This is Leith.....handle is "numbnuts"

[numbnuts]

I live in Auckland and have been driving Belletts since I was a teenager, as my Dad had two of them when I was young. He had a 66 and a 67. I bought my first one when I was 18 and have never looked back really. Belletts are not like other cars, I mean I drive many new cars at work, and honestly, I cant wait to jump in the Bellett and drive a real car home. Anyway there used to be quite a few Belletts around NZ but in the last five years I never see another one cruising. I have two 1970 sedans. One is a white one which I use as my daily driver and the second one is a red one which is one lady owner and only 29,000 miles. So I only use that now and then.
Anyway its so good to see so many blokes enjoying their Belletts, I love reading all the entries on this site, its wonderful.

[dave]

Dude I love that red machine!

We didn't really get many 1970-model jobbies here; I think there's probably about 5 or so of them here, if that (at a guess).

Welcome to the site! Stay in touch!

[redback]

Hey Numbnuts,

Welcome aboard.

Nice straight cars you have there - awesome.

You would almost still have the Factory Warranty on the 29,000 mile sedan hey?

Neil

[Barney]

Welcome!

Good to see more New Zealand folk finding the site. There is a classic jap and oldschool meet in Auckland on the 17th of this month, you should try an make it along so I can have a look!

Details can be found here: http://oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=16137

[PR91]

Gday Leith.
Brett here.
Good to see you found us mate!!
I was starting to worry that you might have fallen off the planet, as I haven't had any emails for a while.
The laughs were great!!

Welcome aboard. You'll have a good time here too.

Cheers.

[numbnuts]

Thanks fellas, its good to be here too. I am really enjoying this site, and I feel better knowing other blokes have got the same disease as me...The Bellett Disease!!! There is no cure!

[numbnuts]

In case anyone wants to know, Belletts were assembled here in NZ at a plant in Thames called "Campbell Industries" I think they made exhausts before that. The first one rolled off the line on the 17th of February 1967 and the last one was on 23rd February 1971.
Around 1400 were assembled here CKD and 50 were brought in CBU. The first Bellett CBU shipment arrived on 12th July 1967 and the last CBU shipment arrived on 22nd October 1970 in Wellington.
All were sedans except one GT, which arrived CBU on the first shipment on 12th July 1967. Unfortunately I havent been able to trace this car.
There were a few 1966 and possibly some 1965 models brought in by Moller Motors (The importers here in NZ) as test cars but I havent seen any, only in photos.
Mollers stopped importing Belletts because the total Isuzu franchise went to General Motors (What a bummer!!) Otherwise we would have had them until 1974!!!

[Antti Pellonpää]

If I guess right, you are Leith Wilkie..? Great to hear from you after all these years. How is your Isuzu Bellett Car Club doing nowadays? And where are all the convertibles you made??? I have a lot of photos from your burnouts in my photo album.

About a year ago I bought one 2-liter twincam from New Zealand. And maybe this year I´ll buy a 16 valve twincam from there. Even I don´t really know what I´ll do with it..

[numbnuts]

Hi Antti, yes mate its me, but I`m afraid all the dudes that I knew who had Belletts have given up the faith, only me left here now Buddy. Yes I still have your pics too mate, thanks for them. I lost track of the two convertables I made. Anyway its great that we are all together on this site now, true Bellett deviants!!!
See you mate.