Good morning, fellow Autopians! It’s time to look at a couple more cheap old cars. I’m considering implementing a “Two-Door Tuesday” rule here on Shitbox Showdown. It’s the rule for today, anyway; we’ll see how long I can keep it going. Yes, I know yesterday’s cars were both two doors as well. Purely coincidence. And speaking of yesterday:
Well, I’ll be damned. This one actually surprises me. I guess I underestimated your dislike for automatics, either transmissions or seatbelts or both, but the little Colt had its two doors blown off by the old flat-black Ford Courier.
Today’s cars are both parked in the “Where are they now?” lot, way in the back, behind a row of Dodge Miradas and broken-down Divco delivery vans. I’m willing to bet a lot of our older readers haven’t seen either of these in many years, and our younger readers may not even be aware they ever existed.
1970 Saab 96 – $1495
Engine/drivetrain: 1.5 liter V4, 4 speed manual, FWD
Location: Amity, OR
Odometer reading: unknown
Runs/drives? Nope
It’s one of those things that non-car-people say that make car-people cringe: “My car has a V4.” In almost every instance, they mean an inline-4, and have gotten confused by V6 and V8 engines into thinking that “V” stands for cylinder count. But there is always the chance, however slight, that this person knows exactly what they’re talking about, and drives a 1970s Saab.
This unusual powerplant found its way to Saab by way of Ford Germany, who developed the engine for the Taunus (not to be confused with the Taurus). Saab originally used their own three-cylinder two-stroke engine in the 96 (and sister model 95 station wagon), but abandoned it in the late ’60s in favor of the V4 Ford. The engine sits far forward in the engine bay, in front of the transaxle, which is a column-shifted 4 speed equipped with a “freewheel” device (a holdover from the two-stroke days).
If a Saab 96 is the car you want, you will find your choices limited. It’s going to be hard to cross-shop this with similar cars like you would a Honda Accord or something. This one doesn’t look like a bad starting point; it’s all there, I think, more or less. It’s a bit rusty, but completeness counts for a lot with a project like this. You could search for years to find a missing trim piece or a working fuel gauge to replace your broken one. Best to start with as much of it as you can.
I just gotta say, I love these headrests. It’s almost worth restoring the rest of the car just to be able to see these every day.
1981 Isuzu I-Mark – $1000
Engine/drivetrain: 1.8 liter diesel inline 4, 5 speed manual, RWD
Location: Renton, WA
Odometer reading: 172,000 miles
Runs/drives? Not at the moment
You can be forgiven for not remembering this car, but it has a far more famous cousin that you may have heard of: the Chevy Chevette. Isuzu’s version of GM’s global T-platform was called the Gemini in Japan, and originally came to the US as the “Buick Opel by Isuzu,” replacing the real Opel Kadett, also sold through Buick dealerships, in 1976. In 1981, when this example was made, it became the Isuzu I-Mark, a nameplate that would bounce along the bottom of sales charts for another decade. The car might have done better if they just called it the Gemini; it’s a much cooler-sounding name.
It’s a sharp looking little car: nice crisp fastback coupe styling, a Hofmeister kink accentuated by that little vent grille behind the rear window, and a friendly face. There’s a bit of rust here and there, and there may be more underneath; a good hard look at the floors and rocker panels is probably warranted. Inside, things are quite a bit better; the oxblood-red interior is in nice shape, but I do wonder what’s under the paper (?) taped to the dash. I dig the jaunty angle of the shifter, though – very Alfa-like.
Not much mechanical information is given, other than “it doesn’t run.” But Isuzu diesels are stout units, known to go half a million miles or more, so if you can get it going again, it should stay operational for a good long while. You won’t be getting anywhere very fast; it’s only good for 51 horsepower, but that gives passers-by more time to gawk.
Whichever one you choose, I guarantee you’ll have the only one on your block. Neither one is likely a candidate for a full-on restoration; they’re not really worth the hassle and expense. But as scruffy time-capsules to putter around in, either one could be a lot of fun. Which one is for you?
I was forced to ride in one of those wretched, reeking Isuzu I-Mark diesels once in the ’80s. When I was in a Yugo not long after, it was OMG terrible yet so, SO much better than the Isuzu. Saab all the way–it’s an ambitious project but at the end you’ll have something cool.
is it just me or is the quiz missing?
Everyone needs a good Saab Story. It even has good glass. The rest you can fabricate yourself. Everything on it you can reproduce with hand tools. Although I have a soft spot for diesel Izusus, there is no question here. Saab, hands down.
Saab all day and twice on Sunday.
Vote button doesn’t show up on my computer but I’m going with the Isuzu. Saab seems cool, but I would say that there is a near 100% chance that you’ll never find the parts to get it running.
