My 1968 Polynesian Blue Bellett

[2ldohc]

Well, I figured I could kick this section off with pics of my November 1968 Isuzu Bellett. It's a 1969 model with the flat tail lights and a genuine three owner car. Technically I'm the fourth but I'll explain.

This car was delivered to a doctor in the Adelaide hills in November 1968, with the first service in December 1968. Our doctor friend took great care of the little girl and as a result the interior is in great condition, if the carpet is a little used. The next owner was a 'collector' of vintage cars who let her sit for six months before selling her off again to a lovely couple in the hills as well.

Due to unfortunate circumstances the old girl sat in a barn for almost 10 years when Dave got wind of it and six months later (and a stack of phone calls) we secured the car.

Ironically enough Dave and I looked at buying this exact car in the mid 1990's but as it was a single owner car at that point the price was a bit over the top. Well we thought that $3k was a bit much

So far I have replaced the wheels as the original wheels/hubcaps were rusted out. The bumper bars were rusted and have been replaced with earlier model ones that we had lying around. The seats are now sports seats and I've updated the seat belts to inertia reel from the original lap only belts!

Sorry I haven't got better pics but after 3 months in my shed I only drove her for the first time tonight. I'll add further details to this story as I find time.

Cheers
Ross.

[antus]

Looks good. Do you have any future plans?

[dave]

You got the clutch working?!?!?!? Awesome!

[2ldohc]

How did I get the clutch working I hear you say?

Well, it turns out that moving the car around the yard by hand was too hard (it sank into the lawn) but using the starter motor to bunny hop around worked a treat and.... Bang! and the clutch started to work too...

Problem solved! Drove to the servo for fuel and back (fixed the headlights enroute) and everyone's happy

As for plans. Nothing much really. I've put the springs in the front and got it running so not really much else needed for now... Just to drive around for awhile and have a think about what I could do... Oh, and finish the stereo cause that will drive me nuts with out one

Cheers,
R

[dave]

awesome.

Still want to go to mine to get a box and clutch or not?

[hudson]

Great looking car! I like the wheels quite a bit.

Man, this site has gotten me all hot and bothered about Belletts again after getting over them for a while

Cheers,

Andrew

[2ldohc]

Thanks for the kind words Hudson!

I've just dug up some pics from the Nationals last year that I meant to post.

1968 Bellett at Nationals 2008.jpg (322.96 KiB) Viewed 25058 times

1968 Bellett at Nationals 2008 front.jpg (354.18 KiB) Viewed 25052 times

1968 Bellett at Nationals 2008 side.jpg (309.29 KiB) Viewed 25047 times

1968 Bellett at Nationals 2008 rear.jpg (299.34 KiB) Viewed 25035 times

I like this last pic because it shows the three styles of tail lights that we saw in Australia. The first model in the middle with the tear drop tail lights. The second model in the background with the hex lights and mine in the foreground with the flat lights...

She didn't scrub up too badly after driving 800+ km's in a day to be there, surviving dust, heat, a Corona that tired to kill us and a locust swarm that blocked the radiator! Just don't look too closely at the exhaust and all will be well

Cheers,
Ross.

[hudson]

Yeah it shined up well!

Has anyone done a center exit exhaust on one of these? Or is there a reason it can't be done / isn't practical?

I love the lines and proportions. Dead on in my opinion.

Cheers,

Andrew

[JT191]

The GT has a more centered exhaust. Not directly under the license plate, but a little to the left. It has a single inlet and dual outlet muffler, so it has two tail pipes. I had asked a question about the exact sizes in another thread.

The underside of all the cars with the independent rear suspension should be pretty much the same. Looking at the layout, the side exit on the Sedans, it would have to snake around behind the rear quarter panel, and this would appear to be less practical than the GT exhaust.



Perfectly centered might not clear the gas tank.

[hudson]

The GT has a more centered exhaust. Not directly under the license plate, but a little to the left. It has a single inlet and dual outlet muffler, so it has two tail pipes. I had asked a question about the exact sizes in another thread.

...

Perfectly centered might not clear the gas tank.

I don't know how I forgot about that. Brain must have been on holiday.

From your picture you'd have to make a custom gas tank to properly clear it.

Is that your car? The underside is nice and clean.. and that exhaust is brand spankin new!

[GTtoo]

Awsome specimen Ross !! Is this exhaust stainless steel, looks like it! Yeah, my original 65 GT had the twinpipes, the appature was tiny and so was the sound !! Too restrictive I reckon. The fat pipe I've got now is hardly original I know, but it seems to do the performance more justice, and blows an awsome note when you let it rip ! Got to get replacement seats. Those look comfy. Must look around for some. Got to get some pics up on this site so yus can check out my little beast.

Drove it this morning. Too hot !! The car handles it but not the driver!

Cheers, Bruno

[JT191]

I apologize. I think Hudson and I hijacked the thread.

The picture is from Eagle's website. It looks like their 1.8 liter Bellett exhaust system. I am not sure why they show a different exhaust for 1.8 than for others, but they do. I am not a fan of the rolled body of the resonator or the butt joints of the rear muffler, but it looks like it will probably outlive the car and all of the rest of us combined.

That probably is the shade of blue metallic paint I have been trying to find the paint code for...

[2ldohc]

Thanks for the apology JT but none needed. I'm happy for a little wandering off topic.

Here's another pic of the car in it's current guise back to 99% originality with hubbies and original seat back in. Only the bumper bars are incorrect from factory (they are early model ones with the over rider holes in the wrong spot).

A big thanks to Dave for lending me the Deluxe hub caps and only mildly threatening to kill me if I loose one.

Cheers,
R.