This is quite a bit newer than the vehicles that we normally show here at Barn Finds, but it was a reader submission and it’s unusual. And, at 18 years old it’s reasonably old. This is a 2001 Isuzu VehiCROSS and it can be found here on eBay with a current bid of $7,500 and there is no reserve. It’s located in Aberdeen, Maryland and it goes without saying that it could be driven home.
Like almost any vehicle, the VehiCROSS is an acquired taste. They were made between 1997 and 2001 but they were only available in the U.S. for the 1999 through 2001 model years. The U.S. versions had all four wheels providing power but Japan offered a 2WD version. Give me AWD/4WD any day since I live half of the year in sloppy, snowy winter (not bitter).
I really like the over-the-top look of these things. Blend-in SUVs are a dime a dozen these days. They basically all look alike to me with the angry razor face and ridiculous frowning angry-eye headlights and the damned upward-sloping line that starts down low in the front and goes through the door handles and then ends up high in the rear. Ugh. This Isuzu looks like the product of a bunch of really happy, nice people rather than a bunch of angry mean people who tailgate and never signal their lane changes.
It’s a bummer that this example doesn’t have the fantastic red interior, I would personally hold out for one of those. But, the VehiCROSS is becoming one of the it-vehicles. They’re becoming harder to find and with this one at no reserve and only $7,500 so far, this could be something to watch if a person has been looking for something a little different for winter duty. There are a few dozen photos but I didn’t see one that shows the rear cargo area, even though in the back seat photos you can see the tailgate is open as if they were at least planning on taking photos back there. The cargo area is fairly small, as you already know, but the seller has really gone over the top with a ton of great photos.
The engine – and Isuzu is known for their engines – is their 6VE1, 3.5L V6 with 215 hp. That’s a healthy engine for this little thing. With 117,000 miles I don’t know if this particular VehiCROSS will be a huge future collectible or not, but I’m reasonably certain that these little Isuzus will be sought after pretty highly in the near future.
Don’t hate me for hating this car, but when it came out I remember thinking that it looked like a sneaker. So much plastic cladding…it’s dorky.
It is. And the vertical bars in the grille opening, combined with the headlights, give the car a snake-like appearance in the front. It easily out-vipers the Viper.
There’s no hate here, Rex. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, EVEN IF IT IS WRONG LIKE YOURS IS!… Ha, just kidding of course. No, I agree, that cladding is scary as heck for rust, too – what’s lurking under that stuff? It’s like bad plastic surgery, who knows what it’ll look like in another decade once it starts to sag and warp.
Well Scotty I happen to agree with you AND think it looks like a sneaker. BUT it has a strange hold on me. Great write up.
A great write-up. I especially like the comparison of car faces to people’s personality. Tail-gaiting and lack of signaling intentions when driving are my pet peeves. I live in rural Wisconsin. Lovely winding roads through rolling forested hills, lakes and rivers and peaceful farm country. Lots of room and little traffic but there in your mirror is some goof so close you can’t see his headlights. You and him are the only cars in view. I slow down, they slow down. I speed up, they speed up. It’s like they are hypnotized, not angry but dazed. Just my 2 cents. Great article Scotty.
Thanks, folks.
On and On: I’ve noticed that – the fish-on-shark’s-back syndrome – with some drivers. There are some people who just want someone to run block for them like the Snowman (Jerry Reed) did for the Bandit (Burt Reynolds). It doesn’t matter how fast or slow you go, they stay behind you so you get the speeding ticket or you hit the deer. They will not pass no matter what and it’s unbelievably annoying. Also, it’s easier for them to text and drive if they’re following someone and letting them block the view of any possible highway patrols which there are never enough of.
Lazy people don’t wash the vehicles so they rust! The clad has enough support behind it to out last 50 years of use… I have two at over 200k and still ISUZU tough,,,,
It’s as ugly as ” Prison Relations”.
Interestingly enough, both Doug Demuro and Tyler Hoover have recently done YouTube videos on this model. Coincidence?
It’s just an old Japanese SUV, it’ll still be ugly in the future as it is now, and if it isn’t collectible after 20 years, it’s unlikely it ever will be. For some reason that doesn’t apply to VW buses, but humans are a fickle bunch.
If ALL suv’s today came in 2 door models too, i bet NONE of “today’s” drivers would buy 1 – too much trouble to get in the back seat, let alone crank down a window manually – yet oddly, they go nuts over fitness clubs.
