Isuzu's forgotten GT-R

Nissan, Nissan, Nissan, Torana, Mercedes.

I don’t think I’m too wrong if I say that those five words, three of them being the same word, sum up most people’s understanding of the GT-R badge. 

It’s probably also true, that most people hear the word ‘Isuzu’ and instantly a diesel ute comes to mind.

But once upon a time Isuzu was much more than that. Our recent bit on the Gemini serves as a permanent reminder that Isuzu once shot to lofty heights in the car market (before being shot down by a hungry GM and a couple of brutal financial crises).

Did you know, once upon a time the Isuzu badge and the GT-R badge once sat together on a car? It’s a bit of a forgotten legend, the 1969 Bellett GT-R.

Great looks and the specs to back them. (image credit: enthuno-mori.com)

The Bellett was Isuzu’s compact sedan during the 1960s, the predecessor to the Gemini. Imagine a slightly smaller Gemini, but available as a coupe, and featuring swoopy ’60s looks. 

During that time, Japanese manufacturers were eager to prove they could build a performance car just like the Europeans and Americans. So the Bellett GT-R was launched around the same time as the Toyota 2000GT (1967), C10 Hakosuka GT-R (1969), and Mazda Capella/RX-2 (1970).

The GT-R was a vision of a bright future for Isuzu... One that never came to be. (image credit: enthuno-mori.com)

The standard Bellett GT, launched in 1964, had a 1.6-litre OHV engine only producing 66kW. So, to boost the GT-R up with the competition, Isusu placed the relatively advanced DOHC 1.6-litre out of the larger 117 Coupe (G161W) under the hood. This put power up to 90kW. Of course, like every Bellett it's RWD, but had independant suspension and upgraded brakes all round.

The nice DOHC powerplant from the 117 Coupe made the Bellett competitive. (image credit: enthuno-mori.com)

The tacho suggests a healthy redline of 7k, and those performance gauges are so very ‘GT-R’, as is that signature two-tone paint.

Nardi Torino steering alongside centre-mounted performance gauges. (image credit: enthuno-mori.com)

Despite being more powerful with 2.0-litre inline sixes, the Hakosuka and 2000GT both weighed more than 1000kg, so the trim kerb weight of only 970kg kept the Bellett GT-R as serious competition.

Sadly, only 1400-ish cars were ever built and they now have a cult following in Japan. The pictured car is from a 2014 classified listing in Nasuhiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture. It sold for the equivalent of AU$27k in today’s money, hardly the lofty six-figures that Hakosukas fetch. If you had deep enough pockets and were very lucky you could possibly import one. Maybe it's been done before, if you've seen one in Australia, let us know.

Would you go the Bellett GT-R over the Hakosuka, 2000GT or RX-2? Tell us what you think in the comments.