As some may know, I’ve been actively collecting anything Bellett-related for many years, including heaps of sales brochures, manuals and glovebox books, sales ads, and motoring magazines for a long time.
I’ve finally listed all my magazine’s and thought it would be useful for all of us to know what articles where written about these cars so you can keep an eye out for them as well. Apologies if there’s any errors here, as it’s taken many an hour to collate all this, and I now have square screen eyes!!
I have found a lot of these things at swap meets, where you’ll pay around the $5 each mark for a good copy. Ebay can be a good hunting ground too, but watch the prices being asked (I’ve seen a copy of “Wheels Road Tests, #10", on there for a long time, with a starting ask of $40!!).
I’ve also listed the magazines from the 60’s/70’s that I know of that have Bellett articles that I currently don’t own, so if you’re lucky enough to own some of these (or some others that I haven’t listed), please feel free to add them in a post.

As you’ll read below, the magazines I own have been broken down as follows:
-date of issue: page number of article. “Name of article” model or type of car (reg if shown).
In the later magazine section I’ve added at the bottom, I’ve also included if the owner of the car in question is known to bellett.net, and/or if the where-about’s of the car is still known.
I’ve have listed the reg numbers of the cars in the original 60’s/70’s articles for a simple reason… please check to see if your car is listed, as it may be more special than once thought if it’s an original test car!! Personally, I’d luv to know where they are now (I’m told a rumour that the PR90 DUN-999 still exists, but can’t confirm as I have no proof).

Enjoy!!
Brett.

1960’s-70’s Isuzu articles in Australian publications.
Bellett articles:
AUSTRALIAN MOTOR SPORTS & AUTOMOBILES:
-Nov 64: pg 34. “Isuzu Bellett is fast but solid”: PR20 (NSW reg A-2490 *NSW trade plate*) *Part of 10 Japanese car comparison*
-Nov 66: pg 12. “All synchromesh Bellett”: PR20 (Vic reg JNG-617)
-Jan 68: pg 44. “Here’s a real GT”: PR91 (Vic reg JVT-053)
-Nov 68: pg 22. “A better Bellett GT”: PR91 (Vic reg KBT-378)

CARS, NOTHING BUT CARS:
-1969: pg 97. “Isuzu Bellett”: PR20 (Unreg’d)

MODERN MOTOR:
-June 65: pg 58. “Top banana”: PR20 (NSW reg DNX-839)
-Oct 65: pg 42. “Bellett goes GT”: PR90 (NSW reg DUN-999)
-Oct 66: pg 36. “Better Bellett”: PR20 (NSW reg EGD-333)
-Nov 68: pg 37. “Isuzu Bellett”: PR20 (NSW reg EDG-333) *Part of a 9 small car comparison*

MOTOR MANUAL:
-Aug 67: pg 40. "Everything but the front seat blonde...": PR91 (NSW reg EGO-254)
-Dec 68: pg 8. "Bellett GT": PR91 (Vic reg KBT-378). pg 35. "Japanese Report". Mention of Isuzu Bellett 1600 sports as a new model.
-Mar 69: pg 18. “The case for the defence”: PR20 (Vic reg KDR-545)

SPORTS CAR WORLD:
-Nov 65: pg 20. “Reflections upon motoring in an oriental thoroughbred – Bellett 1600GT”: PR90 (NSW reg DUN-999)
-Aug 66: pg 18. “Isuzu’s GT Bellettiquette”: PR90 (NSW reg DUN-999). *Part of a 3 car Japanese coupe comparison* *Issue has grey PR90 on front cover*
-Apr 67: pg 42. “The Bellett bullet”: PR91 (NSW reg EGO-254)
SPORTS CAR ROAD TESTS:
-Number 3: pg 40. “Bellett – Isuzu’s 1600GT”: PR90 (NSW reg DUN-999) *same article as SCW, Nov 65*

WHEELS:
-Aug 64: pg 26. “The fiery Bellett 1500”: PR20 (NSW reg A-2490 *NSW trade plate*) *Issue has white PR20 on front cover*
-Feb 65: pg 20. “4 at the top”: PR20 (NSW reg DNX-869) *Part of 4 small car comparison*
-July 65: pg 40. “We give you stage 1 in our new Project Bellett”: PR20 (NSW reg DAS-111)* 1st instalment in the famous “Project Bellett” series* *Issue has red PR20 on front cover*
-Oct 65: pg 26. “Project Bellett – now in stage 2”: PR20 (NSW reg DAS-111) *2nd instalment of “Project Bellett”*
-Dec 65: pg 26. “Bellett GT – Japanes Gran Turismo”: PR90 (NSW reg DUN-999)
-Oct 66: pg 22. “Bellett – Better beef and bustle”: PR20 (NSW reg EDG-333)
-May 67: pg 40. “Bellett’s baby E-Type”: PR91 (NSW reg EGO-254)
WHEELS ROAD TEST:
-Number 13: pg 30. “Bellett GT – Oriental E-Type”: PR91 (NSW reg EGO-254) *same article as Wheels, May 67*


