Isuzu 117 Coupe
Encyclopedia
The Isuzu 117 Coupé was a mid-sized
Gran Turismo type
2-door fastback
coupe
manufactured by Isuzu Motors Ltd.
in Japan
from 1968 to 1981. The 117 was a codename for a common development program of Isuzu mid-size cars, involving a coupé, sedan and station wagon. The latter two eventually became the Isuzu Florian
, but the coupe kept the original name, and both models shared mechanicals, including the complete FR layout chassis
with recirculating ball
steering.
The car was styled by the famous Giorgetto Giugiaro
, being one of the first Japanese cars designed by an Italian stylist. It was among the first Japanese cars with a DOHC engine, and the first with electronic fuel injection
. It can also be regarded as the world's first sports car
to be available with a diesel engine
.
The 117 Coupé was quite an exclusive vehicle during its lifetime, and is a rare collectible now, but thanks to its unusually long lifecycle, Isuzu manufactured as many as 86,192 units. The 117 Coupé was replaced by the Isuzu Piazza in the Isuzu lineup.
at the 1966 Geneva Motor Show
, and was later shown at the Tokyo Motor Show
the same year. In 1968, Isuzu started preliminary small-scale production of 117 Coupés, which were effectively handmade in amounts not exceeding 50 a month. The first engine available was a 1.6 L DOHC I4
, and in 1970, an electronic fuel injection unit from Bosch
debuted. The model fitted with fuel injection was named the EC (for "electronic control").
The car came with a long list of standard equipment (including leather seats, dashboard trim made of Taiwanese camphor laurel wood, and headrests) and was very expensive for Japanese standards. This concerned also the less luxurious 1800N version added in 1971, powered by a simpler 1.8 L SOHC carbureted engine.
, Isuzu decided to shift the model to mass production. The 1.8 L engine became standard, with several versions available, with or without fuel injection and with DOHC or SOHC valvetrains.
, which resulted in replacing the previous front fascia with four round headlights with more modern one with rectangular lights (keeping their number). In an effort to further decrease manufacturing costs, plastic moldings were used in the interior. In 1978, the 2.0 L engine debuted, and in 1979 the XD diesel-powered version was added.
Starting in 1979, a special version called the Giugiaro Edition was available. Production of the 117 Coupé lasted until 1981, when it was replaced by the Piazza, also styled by Giugiaro.
Mid-size car
A mid-size car is the North American/Australian standard for an automobile with a size equal to or greater than that of a compact...
Gran Turismo type
Grand tourer
A grand tourer is a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The most common format is a two-door coupé with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement....
2-door fastback
Fastback
A fastback is a car body style whose roofline slopes continuously down at the back. The word can also designate the car itself. The style is seen on two-door coupés as well as four-door sedans.-History:...
coupe
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
manufactured by Isuzu Motors Ltd.
Isuzu
, is a Japanese car, commercial vehicle and heavy truck manufacturing company, headquartered in Tokyo. In 2005, Isuzu became the world's largest manufacturer of medium to heavy duty trucks. It has assembly and manufacturing plants in the Japanese city of Fujisawa, as well as in the prefectures...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
from 1968 to 1981. The 117 was a codename for a common development program of Isuzu mid-size cars, involving a coupé, sedan and station wagon. The latter two eventually became the Isuzu Florian
Isuzu Florian
The Isuzu Florian was an intermediate car manufactured by Isuzu Motors Ltd. in Japan from 1967 to 1983. The Florian's body remained essentially the same through its unusually long life cycle, being afforded only two moderate facelifts...
, but the coupe kept the original name, and both models shared mechanicals, including the complete FR layout chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
with recirculating ball
Recirculating ball
Recirculating ball, also known as recirculating ball and nut or worm and sector, is a steering mechanism commonly found in older automobiles, and some trucks...
steering.
The car was styled by the famous Giorgetto Giugiaro
Giorgetto Giugiaro
Giorgetto Giugiaro is an Italian automobile designer responsible equally for a stable of supercars and several of the most popular everyday vehicles driven today...
, being one of the first Japanese cars designed by an Italian stylist. It was among the first Japanese cars with a DOHC engine, and the first with electronic fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
. It can also be regarded as the world's first sports car
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
to be available with a diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
.
The 117 Coupé was quite an exclusive vehicle during its lifetime, and is a rare collectible now, but thanks to its unusually long lifecycle, Isuzu manufactured as many as 86,192 units. The 117 Coupé was replaced by the Isuzu Piazza in the Isuzu lineup.
Early years
The 117 Coupé was debuted as a prototypePrototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
at the 1966 Geneva Motor Show
Salon International de l'Auto
The International Geneva Motor Show is an annual auto show held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva. The show is hosted at the Geneva Palexpo, a convention centre located next to the Geneva Cointrin International Airport...
, and was later shown at the Tokyo Motor Show
Tokyo Motor Show
The is a biennial auto show held in October-November at the Makuhari Messe, Chiba City, Japan for cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Hosted by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association , it is a recognized international show by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs...
the same year. In 1968, Isuzu started preliminary small-scale production of 117 Coupés, which were effectively handmade in amounts not exceeding 50 a month. The first engine available was a 1.6 L DOHC I4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, and in 1970, an electronic fuel injection unit from Bosch
Robert Bosch GmbH
Robert Bosch GmbH is a multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components...
debuted. The model fitted with fuel injection was named the EC (for "electronic control").
The car came with a long list of standard equipment (including leather seats, dashboard trim made of Taiwanese camphor laurel wood, and headrests) and was very expensive for Japanese standards. This concerned also the less luxurious 1800N version added in 1971, powered by a simpler 1.8 L SOHC carbureted engine.
Mass production
With the 117 Coupé becoming a very popular and desired model, and the advent of the cooperation with General MotorsGeneral Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
, Isuzu decided to shift the model to mass production. The 1.8 L engine became standard, with several versions available, with or without fuel injection and with DOHC or SOHC valvetrains.
Facelift
In 1977, Isuzu decided to afford the 117 Coupé a faceliftFacelift (product)
A facelift is the revival of a product through cosmetic means, for example by changing its appearance while leaving its underlying engineering or design intact....
, which resulted in replacing the previous front fascia with four round headlights with more modern one with rectangular lights (keeping their number). In an effort to further decrease manufacturing costs, plastic moldings were used in the interior. In 1978, the 2.0 L engine debuted, and in 1979 the XD diesel-powered version was added.
Starting in 1979, a special version called the Giugiaro Edition was available. Production of the 117 Coupé lasted until 1981, when it was replaced by the Piazza, also styled by Giugiaro.