Isuzu 117 Coupé
Japanese coupé styled by Giugiaro, first with electronic fuel injection.
The Isuzu 117 Coupé is a compact Gran Turismo type 2-door fastback coupé produced by Isuzu from 1968 to 1981. It was styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro, one of the first Japanese cars designed by an Italian stylist, and was among the first Japanese cars with a DOHC engine and the first with electronic fuel injection. It is also regarded as the world's first sports car available with a diesel engine.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Isuzu
- Assembly
- Japan: Kawasaki, Kanagawa (Kawasaki Plant)
- Layout
- Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
- Successor
- Isuzu Piazza
- Class
- Sports car
- Related
- Isuzu Florian
- Designer
- Giorgetto Giugiaro
- Wheelbase
- 2,500 mm / 8 ft 2 in
Facts from the source article.
Early years
The 117 Coupé debuted as a prototype at the 1966 Geneva Motor Show and later appeared at the Tokyo Motor Show that same year. Isuzu began small-scale production in December 1968, with cars effectively handmade in amounts rarely exceeding 50 per month. The marketing approach resembled that of the Nissan Silvia and later the Toyota 2000GT. Isuzu sought an exotic car to draw buyers into showrooms, boosting sales of more affordable models like the Bellett. Influenced by Japanese cultural traditions, senior management viewed the company as a premiere limited-production manufacturer, and it was the only Japanese automaker not offering a kei car. The first engine was a 1.6 L DOHC inline-four; in 1970, a Bosch D-Jetronic electronic fuel injection unit debuted on the EC model. A twin-carb 1.8-litre SOHC version arrived in November 1970. Standard equipment included leather seats, Taiwanese camphor laurel wood dashboard trim, and headrests, making the car very expensive for Japan. The less luxurious 1800N version appeared in 1971. A total of 2,458 handbuilt examples were made through late 1972.
Mass production and first facelift
Isuzu moved the 117 Coupé to mass production in March 1973, driven by its popularity and the new GM partnership. The standard 1.8-liter engine came in fuel-injected or carbureted versions, with either DOHC or SOHC heads. Stricter emissions rules caused a power drop in October 1975. A year later, in May 1976, the manual gearbox gained a fifth gear.
Second facelift
In November 1977, a second facelift replaced the front fascia's four round headlights with rectangular lights, keeping four, and added a front air dam. Plastic moldings were used in the interior to reduce costs. A 1.95-litre engine debuted in 1978, and the XD diesel-powered version was added in 1979. A special Giugiaro Edition became available in 1979. Production ended in 1981, replaced by the Piazza, also styled by Giugiaro.
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