Isuzu

The Isuzu Bellel marked an important milestone for the Japanese manufacturer as its first fully in-house developed passenger car. Introduced in 1961, it was offered as a four-door sedan and as the Bellel Express station wagon. The model also became Japan’s first passenger car available with a diesel engine, a feature that made it especially popular with taxi operators and commercial users. Petrol versions were powered by 1.5- and 2.0-litre engines, while all models featured a four-speed manual gearbox. In 1965 the Bellel received a facelift with vertically stacked quad headlights, giving it a more prestigious appearance. Although it never matched rivals such as the Toyota Crown in popularity, the Bellel laid the foundation for Isuzu’s future passenger cars. Production ended in 1967 after 37,206 units had been built.