Im not crazy with suv. And this is ugly Imo. 117,000 miles. It look good with that in mind. But again plastic cars are for plastic people.
Im 45 now. If i live to be 75 so this have the age to be a real classic, but i dont se this as a classic of the future. No lets get some cars from before 1970 thanks……
Hoovies Garage just featured one of these on his channel exactly like this one.
cheapest one in the USA for 3000. I have seen a few cheaper but not as nice as the one he was looking at. these are actually great driving suvs and look better today than they di when new. I also like the red interior. ones best
I mean no disrespect for the Asians, but if the front of this car doesn’t look Asian, nothing does. Since I’ve never seen one, I can almost bet, neither has Autozone.
Geez Mr. Howard, 3:02am? I wonder how people would do on a “Rorschach” test at that hour. Might be fun to see. LOL.
ROFLMAO – Rolling on floor laughing my a$$ off.
Let’s face it this is intrepid styling that clearly shows a bold, sporting intent where the Pontiac Aztec bombed. Can easily make the case that it is the distant heir or third cousin to freewheling SUVs like the Suzuki. Yeah keep the plastic trim looking just right for appearance
I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing one in person, as they weren’t brought into Canada….just one of the many sweet Japanese vehicles that didn’t make the trip beyond the 49th parallel, but I digress. From photos, I quite like the look of these and my first thought is that it’s a vehicle my wife would enjoy driving – and that’s not a bad thing for the VehiCROSS, or my wife.
I have a ‘99 Ironman edition. It is in sw Ontario where there are hardly any Zu’s and absolutely no other VX’s. Sure get a lot of double takes and outright stares lol. We had to take the clad off to drop the fuel tank last year. No rust , but that may be due to the annual oiling it gets. Love my VX :)
I happen to own a 1999 Isuzu Vehicross. It has been one of the best vehicles I have owned. It has 135,000 miles on it and has been trouble free. I am second owner. The first was a lady. The only reason she sold it was because was building a new house. She cried when I drove it away .I love my Isuzu Vehicross!!!
I like it. It doesn’t look like anything else, and today that is saying a lot. Some cars with quirky styling don’t age well, I think this one might. Anyway, with that many miles I would just make it my daily driver and take care of it. Good write up, too.
best SUV made, Ive had mine over 10 yrs and not a day goes by when someone isnt taking a picture of it or asking me what yr it is. Love it
I love this vehicle… perhaps one of the only “vintage” Japanese cars I would ever consider purchasing. I hope it goes to a good home where it is well taken care of…
Mark Ian-I am also in s.w. Ontario. How easy is it to get parts as they were never sold here?
FUGLY – I checked cars.com there are 5 for sell. Ranging in price from $5,750 with 180,389 miles to $14,999 with 65,435 miles. I see nothing special here. With that short wheel base, looks like a roll over waiting to happen. Also, if you ever have an accident, even a minor one, parts are going to be a pain in the A$$ to find. Too many downsides to this gem, way to many better cars / suvs out there to spend $7.5 K to $15 K on.
youre taste is in your mouth, you couldnt prob afford one anyways lol
Dayle 🤣🤣👍🏽👍🏽👏🏼👏🏼🔥🔥
I just paid off $15,000 in debt over the last 10 months. I asked my Sam’s Club credit card account to increase my limit from $1,500 to $2,500, today – they increased it to $5,500, ROFLMAO – about your silly comment.
ROFLMAO ……WTF does that mean. Guess I’m dense. Or not that creative. Hate to guess wrong.
Jeff S… you clearly don’t know what causes roll-over; it’s a narrow wheelbase and a high center of gravity. I would agree if this was a Samurai, but the VehiCROSS has a wide wheelbase and the center of gravity is significantly lower than the Samurai.
I said it looks like, you guys are way to critical about comments. I do not like the Aztec either, but I am sure there are some that do. Parts are to limited to put any money in a VehiCross. Better carry full coverage insurance because it is not going to take to much for the insurance to total it, LOL.
That Ironman edition look wery diferent, much better. Such i would Like to try as winter car.
Iron Man edition all came white with some decals is the only difference Ive ever seen
Never seen one before this. My brother says he has seen one in Windsor. Looks more like a concept car than a production model to me. I would love to see one up close. The seats look quite comfortable!
