I hate to give things away, but as I’ve been alluding to recently, I’ve got my sights set on a vintage Japanese 4×4 project, and it’s damn close to this incredible Isuzu Trooper said to be a museum quality specimen. OK – the one I could potentially bring home is nowhere near museum quality – but one can dream, can’t they? Speaking of dreaming, the seller is asking $50K for this creampuff of an off-roader, and you can find here on eBay with lots of time left in the listing.
Here’s the thing: we all know the seller isn’t expecting a $50K windfall (I hope). But given how few of these Troopers are left in road-going condition and how even fewer were preserved in near-showroom condition, I don’t think an offer in the high 20s is out of the question. The bodies were extremely prone to rust, so finding one that has escaped the tinworm is a find in and of itself. I pulled parts off of a junked one this weekend, literally – the metal was so soft the wind deflector and grill lifted right out of the body.
I can see why the seller is testing the waters. These old-school 4x4s are absolutely coming around in popularity, both as overland builds and Bug Out vehicles. By the latter, I mean tough-as-nails trucks that can still operate in the event of an apocalyptic event, with cheap components under the hood and the ability to go where the road ends. This one really does belong in an Isuzu museum somewhere, with a perfect interior, unstained carpets and impeccable body.
This example has the Isuzu-built 120 b.h.p. 2.6L four-cylinder, definitely an ideal motor if you can find one so equipped. Others might say the GM-sourced V6 is the way to go, but I like the idea of a plucky four-cylinder in a truck like this (being built by Isuzu also keeps it pleasingly OEM). As I said, the asking price is a bit nuts, but I’m sure there are a few potential buyers weighing an offer north of $20K. If I were made of money, I would certainly consider it for an older model – but I’m just going to bide my time and see if I can introduce a project of my own in the days ahead.
Crack pipe :-)
A friend had one for 300k miles with very few problems. It was indestructible. One issue is the lack of safety for such a little rank.
I wouldn’t call the seller a “Flipper”,
for $50,000.00,nobody will buy it.
Also noticed that they didn’t bother to
register it in Utah,so it may still be in the last
owner’s name.
I hate it when people don’t do that.
Why? What’s the difference honestly if it’s still in the previous owners name? If you are local to the seller and you’re worried about potential title or registration transfer problems have the seller go with you to the motor vehicle department. If it transfers without a hitch then pay the seller and be on your way. If it doesn’t go without a hitch then that’s a deal breaker.
Given the age and it’s an Isuzu good luck finding parts.Most dealers even selling parts were gone by the early 2000’s.And working for a bodyshop ins.co’s would total them even with minor damage because of the parts issues.
There are plenty of places on line that sell parts even motors! Just have to type “Isuzu trooper parts” in your search engine and there you go.
Wow , dare i say unrealistic.
Since I don’t think we’ll be seeing an Isuzu museum anytime soon… This is 20 years too new and a bit too foreign to be riding the current SUV wave which starts with the early ’60’s Bronco/Scouts and ends abruptly with likely the best of all, the ’78/’79 Bronco. This is a pretty amazing find, nonetheless, but I doubt you’d find many buyers north of $15,000 and none north of about $22,000. People who had and remember these don’t remember them in the ‘romantic’ sense necessary to rekindle the relationship. One of the biggest problems with the Japanese cars from the North American collector perspective is: they were either: too good to have character (Honda Accord), or too bad to care about (Isuzu anything). There is no middle ground where desire intersects with character, other than sports cars (Supra/Prelude/etc). And nobody is calling those collectable yet. If you want a Japanese SUV to collect…. find the best ’86 4-Runner you can find and wait it out….
Or a Landcruiser! I couldn’t agree with you more Walrus. Unfortunately my “better half” has those old romantic feelings about these trucks and just had to have one. We finally found one with 75,000 miles that the seller had done quite a bit of preventative maintenance on (new water pump & timing chain) and in really clean condition. We’ve had it a couple months now and had to replace the cats as well as O2 sensor and a couple other smaller things just to get it to pass smog (unfortunately gotta get it California compliant). It’s been nothing but a pain in the ass. It’d be worth it if it was some kind of totally fun, cool vehicle to drive, but I just don’t get it. Makes her happy though, and I guess that’s what counts. Fortunately I don’t have to drive it much! I guess it’s all about what it means to the person that’s buying and driving it! We paid 5 grand by the way, with leather, power everything, moonroof, and 6 cylinder.
