A diesel I-Mark and a pair of diesel Mazda pickups, and they all seem to be parked at the same spark-ignition-phobic residence.

This car showed up at the last second on Friday, and its crew spent all night installing a cage and other safety gear for the next day's racing. Equipped with the number Π and not officially on the lap-counting clock, it managed a handful of laps before getting upside down. Don't despair, Yugo fans- very reliable sources tell me that this car will be back!


Another vet of the notorious "Demolition Derby LeMons" aka the SF '08 event, the solo AMC did very well, with a 44th-place finish.


Would you believe a 2nd-place finish for an Isuzu I-Mark? Impossible! Well, maybe not for Dave Swig and the Motoring J Style crew, and we're glad they ditched the MR2 for a more LeMons-centric machine. With Handling By Lotus, this I-Mark managed a best lap of 1:39.261 and would have won if not for a (hotly disputed) black flag. Well, there's also the matter of the 10 bonus laps we gave the car because of its alleged hopelessness.


With perhaps the most obsessive theme of any car at the race, the Faster Farms guys were doing quite well… until the allegedly sanest driver on the team flipped it over. Even after all of that, the Faster Farms Belvedere drove home- a 150-mile jaunt- after the race. They'll be back! For now, they can take great pride in their Best Dangerous Banned Racing Technology trophy, earned for their bowling-ball-actuated active wing.


The only Subaru at the race was good and quick- 1:39.488 best lap- but mechanical ills, black flags, etc. 60th place.


Here's a bunch of random action photos for ya. Remember, LeMons will be running in Houston on the last week of February. See you there!

As everyone who has been following the run-up to the 24 Hours Of LeMons Arse Freeze-A-Palooza- which takes place on the weekend after Christmas- the crop of Index Of Effluency contenders absolutely smokes anything we've seen at prior races (and, in the case of the British Leyland machinery, we mean the "smokes" part quite literally). The team that claims the Index Of Effluency trophy- which goes to the car that exceeds all expectations in the most glorious fashion- is the real winner of the 24 Hours Of LeMons, so we're gearing up for an all-time battle at Thunderhill (where, to nobody's surprise, the weather is expected to feature near-freezing temperatures and stinging horizontal sleet).

And because LeMons aficionados love nothing better than a debate on how fast- yet effluent- cars should perform when the real deal goes down, we're going to have a little contest here. Below are the 13 big-league Index Of Effluency powerhouses that will be running the Arse Freeze-A-Palooza- the "Lucky 13," as they shall henceforth be known. You need to estimate how many laps you think each of the Lucky 13 will complete during the weekend of racing, sharing your predictions in a comment in this post, for all the world to see. After the race (probably long after the race), I'll get around to doing the math and seeing who came closest overall (by calculating the difference between prediction and actual performance for each of the 13), and I'll send that winner a few team T-shirts and other LeMons goodies.

"But Murilee," you may be whining at this point, "I like the idea of blowing off work while I figure out the 13 lap totals, as my boss is a cruel, Simon Legree-esque figure, but I don't know where to start! How many laps would a not-so-effluent car manage in this race?" Not to worry! There's a new track configuration this year, with a total length of 1.9 miles (last year, it was more like 1.3 miles). Last time, the more reliable entrants managed to finish 400 laps or more, with the lap winner knocking out 461 total. With the longer track configuration, we can expect to see the cars that don't blow up, fall apart, or otherwise crap out to grind out totals somewhere in the 250 to 300-lap range. Some of the Lucky 13 are really fast cars, when working properly, and many of the teams are totally stacked with ace drivers, so we might just see some of these teams go on to totally dominate the race, leaving those boring Acuras and Mazdas to choke on their dust! Anything can happen out there! Here they are, in no particular order. Note: Because I was short on sleep when I calculated the lap totals in my estimates, I multiplied when I should have divided. Feel free to update your estimates if you made the mistake of trusting my numbers.