I have owned a Suzuki Samurai and can verify that it is a NARROW wheelbase not a SHORT one that makes it susceptible to rollovers. (for the record, the only time I came close to a rollover was driving ACROSS a slope when wheeling in the mountains in BC) This thing looks a lot bigger than a ‘Look and the wheels are far outside the body sides giving it quite a wide stance.
For the right price, it would find a way into my driveway.
I knew about them, but never saw one until now! I am impressed, I kind of like it too! I would love to see one close up! Those bolstered seats look very comfortable! Probably better off, or I would probably fall for this rig, if I could fit in it!
These were really rare around our parts (very expensive for its own at the time as I recall and no Isuzu dealer for 250 miles!) but the really got the Jeep and especially the Suzuki crowd peeved with their effortless traipsing about on some of the really nasty 2 tracks..
Personally, I thought they were cool but then I’ve owned a few oddities my own self, like a 1964 Chevelle 2 door wagon, 2 different 2000 Kawasaki W650’s, a ‘61 MG Midget, a 1970 Chrysler Sport Fury & matching trailer..
Eclectic or weird is a matter of perspective, don’t you think? 😜
haha. I’ve owned a 76 Chevette, 1.6L, 4spd, a 78 Mercury Bobcat, 2.3L, 4spd, a 81 Mercury Zephyr, 3.3L, auto, a 64 GMC HandiVan, 194ci, 3 on the tree, a 86 CUCV, 6.2 Detroit Diesel, 400th, 4×4, a 85 Jeep Wagoneer, 2.8L, 5spd, 4×4, and the list goes on.
Not only am I bored to tears by what passes for car design these days but I’m even more bored by today’s obligatory colors, or lack thereof. Silver, Gray, White, and Black are everywhere. But for the avant-garde there’s Red and Blue! Whoo-Wee hold me back! Not. Boring color not withstanding at least the VehiCross is different, and not in the Pontiac Aztec way of disjointed lines and convoluted curves. Apologies to Pablo Picasso. Naw, it’s got symmetry while looking like a real-life version of a toy R/C car Radio Shack might have sold back in the day. I dig it.
These are also very capable off road vehicle. They can just about go anywhere without getting stuck. Just stuff some bigger tires under it.
You’re dead on. Pablo Picasso started doing his signature style because no one would give a second look or buy his early “conventional” paintings..and he took that unique look to the bank, literally.
Too bad ISUZU did not do as well with these as Picasso. I purchased a new 1981 ISUZU I-MARK diesel when Chevy dealerships sold their cars. 45 mpg and diesel fuel was cheaper than gasoline back then. It was great for 101,000 miles until my wife put gasoline in the tank. I had just installed a new clutch, pressure plate and throw out bearing, sucked. Sold it to a mechanic for $400. His girlfriend loved it but he told me it cost him $500 for a replacement driveshaft, sent from JAPAN.That is were most of the parts for the VehiCross will have to come from.
As an 02 Rodeo and 05 Wrangler original owner, I’d buy one of these in a minute. Strong drive train, short wheelbase and 4wd. Much stronger attributes where I come from than a pretty face.
I agree 100% with the description of this SUV in relation to the ridiculous Macho Man look of most of today’s pickup trucks and SUVs. The Vehicross design is uniquly bold and inspiring without being over the top brash. I could never understand why so few of these were sold in the USA.
I’ve owned 2 of these and would own a third. Easily one of the best built , most fun to drive SUVs ever. These combine full time AWD with great handling and off road capability like no other.
I give kudos to any automaker who dares to do something different. May not be for everyone’s tastes, but at least it doesn’t look like everything else!
I liked these when they came out and I like them now.
If I had to get a collector SUV, this would be it hands down. It’s a bullet proof driver that is like no other.
Finished out at $8900
Nice write-up Scotty. I remember hating these when they first came out. I said to myself “Mannnn, have we lost our way designing automobiles.”
But all these years later I think it looks kinda cool… for the same reasons I hated it, initially. Interesting find.
Now there’s something I need to address that’s probably immaterial; but if I don’t do it someone else will, so here goes:
In the movie Smokey and the Bandit, the Bandit was actually the one running blocker for the Snowman. The idea was that he would be a distraction to the cops, to keep them away from their truck that was illegally transporting the Coors beer east of the Mississippi. Just thought I’d clear that up. Love that movie! Seen it a hundred times, could watch it a hundred more.
I never realized how angry our 2018 Highlander looked until this write up!
I would consider owning one for the fun of it. It looks like it would be interesting to drive it on mountain trails.