There’s a growing appreciation among enthusiasts for classic SUVs, the sort of models that came after the introductory era of Ford Broncos and Chevy Blazers. Those domestic 4x4s were indeed trailblazers, making off-road capable vehicles attractive for everyday consumers to own. The early days of the SUV were similar in nature, with stout specimens like this first generation Isuzu Trooper among them. These are pretty much extinct in the Northeast, and never as well preserved as this one here on eBay for $5,800.
These were spartan vehicles when new, designed to be used first for hauling a flock of goats up the mountaintop, then deal with the annoyances of things like passengers. While today’s SUVs are basically a sticky-fingered ice cream factory and snowcone dispenser on wheels, with some children stuck between the seats, early pioneers like the Trooper and 4Runner were built to be excessively capable off-roaders with a few basic conveniences thrown in to make it palatable to sell in domestic showrooms. Most have rotted out by now, making this Trooper a unicorn.
But really, what more should you need? Crank windows are cheap to fix if they break, and do you really care if the cheap mouse-fuzz upholstery gets stained? Chances are Isuzu figured you’d just hose it out, cloth included, so I doubt these were high-grade fabrics. Of course, this one is so nice it’d be a shame to just blast it with a power washer, and given these Troopers were already predisposed to being road hard and put away wet, let’s spare this one from that fate. And how cool is it this thing has its own altimeter up front?
Under the hood, you’ll find the 4ZD1 2.3L 4-cylinder gasoline mill, though a hilariously underpowered diesel was available. Both engines suffered from some level of reliability issues, but the seller of this one has put 182,000 trouble-free miles on his. The list of recent maintenance items is extensive, including a new radiator, brakes, water pump, alternator, and a “redone” transmission. Thankfully, it’s a manual. They don’t make ’em like this anymore, and I can practically guarantee you’d be the only one on the block with a first-gen as nice as this one.
Had one of these growing up, ran best when there was high wind and lightening though.
What?!?!
Lol
Yeah, it was the storm trooper model.
I’ve always loved these. Like a next generation Scout 2, and I’m a huge Scout fan. This would be a cool rig to own and looks to be in really great shape. The later Troopers started getting more creature comforts and, I believe, maybe more power from a v-6? I like these spartan earlier models though. Do they always come in white? I wonder what engine it would take easily when that one lets go? Anyone ever done a swap?
Hi Neal. You have good taste. I have a 68 IH scout.
These things are itty bitty inside. My friend has one and I can’t get in the drivers seat. I’m 6’4″ and 265 lbs. A tight fit indeed.
Good solid trucks though. Build like a rock.
hahaha, I love these cars.
I bought my first one many years ago. Of course that bloody fast diesel. As petrol is tooooooo expensive in the Netherlands. And also as a Van due to tax rules here.
But I also wanted a 4x4x camper after my Range Rover got real problems.
So I made the next one as seen on the picture.
The one on the pictures is the second one, but eactly the same
Dik, that thing is mint. What’s the high roof for, is it a pop-top camper?
Hello Jeff Lavery ,
after I chopped the standart roof of the car, I made another, higher, roof of the roof of a Ford Escort van. I needed to make it longer and a little wider. When that was done, I found an a scrapyard an old camper with the pop-up roof.
I removed that thing and made it on the Trooper. Now I can stand easy in that part of the car.
There is also a very special construction for the bed. When driving, it is on the level of the gutter, and one half is over the other half. Then almost the whole back part is completely free.
It is pushed up by 2 airsprings and in a few seconds it is down and gives a bed of 204 cm x 110 cm. 2 more small parts can be added at the sides, then the bed is 130.
I also have a little camper interior for it, but I do not use that
and as you can see on this picture, they can pull everything.
But with a little wind against, in 4, I was glad that I could make 40 m/h
One of the complaints on these when they came out, was that the rear doors needed each other in order to latch.
So if you had some long boards or something, you couldn’t run them out the narrower door without a bungee cord or tying the other door closed.
Had a 2 door one for a daily driver briefly several years back.
It didn’t have enough power to pull a fart out of a fat lady. A/c was most useful as an e-brake on long hills. That is……. on the off chance that you made it up the front side of the mountain.
My dad had one of these – We drove it forever and managed to sell it for more than we paid for it. Rugged little devil. Indeed they do not make ‘me this way any longer.
You can do engine swaps , 2.6 late engine will fit but the fuel system is a little different. The 2.6 uses fuel injection so you have to use your he 2.3 manifold and electric pump. The 2.6 does not have the fuel pump lobe on the cam, every thing else works. The big problem with more power is the crush sleeve in the 2.3 rear end will not take the power fo very long. Working at a dealer in Seattle and the rear ends were a constant problem even when they were new.
This was my first new vehicle and was exactly the same! I paid $11400 with an MSRP of about $12600. I put 50k on in 2 years without issues other than a stitch in the back seat which they replaced without question. It was my poor man’s Range Rover
I really like the looks of these – boxy,as it should be.
I’d like to have one,but need something that will tow the MG’s
on a car trailer.
the diesel has more tq (for towing a car) but is a very pedestrian motor.
One shown is a 2nd gen I think. The 1st wuz shorter.
My favorite 4×4 unicorn is the Trooper RS a short wheelbase two door
that’s the one to have C. Jay! I am in the market for one but they are not easy to find.
OK but I’d take the comparable Montero any day
Why one over the other?
John the 1988 Montero is the one to go for especially if looking for the 2 doors as I am. They have the first year V6 so considerably more power. Not easy to find though.
Montero is more durable, solid, better off road and more powerful. I had the Mitsubishi and worked on a friends Trooper. When his rear end went out I loaned him my Montero and he was very impressed. Now his later Trooper is an amazing car, 300K and still going. My son still has the 90 Montero and loves it, drives it everywhere.
I rented a Montero the first time I went to Las Vegas. I was very surprised at how well made it seemed and it had plenty of get up and go to go flying down the strip and up to the Hoover damn.
Bought a new one in 89 (white with the GM V6) loved that truck but my buddy always referred to it as pushing a Lady Kenmore down the road, even with the V6 it was anemic.
Back in 1991 or so, I have a 2nd cousin, who installed an SBC 350, in one of this. He welded his own subframe. The one he converted, had a factory installed Chevy 2.8 V6, which had also been used by the XJ Jeep, before XJ had the 4.0 inline 6.
That Trooper could sure haul, after that carbureted V8 was dropped in!
I know where one of the has been sitting with a bad engine in south texas near where i grew up. I wonder if the new cummins 4 cyl crate engine would fit. Hmmm…
Thank you for the write up Jeff!
She sleeps on a carpet in the garage.
Still have our old one in Cape Town.
I had a 2001 I bought as a used rental and it ran and ran.it ran everywhere( I even jumped it) and it never broke. The one complaint I had was the motor, powerful and all but some internals were weak such as bearings and valves and seats. Would like to have one now.