1992 GEO STORM "THE THUNDERSTORM"

DUE TO THE RECENT PASTING OF MY BELOVED HUSBAND, I HAVE FOR YOUR BIDDING PLEASURE. THE "THUNDERSTORM." THE THUNDERSTORM WAS HIS PRIDE AND JOY. WHERE HE SPENT MANY HOURS WORKING ON IT AND TAKING IT TO CAR SHOWS. THE STORM AS WE WILL CALL IT. THE STORM IS GARAGE KEEP, WITH CAR COVER DESIGNED ESPECIALLY FOR IT. IT STILL SMELLS LIKE A NEW CAR !! AND DOES NOT HAVE A BLEMISH ON IT. THE STORM WAS KEPT AND USED FOR SHOW PURPOSES ONLY. SINCE IT WAS DRIVEN ONLY TO AND FROM CAR SHOWS, IT ONLY HAS 37,803 ACTIUAL MILES AND IS IN EXCELLENT MECHANICAL CONDITION. DRIVES AND RUNS WELL. NO PROBLEMS WHAT SO EVER. EQUIPPED WITH A KENWOOD AM/FM CD. IT IS TITLED AS A 1992 GEO STORM

HISTORY OF THE STORM: CUSTOM MADE BY: DONNIE DOWNS OF SECTION ALABAMA. THIS MAN IS A TRUE DESIGNER AND MASTER MECHANIC. IT CAN BE SAID THAT HE IS A LEGEND IN HIS OWN TIME. THE STORM CONTAINS FLIP UP SUN ROOF AND REAR SLIDING WINDOWS, ELECTIC ANTENIA, ENGINE CONTAINS "LOTS OF CROME", BECAUSE OF THE LIMIT OF PICTURES, THERE WAS ALSO A PICTURE OF GEORGE JONES "THE POSSUM" AND A LOCAL NEWS MEDIA PERSON, BODY COLORS: GEO WHITE/GEO COBALT BLUE, COMPILING OVER 22 CAR PARTS:

1. 1992 GEO STORM, 2. 1985 SUBARU BRAT REAR, 3. 1972 MALIBU WHEELS (GEO CENTERS), 4. 1970 CHEVELLE HOOD SCOOP 5. 1990 FORD ESCORT REAR BUMPER, 6. 1987 TOYOTA TRUCK (SPACE TIRE LIFT), 7. 1992 CHEVY CALVALIER (BOW TIES) 8. 1987 TOYOTA TRUCK(SPACE TIRE LIFT) 9. 1985 FORD RANGER FUEL PUMP, 10. 1967 CHEVY IMPALA (TAXI) HUB CAPS, 11. 1990 CHEVY S-10 BLAZER (POWER HATCH) 12. 1987 HONDA ACCORD POWER RADIO ANTENIA 13. 1992 GEO STORM (PLATIUM ROCKER CORNER) POLISHED 14. 1992 STORM FENDERS R-L AFTER MARKET, 17. 1991 STORM HEADLAMPS (USED) 18. 1992 STORM RADIATOR SUPPORT (USED) 19. 1992 STORM WINDSHIELD (NEW), 20 WHEEL SPINNERS (AFTER MARKET) 21. 1991 STORM REMOTE CONTROL ARM 22. AFTER MARKET GROUND EFFECTS

Thanks to Chris for the tip [Source: eBay]

Probably not. The problem with the engine is it doesn't meet any emissions requirements for the US market. But what's funny is that this is exactly what the market is looking for. How great would a light-duty 30 MPG+ diesel pickup be in this market? Though GM engineers are probably just using it for local transport, it'd be pretty cool for the truck-lovers out there if it were a real live bow-Thai'ed pickup.

Our only response from someone familiar with GM's lineup was a wise-assed "We're actually only looking at V10 engines as the standard" across the light-duty truck lineup, so we expect this to be heading our way any time soon. Or not. Or maybe.

