While we typically think of classic Isuzus as being vintage 4x4s (yours truly owning two of them), you’d be forgiven for forgetting that the company made competent passenger cars before breaking into the off-road market. This Bellet sedan is hidden somewhere near Vancouver in the Fraser Valley, and information is limited – but I can’t blame the seller, as there’s not likely anyone still living who worked on these oddballs when new. Regardless of its obscurity, the Bellet lineup included one of the hottest Japanese performance cars of its time, the two-door GT-R. This sedan-bodied example isn’t that, but it’s still worth checking out here on craigslist with a $2K asking price.

The Bellet was your basic people mover, powered by small gasoline- or diesel engines. The sedans were no-frills affairs, but they were at least somewhat attractive. The coupes were downright pretty, with very respectable powerplants that delivered 90 b.h.p. or better. The GT-R spec is the kind of car reserved for museum exhibits today given its extreme rarity, and while this sedan isn’t treated with the same kind of reverence, it does still look pretty killer lowered on Minilites and outfitted with a set of driving lamps. The interior is in very respectable condition, with no obvious damage or tell-tale signs of rodent infestation.

The seller notes the engine was partially disassembled but never put back together; hence, it does not turn freely today. The Isuzu has been parked since 1987, which likely coincides with when the previous owner decided to take it off the road and attack an engine rebuild. This is pretty much exactly what happened with my 1980 BMW 320/6 barn find, as the previous owner had plans to rebuild the engine after developing issues with the head but then a health event affecting his wife led to the car being parked. It sat with the heads removed and the engine in pieces in the trunk until I took ownership.

The Bellet looks largely intact despite the issues with the engine, which is important considering how hard it likely is to find spares for the cosmetic bits like grilles, headlight trim rings, and bumpers. While it’s impossible to form a solid assessment based on these photos, the Pacific Northwest is surprisingly kind to vintage tin and it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see this Isuzu emerge from its garage cocoon with minimal rust and a paint job that would bounce back with the help of an orbital. The seller did included “OBO” after the asking price, so there could be a bargain lurking for a fan of oddball Japanese cars.