Isuzu does not build many cars like the Isuzu Fargo: a 2-door cab forward pickup / 3-door van, built from 1980 to 2001 in the age of turbocharging and the first electronic engine management.
The story
The Isuzu Fargo is a light commercial van manufactured between 1980 and 2001 by Japanese automaker Isuzu in Japan. The Fargo spanned two generations, the first of which was sold between 1980 and 1995 as both van and pickup body styles, with the second generation, introduced in 1995, confined to a single van body style. This second generation was a badge-engineered version of the Nissan Caravan (E24), as opposed to an Isuzu design. Between 1982 and 1990, the first-generation Fargo was marketed in Australia by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors as the Holden Shuttle.
In Europe and New Zealand, the first series Isuzu Fargo was sold under the Isuzu WFR name. In Colombia, it was sold as the Chevrolet WFR. It was also built in the United Kingdom by Vauxhall Motors and sold as the Bedford Midi, then the Vauxhall Midi. Export versions of the Midi in Europe were badged GME Midi (in Spain), Isuzu Midi, Bedford Midi and Bedford Seta (in Portugal).
Under the skin
The record carries the shape — a 2-door cab forward pickup / 3-door van. The engine, output and weight have not yet reached the open record, and MotorJury does not guess at them.
Its place in the line
Where it sits in Isuzu's history is not in doubt: the Bedford CF (Europe and Australia) came before it; the Isuzu Como / Vauxhall Arena/Vauxhall Movano (Vauxhall and Bedford models) / Isuzu Faster (pickup models) followed it; it was built at Fujisawa, Kanagawa. On a showroom list of its day it stood against the Audi Quattro, the Dodge Ram, the DeLorean Motor Company DeLorean DMC-12. Nearby in the Isuzu catalogue sit the Isuzu Gemini and the 4000 Series Medium Duty.
The money
MotorJury scores cars on the United States complaint and recall record, and the Isuzu Fargo has none: too old, too rare, or never sold there. Its value today is a collector's question, decided by provenance and condition rather than by a class average.