I've got a Holden Gemini panelvan; 1978-build (June actually, just like me!).
It's not technically an Isuzu; as locals will know the cars were sold by Holden in Holden dealerships and were not only badged as Holdens, but were built at Holden's Acacia Ridge plant in Queensland using local and imported parts.
They're a real bitsa.... the engine was built in Japan by Isuzu and still has Isuzu on the rocker cover. Isuzu's MSG-type 5-speed manual was built in the Phillipines. The TD-model-onwards had a Salisbury-type differential and rear axle that was made locally.
I'm yet to determine if the front panels were stamped locally or if they were imported, but i'm fairly certain the actual floorpans were stamped locally, as it was noted in a book I saw once that the TE-model-onwards Diesel version had a fully imported floorpan - that would make the petrol items locally stamped I reckon!
With the van and wagon, things get weird; as far as I can determine, the doors and rear panels came from Opel in Germany, while the plastic panels covering the blanked-out windows came from the Bedford Chevanne from the UK!
My particular item has been fitted with a G200Z motor, however since then it's not really been delivering the goods (so to speak) and while I was racing it at Mallala, it died in the arse (that's Australian for 'stopped working').
So it's laid up at the moment. It's got a bit of rust that needs to be tackled. I've been recommended to fit a 4ZE1 motor to it, so maybe I will!
- Mallala - Gemini, Sarah & Adam waiting in pits.JPG (94.16 KiB) Viewed 13744 times
- Gemini at Lonsdale Train Station 02.JPG (74.95 KiB) Viewed 13740 times
