Isuzu Forward: six generations of F-series trucks

The Isuzu Forward, also known as the Isuzu F-series, is a line of medium-to-heavy commercial vehicles that Isuzu has built since 1970. All F-series trucks are cab-over designs with cabs built complete in the factory, most use diesel engines and some markets get CNG versions, and the trucks are assembled from CKD kits in many countries as well as in Japan.

Isuzu Forward at a glance

based on one source (English Wikipedia)

History of the Isuzu Forward

Before the Forward

Isuzu released the four-tonne TY-series in May 1966, its first medium-duty truck. It was a semi-cabover with the D370 3.6-litre six-cylinder diesel of 100 PS, later replaced by the 4.0-litre D400 of 102 PS, and it came as TY20, TY30 and TY40 depending on chassis length, with 3.5-tonne models and an extra-long-wheelbase TY51 added later. A light facelift in March 1968 brought a new grille.

First and second generations

The first Forward, the TR, was launched in April 1970 with the 5.0-litre D500 diesel of 125 PS, raised to 130 PS in 1971. A facelift in September 1972 brought the SBR code and the 5.4-litre 6BB1 direct-injection engine of 145 PS, which went on to power many Isuzu trucks for decades. Bodies ranged from tractor units to tippers on wheelbases from 3.2 to 5.6 m, and the lighter short-cab versions continued as the Forward S until the Forward Juston replaced them in 1986. The second generation arrived in August 1975 with the same 6BB1 engine and was later joined by heavier J- and F-series versions with the 6BD1, 6BD1T and 6BF1 engines.

Third and fourth generations

The third generation came in June 1985 with a cab based on that of the Isuzu 810, and it was the first truck to win the Good Design Award. The FTR, FVR, FSR and FRR used naturally aspirated and turbocharged 6BG1 and 6HE1 engines with a six-speed manual or the NAVi6 six-speed automatic and optional ABS. The fourth generation followed in February 1994 with single-overhead-cam engines, the 6HE1 at first and then the 8.2-litre 6HH1 and 7.8-litre 6HK1-TC, paired with the six-speed manual or the Smoother F automatic, with power shift and hill start assist standard and ABS/ASR optional. From 1998 this generation was sold in the United States and Canada as the Chevrolet and GMC T-series, as the T6500, T7500 and T8500.

Later generations

The fifth generation was launched in May 2007 with 4H and 6H engines, and a 6×6 variant was shown at the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show in 2013; it reached North America for the 2018 model year and gained LED projector headlights and the FRR 210 Max Torque in Thailand for 2022. The sixth generation arrived in March 2023 and went on sale in August 2023 with powertrain updates for fuel efficiency rules; it shares its cab with the Elf but has different side fenders, and it introduced Isuzu’s first common architecture strategy, I-MACS.

Design and features

• Cab-over design: a complete factory cab on every F-series truck.
• Good Design Award: the 1985 generation was the first truck to win it.
• Wide range: from four-tonne FSR to ten-tonne FVZ and tractor units.
• Global assembly: built from CKD kits in many countries, including Chile and Peru.

Isuzu Forward versions

• TR (1970) and SBR (1972): the first two Forward ranges.
• Second generation (1975): SBR, JBR, JCR, JDR and FBR.
• Third generation (1985): FTR, FVR, FSR, FRR and FVZ.
• Fourth generation (1994): 6HH1 and 6HK1 engines, also sold as the Chevrolet and GMC T-series.
• Fifth generation (2007): 4H and 6H engines.
• Sixth generation (2023): I-MACS architecture and a cab shared with the Elf.

The Forward shares its cab family with the Elf and sits below the Giga, which replaced the 810. More trucks are in the Isuzu collection.

Video: Isuzu Forward 1986 commercial Japan

Video by rxd5 on YouTube.

Sources

• Isuzu Forward, English Wikipedia: generations, engines, models