Isuzu Florian - History

History

The 1600 Deluxe led a somewhat uneasy existence as the top-of-the line Isuzu at the time of introduction, as its single carburetted engine was no more than a downtuned version of the unit which lived under the hood of the cheaper Bellett. To separate the Florian from the lesser Belletts, the 1600 Super Deluxe appeared in 1968. This model benefitted from plush standard equipment, including air conditioning and leather seats. In 1969 the sportier 1600 TS ("Touring Sports") appeared, fitted with the Bellett GT's twin carb engine, producing 90 PS (66 kW) at 5,400 rpm. Originally fitted with large, single rectangular headlights, the sporting 1600 TS introduced twin round units, a layout which became standard following the Florian's first facelift in October 1970.

The Florian was originally available as a four-door sedan and a five-door station wagon (the latter did not last until the end of production). The six-light glasshouse is of an unusual shape, with the rear doors being shared with the double-cab Isuzu Faster (KB) pickup truck. The Florian replaced the Isuzu Bellel and was in turn replaced by the Isuzu Aska (originally marketed as the "Florian Aska") in the Isuzu lineup. Originally available as a six-seater with a column-mounted three-speed shifter (or automatic), a floor-shifted five-seat model called "Owners DeLuxe" was also marketed in the first year. The three-speed manual was replaced with a four-speed manual in 1968. The dashboard was very distinct, featuring two symmetrical oval, woodgrain-trimmed dashpods for the driver and passenger, with oval gauge pods as well.