Well, there haven't been any other Isuzus entered in this section for a while, so I thought I'd better add mine!

I've got a Holden Gemini panelvan; 1978-build (June actually, just like me!).

It's not technically an Isuzu; as locals will know the cars were sold by Holden in Holden dealerships and were not only badged as Holdens, but were built at Holden's Acacia Ridge plant in Queensland using local and imported parts.

They're a real bitsa.... the engine was built in Japan by Isuzu and still has Isuzu on the rocker cover. Isuzu's MSG-type 5-speed manual was built in the Phillipines. The TD-model-onwards had a Salisbury-type differential and rear axle that was made locally.

I'm yet to determine if the front panels were stamped locally or if they were imported, but i'm fairly certain the actual floorpans were stamped locally, as it was noted in a book I saw once that the TE-model-onwards Diesel version had a fully imported floorpan - that would make the petrol items locally stamped I reckon!

With the van and wagon, things get weird; as far as I can determine, the doors and rear panels came from Opel in Germany, while the plastic panels covering the blanked-out windows came from the Bedford Chevanne from the UK!

My particular item has been fitted with a G200Z motor, however since then it's not really been delivering the goods (so to speak) and while I was racing it at Mallala, it died in the arse (that's Australian for 'stopped working').

So it's laid up at the moment. It's got a bit of rust that needs to be tackled. I've been recommended to fit a 4ZE1 motor to it, so maybe I will!





I really miss driving it!

That's a nice li'l van. Were these tax exempt for business or something like that?

Nah it really does depend on the registrations laws in any given Australian state, as they're all different.

In South Australia, the registration is based on number of cylinders, however as it was a commercial vehicle, it was classified as a 'commercial vehicle under 1 tonne' and as a result it was actually more expensive to register a Gemini van than it was the sedan or coupe!

I'm sure there were tax breaks for owning it in terms of income tax and refunds etc, but I don't get them coz it's not being used for commercial purposes. I just bought the van coz back in 'The Day' my mate had a sedan and another guy had a coupe so I wanted something different. Then another guy got a wagon and for a very short time (and only one photo) we had the whole set - sedan, coupe, wagon & panelvan!

I've got the car back at home now. It looks sad. But sometimes late at night I go out and stroke it.

Thanks for your support - it is a smooth looking van.

That car still looks great. Will be excellent to see it on the road when you can!

Do you think you'll race that car again?

shit yeah! It looks extra tuff with a set of grooved race slicks on it!

I just needs to go better and be less rusty for that to go ahead! Patience... (and money)