Oh ho ho, I know who is selling this Trooper!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGUBm0XQbqA
Thanks for the link…forgot about that….funny
Hilarious Chebby
I have a cousin, that around 1990, took one of this with the Chevy 2.8, and dropped in a SBC. IIRC, it was only RWD, but it could haul AZZ!
He even Armor All’d the radiator hoses…
I drove one once and it was a bulky boat that felt too heavy.
Good luck flipper and don’t wait by phone or mail box for a check 🙃
Friend of mine had one. I couldn’t get in it. 6’4″ 250 lbs. Isuzu trucks are pretty solid, but they are SMALL inside.
While I think these are great trucks, using the words Isuzu Trooper and Holy Grail in the same sentence is a bit of a stretch. I never thought of an Isuzu anything to be Holy Grail worthy. These, like all 4×4’s of all kinds, were very popular in the Midwest, but like all Asian vehicles, they withered away in just a few short years. It’s amazing to see one like this. $50g’s? IDK, it’s truly in outstanding condition, probably never even had it in 4 wheel drive, but it’s still a Trooper, I’d wonder about parts too. Tippy too. I think you could get an “Inclinometer” with these.
Dear Isuzu seller: $50K? Seriously?
Kudos to you for taking such good care of your ride, but it’s time for a reality check. Isuzu’s light car/trucks were mediocre vehicles at best. Is there even a support system here in the US for the brand? Contact Isuzu HQ in Tokyo, they may be interested in buying it. Any offer above $5k, grab the money before they change their mind.
Didn’t Isuzu have a big recall because of frame rust? IIRC, the rear suspension brackets would become detached from the frame, sometimes when people were driving them. Maybe it was a different model than this??
Great trucks.
Head gaskets are an issue.
$50 is hilarious
Buy it now has dropped to $30,000.
Keep dropping. These have never had the following that their contemporaries have had.
It looks like the front left has been painted…sorry, No museum for you.
Ebay shows $30,000 or make offer. Guess he lowered the price, but still not realistic. No law says you can’t try but … Maybe he read “Art of the Deal”?
I owned one and it’s the perfect example of a vehicle equaling less than the sum of it’s parts…everything looks great, but an afternoon in one and you end up hating it. There are nice clean examples around for cheap if you’re patient, but I can’t say you’ll be rewarded!
Isuzu Trooooopa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yCP7qdGPd4
You say 50K but the ad says 30K? It’s pretty nice, but a Isuzu as a collector car? Maybe, but I don’t see them to be worth collecting! If they are worth collecting someone please set me straight!
He changed the price after we wrote it up.
When I’m thinking japanese 4×4 of the early 90’s, I would definitely go for the Nissan Terrano with the bulletproof 2,7 turbodiesel, great car, nice styling.
When I see something like this, and ponder what appears to be a “stupid” price, I also think, show me another one in this condition.
With that in mind, this could very well be “one of one”. So, if for whatever reason someone thinks these are just the coolest things ever, maybe 30k is not too far off the mark.
I personally always liked the early Troopers, but not 30k worth of like.
But still, one of one…
I always come to the same conclusion. And honestly? Who among us can *honestly* say they wouldn’t swing for the proverbial fences when pricing a specimen like this. Seems slightly hypocritical.
I think it comes down to whether you want to sell it or not…
1989 63k miles, I love this truck.
Could be hers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yCP7qdGPd4
I just purchased a 91 Isuzu trooper 4×4, 2.8 engine. It has 164,000 miles on it. It was used in the state park where I live. All I had to do is replace that alternator. Runs great and everything works.
I see a BIN of $25k. One of one, where an you find another, etc. I bet it sells.
He’s close now to prime value. 50 was dreamland. I’ll bet there’s a couple people out there who have to have it at 22… 25 is all the money. Maybe there’s a buyer there.
Like I said I beat mine up and the 4wheel drive worked and never left me hanging the only weakness was the engine especially the valves because of the DOHC.