History
My mate bought this car after seeing an advert in the Trading Post for 'Isuzu truck' and noticing the G150-xx engine number. Knowing it was a Bellett motor, he want for a look and came home with this vehicle; at the time the only known Isuzu Unicab in Australia.
The car is a KR85-spec, meaning it should have the 1500cc motor and seating for eight (yes, eight; two in the front and three either side in the back, sitting face-to-face 'troopy-style').
My friend didn't make any progress on it aside from burning the roof it sported when appearing on the ABC TV series 'Seachange' as 'Diver Dan's' car, played by David Wenham.
My mate sold the car before I even met him, but we were talking of it and I said I'd be interested in procuring it. I did so, via the eBay advert that he sold it through five years earlier.
The new owner had replaced the floor and done all the necessary rust repairs, aside from fixing the windscreen frame. He had plans to remove the body and place it on a Suzuki 4WD chassis, but fortunately had not gotten around to it.
The KR85 Unicab sits on a RWD Isuzu Wasp chassis, except with a fairly basic body. These bodies were built in Japan, although I think they may have been built in Indonesia as well, fitted to imported chassis. I suspect this may be an Indonesian item, given the fairly rudimentary nature of the build plate, which is just a flat bit of metal with random stuff bashed into it, rather than a proper pressed item with actual useful information.
I've not made any further progress on the car other than dragging it home and putting it in the shed. I've managed to get a set of original seats and the spare wheel carrier from Japan, both of which were missing on this car. I needs a lot of work, but will generally be an easy resto and I don't plan on fitting a roof.
I probably would have had it on the road already, but life took a few random turns with my wife and I having two kids, then she passing away from cancer... so I'll get there. For the moment, it's safe from rust and butchery, although every...single....summer... I'm asking myself why I'm not cruising around in it..... or on it...whatever.
Modifications
None planned; resto will be as original as possible. Might fit a set of sunraysias for cruising
