LUVTruck.com

Hi people,

I've been a long-time Isuzu enthusiast here in Australia and have amassed several vehicles.

My most recent acquisition is a 1969 Isuzu Florian, which as you will see from the quarters and door is essentially a sedan version of the Chevy LUV!







They did sell the LUVs here - after a bit of research I've worked out:

1971-1975ish - badged as Chevrolet LUV but sold through Holden dealers and listed on Glass's guide listing as Holden Isuzu 1000kg pickup!
1584cc OHV G161 (same as Isuzu Florian motor) with tail lights under the tail gate

1975-1978 - Chevrolet LUV (still)
1584cc OHC G161Z (same as Holden Gemini motor here in Australia) with tail lights next to the tail gate

1978-1980 (or 1981 - unsure) - name changed to Isuzu KB, single headlights, still sold through Holden dealers
- 1584cc OHC motor still, plus Diesel and 4x4 versions

The Isuzu Florian was sold through Isuzu dealers from 1968 to 1971-ish, by then Isuzu as a brand was pretty much over and out, with most trucks up until the 1980s sold as Bedfords.

So this little history lesson brings me to my request!

I'm keen to own a Chevy LUV and while they did sell them here, I'm actually keen to get a LHD job. The reason being that I always wanted a US car, however I've ended up collecting a whole bunch of Isuzus, so I thought my goal of buying a Yank car could never be reached.

HOWEVER, if I get a pre-1974 Chevrolet LUV, I can register it here in South Australia under historic rego and just cruise it around. It will be my Jap-spec, US-spec, Isuzu-built Chev-badged, Holden-marketed Chevy LUV!

The only catch is that it has to be 100% standard to get rego on a LHD vehicle in this state.

So if anyone wants to part with a minter, original (or restored), UNMODIFIED Chevy LUV petrol column shift manual, I would be more than happy to give it a home in sunny Adelaide.

This way I can go to:

Super Chevy Sunday
All American Day
All GM Day
AND All Japan Day

all in the same truck!

Gold!

Welcome bud! You are the 1st florian owner thats on the site! Do you have any pics of it? Ive only seen a few far and between.
There's a few Ausi luv owners on here so hopefully they can help you find one

_________________
1980 luv sport 4x4 Just a memory now
Frame rusted from the inside. Truck stripped and now looking for a new donor in southern ohio

get in contact with ozluvtrucker. Hopefully he can help you out
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=3191

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1980 luv sport 4x4 Just a memory now
Frame rusted from the inside. Truck stripped and now looking for a new donor in southern ohio

Very nice! I always wondered where this guy got the front end for his luv.
http://www.luvtruck.com/Gallery/NaokiNa ... index.html

Now that ive done some searching around. Check out the gallery under worldwide luvs. There's quite a few down there.
http://www.luvtruck.com/ownreg_full_pic_nonUS.php

_________________
1980 luv sport 4x4 Just a memory now
Frame rusted from the inside. Truck stripped and now looking for a new donor in southern ohio

welcome, but you are the 2nl florian owner here... i sent fenders and other parts to him in amsterdam.... nice florian, would love to find a front end from one of them to put on my luv..... you can find a good 74 or older but you will not find a column shift, they are all floor shift 4spds

_________________
My old but now gone Luv...

Cheers for all your quick replies...

Thanks for pointing me towards the Aussie LUV owners, but yeah I was after an US-spec one!

However, does anybody know if they did ANY US-spec LUVs in column-shift?

ctmandu has said that all the 4-speeds are floor shifts... were there any 3-speeds or autos in column-shift in a pre-1974 LUV? If so, I might have to settle for a RHD LUV with column-shift... now the reason for this is that I REALLY like column shift as it is ultra-cool.

As an aside, the guy in Amsterdam AND Ozluvtrucker are both members of our forum dedicated to Isuzu Belletts (http://www.bellett.net/forums) so between your forum and our forum, hopefully we can keep these machines alive.

I also have 1965 Isuzu Wasp.



This vehicle has the same family G150C OHV motor with cast iron head as the early 1600 and 1800 LUV motor - bolt-in swap basically. Chassis-wise, everything is exactly the same as a LUV - chassis, steering, suspension and brakes. Only things relating to the width of the car are different as it is substantially narrower than a LUV.

These were pretty much replaced by the LUV (Isuzu Faster) in Japan, I reckon.

This one has has allegedly got around 998,000 miles on it. I spoke to the first owner who reckons he sold it at 991,000 miles! I wish I had books to prove it.

Anyway, this thing is enjoying a well-earned retirement. I've got it on club rego, so I get to cruise it around any 90 days per year that I want, which is more than enough. As it's a bit on the rusty side, I try not to drive it in the rain or anything. It's got a top speed of about 50mph and will run thru the first 3 gears within about 100 feet! Truckin!

Grandpa Chevy LUV!

So can anyone answer this? does anybody know if they did ANY US-spec LUVs in column-shift?