Other Isuzu articles:
AUSTRALIAN MOTOR SPORTS & AUTOMOBILES:
-Jan 69: pg 24. “Another Japanese contender”: Florian (Vic reg KCY-937)

CARS, NOTHING BUT CARS:
-1969: pg 97. “1600 Florian”: Florian (Unreg’d)

MOTOR MANUAL:
-Feb 69: pg 46. “Isuzu Florian. Case of move over Mazda?”: Florian (Vic reg KCY-937)
-Mar 70: pg 13. “Isuzu MX1600 & Bellett GT-R”: MX1600 & GT-R pictured. *Part of a 4 car feature about “Challengers from Japan-san”

MODERN MOTOR:
-Aug 68: pg 32. “We drive Isuzu’s new eye-catcher” Florian (Unreg’d)
-Feb 69: pg 23. “Isuzu Florian”: Florian (Unable to read reg # 100%, but may be NSW reg ACP-100)

SPORTS CAR SPECIALS:
-Number 7: pg 44. “The nippon specials”: Pic of PR90 (NSW reg DUN-999)

WHEELS:
-Sept 69: pg 44. “Isuzu’s 117 coupe”: 117 coupe (Jap reg 29-66)

WORLD’S FASTEST SPORTS CARS:
-Number 10: pg 74. “Tokyo goes wild”: Pics of Bellett R6 Spider & MX1600.

Magazines known to contain Bellett articles, but I don’t own as yet:
MOTOR MANUAL:
-Jan 65.
-Dec 66. *unsure as to whether this issue contains a Bellett article or not, as the info comes from a source that has been incorrect with other magazine dates and articles in the past*

WHEELS:
-Mar 67.
(Project Bellett has a 3rd instalment, maybe around late 65 – early 66).
WHEELS ROAD TEST:
-Number 8.
-Number 10.
WHEELS HOT UP GUIDE:
-Number 3
-Number 4.

“Newer” Australian articles with Bellett’s/Isuzu’s:
AUSTRALIAN CLASSIC CAR:
-Jan 95: pg 16. “Your Club – Bellett Car Club Vic”: PR20 (Vic reg EYG-122) and PR90 (Vic reg JOK-111). EYG-122 owned by forum user “Bellett69”. Where-about’s of both cars known.
-Jan 05: pg 12. “Spirit of Japan”: PR91W replica (NSW reg GTR-091). Where-about’s of car known.
-Mar 06: pg 40. “Genuine GT”: PR91 (NSW reg 26051-H) Owned by forum member “1968GT”. Where-about’s of car known.
-Jan 07: pg 19. “Bellett’s enthused over Nationals”: PR20 (QLD reg PHH-200). Where-about’s of car known.
-Dec 07: pg 16. “Bellett owners spread the word”: PR90, PR91, PR20 and Wasp. Owned by forum members “PR91”, ”Qld G.T./P.R.90”, “bennyb”, and “toomanybellets”. Where-about’s of all cars known.

FAST FOURS & ROTARIES:
-Aug/Sept 97: pg 108. “Suzi Stinger”: Wasp (Vic reg STUNG) Owned by forum member “PR91”. Where-about’s of car known.

HOT 4’s:
-Issue 50, Nov 99: pg 135. “Violet Crumbler”: PR20 (SA reg AA-067T) Owned by forum member “kazzmax”. Where-about’s of car known.

