A thousand dollars does not buy a whole lot of car anymore…it has been decades since it has. But what if I could honestly sell you a restomodded car based on a rare vehicle that you would be hard-pressed to find in any condition anywhere, that could offer up the fun quotient of a car five times as expensive, maybe even more? Well, my offer this week for the thrifty thrill seeker is this 1988 Isuzu Impulse RS. Known throughout the world as the Isuzu Piazza and in Australia as the Holden Piazza, the Impulse was an interesting little hatchback that in it’s first generation (1983-90) arrived as a Giorgetto Giugiaro designed hatchback that had handling capability courtesy of Lotus and enough performance to run with a Chrysler Conquest…not bad for what turned into the Geo Storm in it’s second generation.
“Big whoop”, I can hear you muttering. “It’s just another 1980s trash can that McTaggart is interested in.” Ok, I got something for you. Lotus handling, LeMons-ready looks, and under the hood is a Chevrolet 350 hooked to a 200R4 out of a Monte Carlo SS. That system is cooled with the radiator out of a 3rd generation Supra, a four-link suspension out back and a swapped-in rear with 4.10 gears and a limited-slip diff…all of that in a car that weighs in at a claimed 2,330 pounds. You know what that means? Stupid fun, and a lot of it. I wouldn’t be hunting around for replacement body parts, given that these coupes are rare as all get-out, but a set of driving lights up front and a set of all-terrains scream “rally runner” to me. With four thousand dollars left over in the budget, there’s plenty left to buy some patch-metal and primer, or whatever else your heart desires.
Craigslist Link: 1988 Isuzu Impulse RS
(Thanks to Andy350Z for the tip!)
A NY car with all that topside rust…imagine what’s going on below. Back away slowly BMT.
I have to agree with northeast car and rust! I’ve had my share of them. But for $1K, I would take a chance on it.
Even if it were rotted out underneath, I’m sure you could have $1000 worth of fun before it expires. Also, the ad says it has a 305, not a 350. Although any SBC is more than enough power in an Impulse.
If I ran out and bought this right now, it’s be an impulse Impulse buy.
Just realized this is in Syracuse, which is only a hour away from me. Frightening.
An Isuzu Pizza?
Don’t you mean a hunka shit with a Chevy?
The only impulse I would have would be to burn this mother and sit around its charred remains with a bottle of scotch singing Mustang Sally until I passed out!