I’ve been crowing for a while that square-body SUVs are one of the hotter markets in collector vehicles that has long been ignored by enthusiasts. Yes, the Broncos and the FJ40s have long been darlings of the collector car world, but with Gen Xers suddenly having some money to burn, the imported SUV of the middle 80s and early 90s is an attainable vehicle that I’m confident is destined for collector status. One of the best examples of this is the exceptionally rare short wheelbase Isuzu Trooper, released in two forms: the Isuzu Trooper II in ’89, and the next generation model in 1992, like this shed-find example here on eBay with an opening bid of just $1,500.
Now, there’s nothing exceptionally daring about a short wheelbase version of anything except for the fact that a shorter stance is oftentimes a better bet off-road. Isuzu has offered its bread-and-butter Trooper in short wheelbase form in overseas markets for years, but the U.S. deployment was quite small. In 1989, they only sent 800 SWB Trooper RS models over, so you can imagine how few exist today. This example represents the next-generation model which was produced in slightly higher quantities but is still very hard to find today. The interior is pretty dirty, and you may want to replace that steering wheel.
The body is said to be rust-free but filthy from storage. The RS of this generation was actually quite well equipped, leaving the factory with a healthy 3.2L, 190 b.h.p. V6 under the hood. A limited slip differential, auto locking hubs, heated outside mirrors, headlight washers, full power interior, and more littered the window sticker, which added up to a slightly eye-watering $23,269 in 1992, if you added the optional CD player. That’s a chunk of change for a vehicle that was expected to be a nicer version of the Suzuki Samurai, which may explain why it remains somewhat obsolete today. That being said, it didn’t stop me from hunting down a first-generation model.
Yup. I did it. I bought another Trooper. I’m not even a month into driving the ’86 model I acquired from a junkyard in Georgia, and I’ve bought one of the rarest Troopers ever sold stateside. I’ve known about this ’89 RS for a while, as it’s been parked in a junkyard that is extremely strict in terms of who can access it. It should be out of the yard in the next few days, and I have honestly have no idea when I’ll get around to working on it. But rest assured, like all of my junkyard finds, it will run again – and join my fleet of extremely limited-production vehicles that are impossible to find.
Hate to show my ignorance, Jeff, but what is a “JDM Rarity?” I get the “rare” bit, but thought “JDM” indicated a right-hook vehicle with those wacky fender mirrors, metric instruments and other strange little quirks of a Japanese Domestic Market ride.
The seller seems to be pushing this as a “project,” which of course makes me wonder how much will need repairing/replacing. If the steering wheel looks that bad, I’d be a little nervous about what lurks under that dash topper. And that’s leaving aside the state of drivetrain, brakes, shocks, tires, etc.
I drove several SWB Troopers when they were new. I have to say they didn’t really grab me, though they weren’t hard to look at. They seemed fairly competitive price-wise, and didn’t mind mild off-roading, but I’m not old enough — or am maybe too old — to get excited by them.
Yeah, that’s a fair point – I adjusted the title accordingly.
To me, I know how much I wanted one before I could drive. So in my eyes, to find one now after so many of them have been wrecked, rusted out, or converted to hunting rigs, makes them desirable when they haven’t gone down that slippery slop of rotting out or being past the point of reviving.
I’m sure 20 years from now some “kid” will get excited by the current generation of Ford Raptor pickups, and I will be very much trying to contain my yawns.
Too true, Jeff. I could still get kinda misty-eyed if I ran across a two-tone Mouse Gray ’59 Hillman Minx, I’m sure. That being my first car, it doesn’t suffer from the added experience and seat time I had by the time I was checking out Troopers.
I suspect by the time Raptors are a Big Deal for collectors, the mere fact that they have internal-combustion engines will give them a solid nostalgic following!
The EBay ad says it’s located in Central Florida, but it definitely didn’t live its whole life there and last time I checked, there’s no snow there right now.
The last photo is the ’89 I just picked up. The top three photos are the ’92 in the eBay listing.
There’s an older woman living blocks away from me who still drives one like this but white. It is a rare bird, but the termites may having gotten into its nooks and crannies too far to save it. This generation of Trooper was a really nice rig. Miles ahead of the boxy ones from the ‘80s. I had a ‘98 and it was well made and had many thoughtful design features. Like a poor man’s Land Cruiser. But not at all chintzy.
If I had the room I’d try to buy this.lt’s unique, and my Isuzu experience has been good with the exception of bodies falling apart after purchase new; but these are solid, and someone should try for it.
I actually liked this generation Trooper back in the day. Next generation, nah. They were a pretty happening company in the 80s, I ‘m not really sure where they went wrong since.
Where is Joe Isuzu when you need him?
Dead!
As far as characters go!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Isuzu
Troopers, and a lot of Isuzu’s were great values for the time. And I really miss Joe Isuzu!
I had a 1995 Isuzu Rodeo that looking at it, it was in Mint Condition. You would never know the Chassis was Rotted so bad you could put your fist in the hole. I had it for about 10 years as a daily driver. I had it off the road for a little while. I would start it & drive yard drive it every once in awhile. The last time I did this I stepped on the Brakes & it went to the floor. One of the brake lines rotted, I found the Chassis Rot when I crawled under it to check it out. Wound up Junking it.
Rust free are you kidding me, I have eyes and can look at the pics and see a LOT of rust! I wouldn’t touch this with a 20 ft pole it’s a rust bucket!
My first new car..vehicle …SUV(?)). 1986 white on beige 5spd Trooper 4dr which I think the extra doors were new for 86. The round headlights and black trim give that Land Rover look. Manual hubs and backing up to unlock them. I paid $11400 with tax and for a few bucks more that I didn’t have, could have had a diesel. The company was good to deal with and when a seat stitch was loose they replaced the seat without an issue. Aerodynamics of a phone booth (if you know what they are ) but a good vehicle that I let go too soon.