Cheers,


Dave

After re-reading ctmandu's reply and thinking about it a bit harder, I'm guessing no column shift anything on the LUVs in LHD US-spec.

That's a bit annoying!

Now I'm going to have to go back to these local guys here in Adelaide and harass them to sell the LUV. They don't really want to sell it, so they're asking too much money for it. But it's 100% unmodified and would probably even polish up (hell, the Wasp polished up - if that polishes up then a fossilised turd will polish up).

Once I get that LUV or any LUV I'll have to get some pics and post!

Cheers again!

Dave

Wow thats cool! Even the dash is the same!

how about a US spec luv but add the column shift from an ausi truck.... really be a one of a kind.... its like my opel(gemini) it will all be badged and specked as a ausi gemini... lights front and back ,console badges but have German bumpers and LHD... anyway just a thought

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My old but now gone Luv...

Welcome to the site IsuzuLuv. Theres a few Luvs around my neck of the woods that may be sale, i also have many spares and a almost minter tub for sale. An AUSSIE LUV would easily be converted to lhd they are mostly symetrical.

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1980 4x4 KBD40 ISUZU/Chev Luv
Factory Fitted c190 Diesel Engine, ARB BullBar, Ramsey Winch, Custom Tilt Tray,

Hi Ozluvtrucker,

This is Dave from www.bellett.net!

Do you still have that 1600 motor as I think Ross (2lDOHC) was still after it... but just hasn't has the time to come out your way and pick it up.

If you know of any stocky Chev-version LUVs (eg non Isuzu KBs) with a tub and a column shift up your way that just need a polish to be a good reliable ratter truck, let me know!

The US-spec job may not work as the mechanism won't be too easy to modify from RHD to LHD.... so no LHD for me it seems.

Hey at least you guys were able to point that out before I started a massive, fruitless search!

Glad you liked the Florian (aka Chevy LUV sedan!).

Interestingly, I saw a photo of a dual cab (not the dual cab that is on this site) that has the back doors from a Florian! It was like in Brazil or something so I wonder if they assembled them there... Mystery cars!

Cheers again,


Dave

...also check out the dog-dish hubcaps on the Wasp. They're identical to the Chevy LUV ones except without the Chev badge embossed on there!

Sorry I trainspot this kind of crap!

Cheers,


Dave

Welcome to the site. You guys have some really cool vehicles over there.

_________________
Life is a DRAG RACE!!!
I like my Luv WILD!!!

Sometimes too much to drink isn't enough!!
Kinky is using a feather. Perverted is using the whole chicken.
http://www.wildluvracing.com

Sorry Dave but a local Luv owner made me a cash offer for the 1600 i couldn't refuse, felt sorry sorry for him cause his engine threw a leg outa bed. Im sure i,ll come across 1 again soon, always got my eyes peeled for Luvs and Bellets now also.

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1980 4x4 KBD40 ISUZU/Chev Luv
Factory Fitted c190 Diesel Engine, ARB BullBar, Ramsey Winch, Custom Tilt Tray,

That's cool man just glad it went to a good home.

Any LUVs up your way that I can make a cash offer on? As per above I'm keen for a stocky column-shiftus that can be driven but may be a bit ratty (or not).

Lemme know!

Cheers

Dave

do you guys get the lighted rigs that go around the key and light on both sides of the colmn if so i wont a set here in the us they only came on the 72 luvs please help a luv brotha out lol

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http://www.facebook.com/ez.cracker
dangerous-toys4life
73 3-door avalanche bdydropped on 18s
86 1-ton 4x crewcab short bd 15"lift
75 k-5 2x
94 king cab

I haven't seen a LUV lit up to know if those rings are functional - Ozluvtrucker may know.

They DO work on the Florian, but the Florian is, excuse the French, rare as fuck. I only know of two runners and 4 wrecks in my entire state. I'm working on getting three of the wrecks (they come as a package - one guy owns them) and will keep you in mind if I pull it off!

I saw a wreck at a crazy country wreckers we went to on the weekend, but that car had been in a field for 30+ years and not much was good on it, plus it was about 110 degrees (no kidding) so it wasn't a do-able thing to do anything! Also, I went to get the headlight out of that wrecked Florian to keep as a spare and it turns out that the two models that have different grilles and tail lights ALSO have subtly different headlights.

Bugger me dead! How, out of a car that they sold SFA-of, can there be two different models!?!??!

Crazy times.

I will hopefully secure those Florian wrecks in the next few months and will advise about ring status.


Cheers again dudes


Dave

Hi there buddy, i have a luv truck for sale in Melbourne, a virtually stock 1976, yellow, 4 speed column shift, i have put heaps of extras on it and a whole heap of spares, you can view pictures of it on ebay.com.au my username is lrpets, all lower case, if interested call me on 0424554548, cheers alex

Cheers for the info re: yellow LUV. I was looking at that one on eBay!

Haven't put the plans on the backburner, but am biding my time for the right one.

Yours looks excellent though! Decisions decisions....

Cheers for the heads-up.