I still remember the first time I saw an Isuzu sports car at a vintage auto show back in 2015. There it sat between more famous Japanese sports cars, looking almost out of place with its subtle styling, yet something about its understated presence caught my attention. Most people would walk right past it to admire the Mazda RX-7s and Nissan Z-cars, but I found myself drawn to this forgotten gem. That initial curiosity eventually led me down a rabbit hole of discovery about Isuzu's hidden sports car legacy—a story I'm excited to share, especially with the upcoming event at Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center this Saturday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m., where automotive enthusiasts will gather to celebrate exactly these kinds of overlooked automotive treasures.
When we talk about Japanese sports cars, names like Toyota, Nissan, and Honda dominate the conversation. But between 1968 and 1993, Isuzu produced approximately 87,000 sports cars across three distinct models that somehow never achieved the recognition they deserved. I've driven my fair share of Japanese classics, and I can tell you that Isuzu's approach to sports cars was fundamentally different from their competitors. They weren't trying to build the fastest or most aggressive machines—instead, they focused on creating cars that offered a unique balance of comfort, reliability, and engaging driving dynamics. The Isuzu 117 Coupé, which I had the privilege of test driving back in 2018, featured styling by Giorgetto Giugiaro and a twin-cam engine that was remarkably advanced for its time. Only about 15,000 units were produced between 1968 and 1981, making it one of the rarest Japanese classics today.
What fascinates me most about Isuzu's sports car history is how it reflects the company's engineering philosophy. While other manufacturers were chasing horsepower numbers, Isuzu focused on creating cars that were enjoyable in real-world conditions. The Piazza, known as Impulse in some markets, is a perfect example. With its Giugiaro-designed wedge shape and available Lotus-tuned suspension, it handled beautifully on winding roads without being punishing on daily commutes. I've owned my 1985 Piazza for three years now, and it remains one of the most comfortable yet engaging classic sports cars I've ever driven. The turbocharged version produced around 140 horsepower—not massive numbers by today's standards, but perfectly balanced for the car's 1,200 kg weight. About 47,000 Piazzas were sold worldwide between 1981 and 1992, yet you'd be lucky to find one at most classic car events.
The upcoming gathering at Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center represents exactly the kind of event where these forgotten heroes deserve recognition. I've attended similar events before, and there's something special about seeing people's reactions when they discover a sports car brand they never knew existed. The story of Isuzu's sports cars isn't just about the vehicles themselves—it's about understanding why certain models capture the public imagination while others, despite their qualities, fade into obscurity. From my perspective, Isuzu's commitment to innovation was both their strength and their weakness. They invested heavily in technologies like four-wheel steering in the Piazza Turbo, which was introduced in 1987, but never marketed these features as aggressively as their competitors.
As someone who has restored several Japanese classics, I can attest that Isuzu sports cars were built to exceptional standards. The rust protection on my Piazza has held up far better than contemporary Nissans I've owned, and the interior materials have aged remarkably well. Yet despite their quality, these cars never developed the cult following of their Mazda or Toyota counterparts. Part of this, I believe, stems from Isuzu's corporate identity—they were primarily known for commercial vehicles, which made it difficult for their sports cars to be taken seriously by enthusiasts. The company produced only three sports car models over their 25-year sports car history, compared to Nissan's seven during the same period.
What I find particularly compelling is how Isuzu's sports car legacy continues to influence modern vehicles. The company's emphasis on balanced handling and everyday usability can be seen in many current sports cars, yet Isuzu rarely receives credit for pioneering this approach. Their partnership with Lotus for the Piazza's suspension tuning was groundbreaking at the time, and the resulting handling characteristics were, in my opinion, superior to many contemporary sports cars costing significantly more. The 117 Coupé's durability—with several examples surpassing 300,000 kilometers with proper maintenance—speaks volumes about Isuzu's engineering priorities.
As we look forward to Saturday's event, I'm reminded why preserving these automotive stories matters. The Isuzu sports car narrative represents an important chapter in Japanese automotive history that risked being forgotten entirely. Events like the one at Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center provide the perfect platform for enthusiasts to discover, discuss, and celebrate these overlooked machines. Having spent years researching and driving these cars, I'm convinced that Isuzu's sports car legacy deserves far more recognition than it has received. Their combination of Italian design, innovative engineering, and everyday usability created some of the most interesting Japanese sports cars of their era—cars that still put smiles on faces decades later, mine included.