Today, the dream is realized. Starting as an '89 Isuzu, the whole body has been shaved and smoothed, of course that's the last thing you'll notice about this machine. The bed has obviously been stretched, and is now 11-feet long to accommodate the three rear axles. Under the hood is a Chevy small block 350 V8, connected to a 700-R4 transmission. Allegedly, power then goes to all six rear wheels, which would be amazing, but we're going to remain skeptical. Either way, this truck known as "Triple Play" is certainly an attention-grabber.
[Truckin', via AutoMotto, via CarDomain]

When your small car gets 22 MPG, is that a bragging point? Apparently so, because the seller of this 1991 Isuzu Impulse RS Turbo (go here if the ad disappears) put that Country Squire-esque mileage figure right in the headline. And when you're shopping for a car, what do you want to know about it? Running condition, maybe what kind of shape the interior's in? Nope, you need to know the bore and stroke of the engine... and this seller gives you just that! So here we have an AWD turbocharged Isuzu, complete with bright blue console trim and pillar-mounted gauges. The photographs were apparently taken at the Nevada Test Site with an experimental neptunium-core fission blast going off in the background, so it's a bit hard to make out the car... but no matter- this is a 17-year-old all-wheel-drive turbocharged car from a company that's even at this moment frantically packing up to leave the country before the credit-card bills come due, so you know you're in for some challenges. Just picture the fun you'll have breaking parts entering hyperspace in this sucker after you jack up the boost!

We all know that lots of exclamation points in a car ad indicates sincerity, but how do you indicate that a car's price is really, really good? Why, you put 16 dollar signs in the headline, of course! The seller lets you know right off that a 1994 Isuzu P'Up (go here if the ad disappears) is "a hard truck to find," and it's going to get a helluva lot harder now that Joe Isuzu is being stuffed into a shipping container and sent back to Japan. This truck has been rigged with airbag suspension, shaved doors "with poppers" (we assume the seller is not referring to the disco-era amyl nitrate variety here), and a Weber carb in place of the factory fuel injection. Since any or all of these mods could be total butcher jobs, you might be in for a few surprises. The AC works, but not the heater (no green liquid gushing out of the dash... as far as you know), and a new stereo system might be "thrown in" if the price is right. But remember folks, the seller is firm about the terms of the deal: "i dont want your junk i need a ride and can not accept payments but will negotiate price."

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Though not spoken of with the same reverence as Starions and Supras, the Impulse did have a lot going for it. The design comes from Giorgetto Giugiaro, who some say recycled the design from the next generation Scirocco that was never to be. It also had decent performance, including a turbo version with 140 horsepower and 166 lb.-ft. of torque. The cockpit of the Impulse looked futuristic to the 7-year-old me, with more buttons and knobs than a 747. Looking at pictures now it looks a little ridiculous.

In 1990, the second generation Impulse arrived with little fanfare. Built on the same R-body platform as the Geo Storm, the "lotus tuned" suspension didn't change the fact that the general characteristics of the first generation had changed. Unfortunately, the car was also switched from RWD to FWD. Gee, when has that happened before?

My dad's Impulse was a pre-Lotus tuned, non-turbo Impulse so the chances are it is sitting in a scrap heap somewhere, which is too bad as the car is now part of the history of a failed attempt at winning in the North American market. We also had an old I-Mark, but I'd rather not remember that. [For a great history of the Impulse check out the Isuzu Performance Impulse Page]

Web trawling reveals precious little of the sleek hulled Nagisa other than creepy Japanese anime. it was a concept that probably never made it off the drawing board, but just imagine! Isuzu branded speed boats with wheels, barges that could double as semi trucks, kei boats, truck-boat trucks! So sad. Really, they could have just released the car into the market and it would have done well even if it didn't float. Just look at the compeitition. I mean, Detroit was still building the Dodge Daytona in 1991. [via Dieseno-Art]

Japanese truck maker Isuzu Motors Ltd said on Thursday it would end sales of sport utility vehicles in North American in a year due to dwindling demand.

