| In the late 1980s, if you didn't want to buy your Isuzu Gemini as a Geo/Chevrolet Spectrum, you could get it as a genuine Isuzu. I-Marks are (and were) very rare, though we have seen an '87 in this series), and so this one with gigantic ISUZU badging has some historical interest for the true connoisseur of cheapo 80s hatchbacks.
The only I-Mark I've ever driven was the needs-some-TLC '81 diesel in the clip above, and it was a fine car. However, that was the earlier Chevette-sibling rear-wheel-drive version. Today's I-Mark Junkyard Find is the front-wheel-drive sibling of the Holden Gemini (among many others). That's the 70-horse 1.5 liter 4XC1 engine right there, close cousin to the engine in the early-90s Lotus Elan. It was cheaper than the Civic, Corolla, and Sentra, and… it was cheaper. This one almost made it to 100,000 miles during its 27 years on the planet. It probably still ran when towed away, but expired tags spelled its doom. When a car owner knows that the junkyard is the likely next stop, the Cotton Candy Little Tree usually gets replaced by a New Car Scent tree. That's the law. You want luxury? An I-Mark with factory sunroof in 1986— that's luxury!
from The Truth About Cars http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com |
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