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That is properly rough but definitely needs saving, sounds like it has an interesting history too.
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Love these! I remember seeing one parked when I was a kid and being amazed that the doors doors go right up to the roof with no gutters! Must have been one of the first cars to do that? Have the Ace of Clubs concept:
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--------------------------- 89 Masterace Surf 03 Astra 03 V40 Sport 09 E90 M Sport
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Who doesn't enjoy a rolling shot?
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Sweet headlining.
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berendd
Europe
why do I need 3 keys for one car?
Posts: 1,449
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Nov 10, 2011 10:06:32 GMT
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these are a cool, we didn;t get those in mainland europe unfortunately.. In a few years these will definitely go up again, same as ae86's did.
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Nov 10, 2011 10:29:16 GMT
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These are interesting cars, I think I've only ever seen one in person. Very unloved, but they were sold in Australia as the Holden Piazza. A couple of blokes have written a roadtrip-based book about them! "Chris and Joe take to the road, touring the highways and byways of Australia on a quest to discover what became of the Holden Piazza - possibly the dodgiest car ever to be imported into Australia." According to the publisher's website, only 200 were sold here and only 80 are still going. Devilishdesigner on this forum has one and is using the turbo drivetrain from it to re-power a Simca Aronde station wagon!
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dugong
Posted a lot
One Of Us Will Live To Rue The Day We Met Each Other (Wire : 2008)
Posts: 3,292
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Nov 10, 2011 12:16:38 GMT
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That is properly rough but definitely needs saving, sounds like it has an interesting history too. It's rough as toast. The IPTOC went to have a look at it a few years ago and it was borked then. It does need saving though, mainly for that one off body kit and the interior. It would be a shame if it got broken for parts but I think that's probably what will happen to it - the eBay vendor seems to think the plate has value - but it can only be transferred with a current MOT. It was built by Ripspeed some time before they got absorbed into Halfords. At the time the Piazza wasn't available in the UK so it will have come in as a grey import. It uses a naturally aspirated G200 engine which was a twin cam four also found in the 117, which the Piazza replaced. We didn't get the Piazza until 1986, but it had been available in various specifications in Japan since 1981. From what little I know about it, Ripspeed built it for its stand at the 1984 Motorfair. It started life as an XE which was mid spec in the deeply confusing Isuzu line up of the day. All things considered, it's probably the earliest Piazza in the UK. There was an earlier silver Bella brought into the UK but it was last seen in a scrapyard down South in 2002 \ 3. All the cars the UK market received were Turbos which used the 4CZ1T engine - basically a Fargo van engine with some low compression pistons and an IHI VHB turbo bolted on. We got the normally aspirated 4CZ1 in the Vauxhall Midi van, a license built Isuzu Fargo. To dispel one myth, the M100 Elan used the FWD 4XE1 twin cam 16 valve engine - which isn't the same. Piazzas have less in common with the T car platform then most people think. The only thing in a Piazza that's the same as a Chevette \ Kadett \ Gemini \ Maepsy are a few of the central floorpan pressings. Their LSD rear axles aren't a direct fitment because of the difference in track - you have to change the pick - up points and shorten the half shafts. When I owned mine (D888 XJM, later sold to GTVSaviour and consequently stolen from his barn) I had loads of VW types tell me it was a 'Scirocco with a body kit' and a 'rejected design for the Mk2 Scirocco'. Wrong on both counts. The Asso Di Fiori concept car was commissioned directly by Isuzu from ItalDesign in 1979, and the production Piazza was produced from that body design with a few tweaks. Isuzu also changed the interior. The Scirocco, DMC 12 and Piazza were all designed by the same styling house and all look remarkably similar in side profile. The Mk 2 Scirocco was a later commission from VW. They definitely didn't sell the plans to Isuzu. Got a bit sick of telling dubbers that if I'm honest. I love that Piazza you've posted up Will. I am stunned more people aren't keen on them - they're a rare RWD Japanese coupe with an LSD as standard, have a 4 x 100 stud pattern and have a Fiat Uno on drugs interior. What's not to like? The cars sold on the US market, Japan and Australasia had the most amazing 'waffle' design alloys which we didn't get. A highly controversial Capri driving friend of mine is looking after a set for me. That Piazza you've posted is lovely. Tis not a Turbo though. The Ripspeed car advertised on eBay has the same engine. Isuzu's twin cam has quite an interesting history - it was rumoured they got Conrero in Italy to help with the development. Incidentally, I miss XJM a lot. So I'm in the process of buying another. Watch this space.
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Last Edit: Nov 10, 2011 12:23:55 GMT by dugong
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CIH
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,466
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Nov 10, 2011 13:59:01 GMT
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Top end doesn't look wide enough for a Twinc ? Sure it's not so Cali emissions special ? Eitherway I thought you still had the Piazza. Like my S12 it falls into that mid-80s catagory of Japanese history very few people really care about.
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Nov 10, 2011 19:54:11 GMT
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I'll always remember one of these at an auction I was at about ten years ago. It was badly painted in primer with no tax and test. Went for a tenner.....
I'm still kicking myself!
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Nov 11, 2011 19:05:56 GMT
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It's a long time i'm search an sexy piazza! it's good,I found this red piazza
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retromods.forumactif.com/"la Française" oldschoolers community my cars: -83' Toyota Celica 1600st -81' Bmw e21 320/6 -81' Talbot Horizon 1,5 -87' Ford Escort mk4 wagon
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Ratchet
Part of things
The user formerly known as Thomas
Posts: 708
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Nov 11, 2011 19:39:14 GMT
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i remember the first time i saw one of these , was a half burnt one in a breakers yard, confused me as id never seen an isuzu car here (only vans and 4x4's) was fairly complete and sat there for a long time , no doubt its long gone now only other one ive seen in the metal was one i saw parked up in a less than high class area, very faded red and has disappeared so no doubt it was run into the ground and scrapped surprised they don't have more of a following as will carter says id love one but there hellish rare now it seems, least any decent ones within 300 miles of me :/
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Competition is the law of the jungle, but cooperation is the law of civilization.
1971 vw beetle 1200 1978 international loadstar 1700 4x4 1987 landrover 110 1994 Yamaha FZR600r 2010 honda CBF100GT
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CIH
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,466
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Nov 11, 2011 19:43:49 GMT
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y'know I reckon the federal headlights look much better than the aero lights. on the prototype/euro
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Perfect PiazzaDeleted
@Deleted
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Nov 11, 2011 19:53:09 GMT
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I had one of these - a "Handling By Lotus" turbo. The lower edge of the quarters near the sills was rotten.
When you changed gear, the knackered turbo would belt out smoke - I once drove home in it, parked (like a smoke machine) in the garage and looked out of an upstairs window to see the road I'd driven down punctuated by clouds of blue smoke still...
Coolest thing, apart from the sleepy lights? The driver's side airvent that rose periscope-like from the dash to clear the steering wheel!
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