Mutant: "Modified" 1972 Lotus Europa TC Project

The modifications that this neglected car has had would make Colin Chapman roll over in his grave, but with the price talked down a bit, and if the flares, air dams, added lights & vents and fiberglass damage could be corrected, this car could make an excellent restoration or race project. Engine had 5,000 miles on a rebuild when parked and runs with petrol (gasoline) down the carburetors, and the overused claim of "barn find" was used yet again. This Lotus looks like a lifelong California car, so the chances of a rusty frame are lower, but still worth looking into.

Find this car here, in Fresno, California, for $4,000. (or look here once ad disappears)