Isuzu Gemini: from Opel Kadett to Honda Domani

The Isuzu Gemini is a subcompact car that Isuzu built from 1974 until 2000. The same basic product was built and sold under several other names around the world, sometimes by General Motors brands; the first generation was rear-wheel drive and later versions front-wheel drive, while the last two generations were no more than badge-engineered Honda Domanis.

Isuzu Gemini at a glance

based on one source (English Wikipedia)

History of the Isuzu Gemini

First generation (1974–1987)

The first Gemini was introduced in November 1974 as the Bellett Gemini, to link it with its predecessor, and the Bellett part of the name was dropped in April 1975. It was based on the third-generation Opel Kadett C on the General Motors T-car platform and came as a four-door sedan and a two-door coupé. A light facelift in June 1977 brought a honeycomb grille and the 1,817 cc G180 engine from the Florian and 117 Coupé with 110 PS, rectangular headlights and larger black bumpers; the 1800 came as LT and LS, and the coupé-only LS/G added high-pressure headlight washers, a first for a Japanese car. Late in 1977 the 1600 gained square headlights and the I·CAS oxidation catalyst that met the 1978 emission rules, and in 1978 came the Black and two-tone 1800 Minx.

ZZ and the diesel

A new slant nose with rectangular headlights and a redesigned rear appeared in June 1979, together with a longer engine bay for the twin-cam G180W and the new 4FB1 diesel that arrived in November. The Japanese sports models carried the ZZ name, and the ZZ/L of 1980, ZZ/R of 1981 and later ZZ/T and ZZ/E used the G180W eight-valve twin-cam 1.8, usually fuel injected, with 130 PS, a short-throw gear lever and optional factory limited-slip differential. In October 1982 a Bosch VE fuel-injected diesel of 66 PS was added, followed a month later by a 73 PS turbodiesel with a standard rear anti-roll bar; neither of the more powerful diesels was offered with the coupé body.

Overseas and the end

In North America the car was first sold as the Opel by Isuzu and then the Buick Opel, replacing the German-built Kadett that had become too expensive; 18,801 were sold for 1978 and 17,564 for 1979, with another 950 in 1980. For 1981 the Buick Opel became the Isuzu I-Mark, available with a 78 hp 1.8-litre petrol engine or a 51 hp diesel. The Gemini was joined in 1981 by the Giugiaro-designed Piazza coupé on its platform, sold in America as the Impulse and in Australia as the Holden Piazza. After the front-wheel-drive second generation appeared in 1985 the rear-wheel-drive car continued as a slimmer sedan range until February 1987, by which time 768,537 had been built. The name lasted until 2000, the last two generations being rebadged Honda Domanis.

Design and features

• GM T-car: the first Gemini was an Opel Kadett C underneath.
• ZZ sports models: twin-cam 1.8 with 130 PS and optional limited-slip differential.
• Early electronic diesels: fuel-injected and turbocharged oil engines from 1982.
• Long life: the name ran for 26 years over several unrelated cars.

Isuzu Gemini versions

• Bellett Gemini (1974–1975): the original name of the first generation.
• 1800 LT and LS (1977): larger engine with rectangular headlights.
• LS/G: sports coupé with five-speed gearbox and headlight washers.
• ZZ series (1980–): twin-cam Japanese sports models.
• I-Mark (1981): the American version with petrol or diesel power.
• Later generations: front-wheel drive from 1985, Honda Domani rebadges from the 1990s.

The Gemini’s coupé relative was the Piazza, and its predecessor was the Bellett; the saloon line later passed to the Aska. More models are in the Isuzu collection.

Video: 80s ISUZU GEMINI TV advertisement (Dancing in Paris)

Video by Edmond Siu on YouTube.

Sources

• Isuzu Gemini, English Wikipedia: generations, engines, export names