5k: Slowest Car Ever: 1981 Isuzu I-Mark Diesel
The Isuzu Gemini was originally sold in the US market as the Opel by Isuzu, changed to the Buick Opel and finally in 1981 became the Isuzu I-Mark. The 2nd generation I-Mark was a Giugiaro designed front driver, but the first generation was a rear drive Japanese classic holdover from another era. Find this 1981 Isuzu I-Mark diesel
for sale in Staten Island, NY for $6,700 buy-it-now via ebay. Tip from Mark vdD.
Tipper Mark first sent in a pretty horrible 1982 Chevette diesel with the subject “A challenge: find a slower car than this…” and then he sent in this Isuzu I-Mark diesel. The only thing slower we could find was a Tesla Model S with a bricked battery.
The I-Mark diesel is pushed around by the 4FB1, a 1.8 liter 4-cylinder naturally aspirated diesel engine that puts out 51 horsepower. Slow does not even start to describe the purgatory slow lane this car will keep you in. Seriously, just put the hazards on when you start driving around and turn them off when you park.
The inside of this low mile I-Mark is a crazy combination of red materials and looks really nice for a 30 year old Isuzu.
See a slower classic Japanese sedan? email us here: tips@dailyturismo.com
That engine bay looks rather spacious…
This is the perfect car for Santa Monica, CA. It's just about as fast/safe as those awful "Gem" golf carts everyone drives, it has the diesel "green" street cred (ironic, eh?), no smog, its very hipster (see previous comment on irony), and will easily fit in the garage next to the S class Merc you drive when your friends aren't looking.
I can't help but love the interior though in all seriousness. Love the red (my Volvo 745 has that red interior), and look at that shift knob placement! It just screams rally car. You could probably shift without ever letting go of the wheel.
Love this thing.
i sure like it better than, say, a justy
How dare you insult the Justy in such a manner? 1.2l carb'd 3cyl + CVT + AWD = …actually come to think of it that does sound quite dreadful. Carry on.
Can't be any slower than all those aircooled VW's we used to drive.My 65 bug was great and ironic oil field vehicle and the 71 bus provided for leisurely drives into the mountains. Wonder what the MPG rating is?
Is there room for a duramax diesel in the engine bay?
In a more patina'd condition, this should rightfully be turning lemons laps. But $6k?? Like the man said, tho: perfect CA hippo-critter car.
My dad, a space shuttle engineer, bought a Diesel Imark brand new in 1982. We could not kill that car! My buddy and I drag raced down my street, him in his VW Diesel Rabbit and me in the Imark. It was an even race!
In Australia we have Holden Gemini. It is essentially the same as an Isuzu I-Mark but of course they have there differences. My Grandmother bought a 1980 Holden Gemini Brand new and we still have it today. It is a petrol engine not diesel but there are a few diesels about. Considering the condition of that car for what we would pay that is not a bad price. The petrol engine is certainly not slow what so ever they are quite energetic when you put your foot down.
the 2 door versions of that are very popular in switzerlands hilclimb races
the 2 door versions of that are very popular in switzerlands hilclimb races
Worth every penny to an enthusiast like myself!! If that was in Australia it would have been sold in a day…best car ever made!!
I had a 1980 I Mark and just loved it! Was it slow? Hell no!! It would cruise at well over 100mpg!
It was a great commuter car ~ very comfortable.
Good leg room in the backseat.
The only problem was the dealer forgot to mention where the gas went in!
I sold it at over 265k miles on it only became I was moving to Texas and didn't want to drive.
I had this exact car except my interior was blue. I actually placed an order in the fall of 1980 before the first Isuzus arrived in 1981. $8,155.00, out the door, and that was the sticker price. Checkered Flag Izuzu of Virginia Beach would not discount it but at the same time, they did not add to the price. I drove it for just under 400,000 miles, never adding even a pound of Freon. I could change the oil myself in 20 minutes, including cleanup. Six quarts and a new filter was all you needed. 4,000 miles between oil changes and at the 2,000 mile mark, you did not even need to measure, just add one more quart. I never cleaned up one drop of oil off the floor of the garage. Loved that car! I had stopped to turn left and someone pushed be back bumper into the trunk and that was the end of the car.
I would buy another in a NY minute!