Isuzu began selling SUVs in North America in the 1980s and in 1999 its annual sales there topped 100,000 vehicles, led by the popular Trooper model.

Financial difficulties later forced Isuzu to pull out of a joint venture factory in Indiana with Subaru-maker Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd in 2002, and instead sell SUVs built by former top shareholder General Motors Corp.

Isuzu said in a statement that its North American SUV sales totaled just 7,000 vehicles last year.

The termination will result in an extraordinary loss of 4 billion yen ($37 million) to be booked partly in the current business year ending on March 31 and some in the new year, a spokesman in Tokyo said.

The firm's latest projections call for a group net profit of 80 billion yen in the year to March.

Isuzu will continue SUV parts sales and maintenance in North America, the spokesman said.

UPDATE: Apparently it is too soon and since it was Jake who claimed he couldn't quit Heath, we'll just make a Jake Gyllenhaal joke. We feel like it's open season on him anyway ever since Day After Tomorrow. Also, Isuzu is quitting sales of the Chevy Colorado-based i-Series pickup truck too according to our friends at PickupTruck.com. [Reuters, PickupTruck]

Let's face it, Rover's cars never sold well in the United States (for reasons we really don't need to explain here), so when it came time to sell the Rover 800 over here, the marketing suits at British Leyland figured they'd just call it something else. And so it was that the Sterling was born; with Honda V6 power and British good looks, it looked like a can't-possibly-miss; no oil leakage, no clattery tractor-engine sounds, no dullsville Japanese-sedan styling. Yes, the Sterling was quite a car, and this 1989 Sterling 827 SL, available for the farthingly low asking price of a cool grand, could soon be gracing your garage. Now, don't be intimidated by the British electrical system; after all, the reliability of the Honda running gear is so profound that it emits a force field of Japanese quality that actually prevents problems in unrelated systems! Would we make this stuff up? And that bad talk going around town about poor build quality and corrosion? Hogwash! Though the description on this car is a bit sparse...

Was there ever an Isuzu that was cool enough to be a Project Car Hell car? Most emphatically, yes! The Impulse with the "Handling By Lotus" option is such a car. This '89 Impulse has rear-wheel-drive, Giorgetto Giugiaro styling, and the aforementioned suspension tuning done by none other than the road-gripping gurus at Lotus. It's got the Chex wheels, a somewhat new clutch (though you might consider asking to see the receipt), and... we're not sure what else. Sure, Isuzu never really measured up to the quality standards of Honda, Nissan, and Toyota, but it can't be that bad. Can it?

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I used to have a job that involved driving a Mitsubishi Fuso delivery truck, top speed 52 MPH and incapable of climbing steep hills (a fact I discovered after the thing groaned to a halt while attempting to make it up Clipper Street in San Francisco, much to the displeasure of many drivers behind me). If only my employer had seen fit to go with the Isuzu Forward instead of the weak-ass Fuso- why, it's got so much power you can wheelie it at will! Might want to tie the cargo down real good with this baby, though. Bonus points for super-disco-ninja soundtrack. – Murilee Martin

Related:
SUPER GREAT POTENTIAL! Can This Truck Solve the Woes of DCX? [internal]

Sold only from 1990 to 1993, the son-of-I-Mark, fraternal-twin-of-Gemini Stylus was never the hit we're sure Joe Isuzu was hoping it would be. In fact, it was the last car the company sold in America. Neverthless, it proudly boasted a fender tag touting "Handling by Lotus," added presumably to capitalize on the wave of enthusiasm generated by Pretty Woman. We've never driven one, so we can't tell you if it indeed "cornered like it was on rails." – Davey G. Johnson

Isuzu Stylus Parts [Partstrain]

Related:
GM Buddies Up With Isuzu for Platform Development [Internal]