We all like fun facts, so lets start off with one. Isuzu is really translated to fifty bells. Its originally the name of a river that flows through a region thats dotted with ancient Shinto shrines in Japan. The Isuzu companys roots go all the way back to about 1916 – this was the time when Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding and Engineering Company had first decided to expand its business; this meant that they were going to start producing cars and just simply include automobile manufacturing.
Around two years later, in 1918, Isuzu decided to forge a technical union with the Wolseley Motor Company; its a U.K. based motor company. They received the name Isuzu by 1949, after it released its first two model vehicles.
After the war – but like right after – the selling of Isuzu trucks and Isuzu Hubcaps went out of the roof. The cars that Isuzu manufactured were essential to the reconstruction effort that Japan was going through. The cars & the Isuzu Wheel Covers that were installed on them were used to transport the clothes, food, and other things that people needed. By 1953, Isuzu had released the Hillman Minx passenger car. The Hillman Minx was somewhat of a long series of average-sized family cars that was produced under the Hillman marque.
When the 1960s rolled around, there were two trends that seemed to take over: the hippie fad and the launch of passenger cars. Cars like the Florian and the Bellett seemed to be favored over any other car, as well as some trucks like the WASP model. By 1971, Isuzu decided to start a partnership with General Motors – which wouldnt have been a good idea today because isnt General Motors going through that recession? Anyway, a couple years after the partnership became official, the Gemini was released with OEM Wheels & OE Isuzu Hub Caps on the wheels. The Gemini was the very first car that was released after the pairing.
A decade later, it seemed as if Isuzu had landed on American shores. The Pup, with Factory Isuzu Wheel Covers installed, was a truck and was the first Isuzu model that was released and sold in the U.S. market. The Isuzu Trooper was released three years right after the Pup was released. It was an SUV model that was available in either two- or four-door models – as soon as it came out, it was pretty popular.
Isuzu then entered into something called a joint venture with Subaru. This union was what sparked the release of the Isuzu Rodeo and the Isuzu Pickup.
By the time the 1990s rolled around, Isuzu sales were proved to be pretty strong. The main reason why was because a lot of people were buying the Trooper with the OE Isuzu Wheel Covers – by this time, the Trooper had upgraded by having more luxury to it and being offered in a bigger size. The Isuzu Trooper was one of the main models responsible for the immediate popularity SUV’s had in that decade.
When the new millennium rolled around, it seemed as if no one wanted the Trooper or the Rodeo anymore. Most people were going after the newer models that had all of the advanced features on them; like the new fancy Audi’s and even some Toyota’s had good technology.
What do you prefer?
Hubcaps.com