JAPANESE RESTORER IN AUSTRALIA:
-Issue 2, Summer 02: pg 9. “Car shows in Japan”: Pic of 2 PR91’s.
-Issue 3, Apr/Jun 03: pg 18. “Driving the sales brochures – Isuzu Bellett”: early PR20 sales brochure. pg 20. 117XC coupe shown in wrecking yard.
-Issue 4, Jul/Sept 03: pg 30 (back cover). Green PR20 (Vic reg “Belett”) Owned by forum member “bellett65”. Where-about’s of car known.
-Issue 6, Jan/Mar 04: pg 24. “2003 Bay to Birwood Classic”: PR20 (SA reg TARDI-5) Owned by forum member “dave”. Where-about’s of car known.
-Issue 7, Apr/Jun 04: pg 6. “Small car Sunday, SA, 2003”: PR20 (SA reg RAA-117) pg 36 (back cover). PR20 (SA reg TARDI-5) Owned by forum member “dave”. Where-about’s of car known.
-Issue 10, Jan/Mar 05: pg 5. “Classics we have seen”: PR91 (Qld reg 257-FXD) and PR20 (Qld reg PHH-200) Where-about’s of PHH-200 known. pg 36 (back cover) PR20 (NSW reg 26042–H) Owned by forum member “bembokabellettbloke”. Where-about’s of car known.
-Issue 12, Jul/Sept 05: pg 33. “Classic advertisements”: PR20 ad for Tom Mathews Motors.
-Issue 13, Oct 05/Mar 06.: pg 14. “Car shows in Japan”: 117 coupe (Jap reg 1-17) and Florian (Jap reg 64-87) . pg 22. “Rusty Relics”: PR20 shown on it’s roof on in wrecking yard. pg 35. “Next Issue” PR91 shown.
-Issue 14, Apr/Dec 06: pg 1 (front cover). PR91 (NSW reg 26051-H) Owned by forum member “1968GT”. Where-about’s of car known. pg 6. “2005 Bay to Birdwood rally”: 2x PR20 (SA reg’s MIYAG-1 & ??) and PR91 (SA reg ??). PR91 owned by forum member “dave”. Where-about’s of PR91 known. pg 16. “1968 Isuzu Bellett GT”: PR91 (NSW reg 26051-H) Owned by forum member “1968GT”. *Also PR20 (NSW reg 26041-H) shown in pics*

SPORTS & CLASSIC CARS AUSTRALIA:
-Apr 93: pg 31. “Pocket Battleship”: PR91 (SA reg RFN-778) Owned by forum member “BellettBoys”. Where-about’s of car known.

STREET MACHINE:
-Jan/Feb 99: pg 47. "Schizophrenia!": PR20 (SA reg unknown) This car is pictured sitting on a tandem trailer behind a VG Valiant sedan (doing a burnout!) that the article itself is about. This sedan is actually the same car that became the purple "Violet Crumbler", but is green in this photo. Owned by forum member "kazzmax". Where-about's of car known.

G'day Brett:

Motor Manual August 67:
http://www.oztion.com.au/vshops/item.as ... =109400667

Motor Manual Ddecember 68:
http://www.oztion.com.au/vshops/item.as ... =109401242

You can have them for the opening bid price if interested, combined postage $5.

Cheers,
Duane

hi brett the jan65 motor manual has a red bellett on it a good 3 page article and ironically a quote "kays renta car have been appointed victorian agents . all models on displaty at the melbourne motor show in feb test car from r j gardner auburn nsw the article car is different from the front cover car which looks like a deluxe no badge however has mirrors spotlights full trims whitewalls etc the test car is rego nsw DLL 900 remember the little bellett stickers on the rear windows this one shows it i got this book of degrungh 4 mths ago so they are around if not keep in touch if they are real rare let me know would hate to see an incomplete set regards davo in qld

Thanks Duane.
PM sent.
Cheers.

listed updated with info from "street machine".
more updates to come when new magazines arrive.
cheers.

updated with new details from magazines.
thanks to user "degruch" for these magazines!!

more info from another users's magazine collection that aren't included here to come.

sorry bellqld, hadn't read your post fully 'till now. many thanks for the extra info!!

interesting that they mention "kay's rent a car", as i'd heard of this too, but they never actually got the job.
the distributor/agent role went to "Canopus Motors" in Altona (western Melbourne 'burb) in the early days, then was taken over by "Willys Motors" in Melbourne itself until the end.
i've tracked the original sites that these company's operated from too. the "Canopus" site is now a commerical printing works (i have no idea what is was used for between the Bellett days and now), and the "Willys" site is now where "Melbourne City Lexus" are. this site has always been a car showroom, being "Willys", then "AMI" selling Toyota's, then was "Melbourne City Toyota", now Lexus.

you mentioned the Melbourne Motor Show of '65. a user on here had one of the cars that was on display! unfortunately, like alot of the cars we had 'back in the day', it was disposed of long ago when it was deemed well beyond repair. it was thought to be a motor show car after a discussion with a well known Bellett person of the past, but not confirmed until much later. bit of a shame, but that's what happened in days gone by!

has anyone else got any knowledge on where the original Bellett agents & dealers sites were, and what they are now?? i've got details on where alot, maybe all, of the metro Victorian dealers were, so i should track these sites down too. if anyone would like to do the same in their city/area, i have some other state's (australian) details too, and would be happy to pass on what i know.
would be an interesting historical subject, for sure.
*I'll start another thread in the history area of the site when we have some info to post*

i'll keep an eye out, for sure, too dave. thanks!