I’m a dyed-in-the-wool SAAB guy, but I think given the choice, I’d go with the Isuzu. Diesel, manual, blood-red interior, quasi-fastback design, what’s not to love?
Same here – and I am from Sweden. I mostly choose the I-Mark because it feels as if the 96 is likely to be rescued by someone else.
Easy. Dispose of the already broken diesel and get a modern, 150hp inline 4 with a manual. Now you have stupid amounts of fun for very little money.
“Easy. Dispose of the already broken diesel and get a modern, 150hp inline 4 with a manual. Now you have stupid amounts of fun for very little money.”
TDI FTW.
My vote is for the Saab, because the engine layout is more interesting, and diesels of that era were problematic. I remember someone with a diesel Volkswagen who had to filter his fuel from the pump.
my vote is for the Isuzu. The red interior is cooler, and I trust Isuzu more than Saab/Ford
I LOL’ed.
Would vote for the Saab. It’s more interesting, and I have a sentimental attachment to the 95 estate sibling of this car, so this is an easy one for me.
My only connection is finding one in my friend’s dad’s barn and being enamored with it. I knew nothing about it (I was well aware of 80s-90s Saabs) but I really wanted to know more. He said his dad loved it and wanted to restore it, then went to show me his Model A in another building lol. I wish I’d hung out there more, his dad was a true car guy and I craved that kinda stuff.
I was already to vote Saab, but there is just something about the little Izzy that just makes me want to love him and pet him and call him George.
Right? Also, for whatever reason old quirky Saabs aren’t too hard to find where I am, so the Isuzu is just more intriguing to me.
I can’t see the poll. Although the vote has to be for the Saab, can I just say that I see a lot of appeal in that Isuzu? The cosmetics are a lot better, and it’s a rather handsome if a bit anonymous car. If I saw someone at Radwood rocking one I would most certainly have a chat with them.
Anyone have a link to Monday’s article? I have searched with no success. It would be nice if these were all in their own category.
Saabusa.
Or maybe a Honda V4 if you could find one.
Shoot, there IS something wrong with the poll. Having a hell of a time with that. I’ll email Jason and see if I did something wrong.
Created with Quizmaker to not let us vote, eh? Saab it is every day of the week.
SAAB for the win!
Problems is I canna vote.
I don’t see a poll for today’s showdown. I’ll go with the Saab. If you’re going to work on something super obscure and hard to find parts for, you at least want it to be unique and interesting looking. The I-mark is handsome enough, but kind of anonymous and not especially interesting.
Why not both?!
Well, sure, for someone who’s a high-rolling multi-thousandaire.
Am I the only one that can’t get the survey to appear every day? Maybe it’s because it knows I’ll vote for the Saab and want to prevent such absurdities?
This is the first time it hasn’t shown up for me.
I’d vote Saab if I could.
Well if you read others comments you would see many people mention this issue.
Well, if you look at the time my comment was posted you would see that there weren’t any other people mentioning this issue yet.
My vote is for the Saab. But if you really want an old V-Saab, you will be far better off financially to get one in better shape. A halfway decent version won’t cost a ton more; these things aren’t that pricey.
Yeah, there happens to be a better looking Saab much closer to the Isuzu right now. I haven’t picked either of them but I’ve had thoughts about both.
Gotta go for the SLAAB.
If I were to take on a non running V4 Saab I’d want a Sonett. Not that a non functional Isuzu diesel sounds much more appealing, but something about the looks of the car appeals to me, and I like that red interior.
Gotta go with the Saab. It’s got enough of a cult following one could probably find what you need to get it going again. And once you do, it might even be worth something.
The Isuzu, not so much on either account.
I had a ’73 Saab 96. Most parts aren’t that hard to find; sheet metal and glass is the hardest probably. Between Ashcraft (are they still around?), Skandix, and the various forums/clubs, you can find just about everything you need. Sure, it ain’t as easy as a ’69 Camaro, but it ain’t that bad.
Brake hardware has become difficult to find over the course of the last decade or so. Rebuild kits aren’t so bad but new master cylinders are now more or less not to be had anywhere on the planet and new front calipers aren’t easy to locate in stock even from the international specialty suppliers. For the earlier models, new parts for the front drum brakes are essentially mythical but this doesn’t affect the V4 cars.
Years ago I helped a friend convert a Sonnet(assume they are mechanically similar) to Mazda RX-7 hubs and brakes. Lack of braking power, parts and weird bolt pattern were the driver.
Easy choice, the Saab wins it. The Isuzu is like the red-headed mullet wearing 2nd cousin whos parents are 1st cousins. No thanks.
Going by your avatar, I would have guessed you would have used the same exact reasoning to say why the Isuzu wins.
It was a tough choice, I thought which one would be a better babe (escort) magnet.
Why don’t you just ask your cousin which one she prefers?
Old Divco milk trucks bring big money if they’re restorable.