Isuzu Florian
Encyclopedia
The Isuzu Florian was an intermediate car
manufactured by Isuzu Motors Ltd.
in Japan
from 1967 to 1983. The Florian's body remained essentially the same through its unusually long life cycle, being afforded only two moderate facelifts. Isuzu Florian is closely related to the Isuzu 117 Coupe
, with which it shares the complete chassis
.
The Florian was originally available as a 4-door sedan and a 4-door station wagon
(the latter was later dropped). The Florian replaced the Isuzu Bellel
and was in turn replaced by the Isuzu Aska
(originally marketed as the "Florian Aska") in the Isuzu lineup. There were only 145,836 Florians produced during the 15 years of the model's existence. The Florian was only sold in limited markets across the globe as Isuzu's passenger products were, for the most part, not sold through General Motors
' channels.
However the pickup
derivative, the Isuzu Faster, was widely exported using Isuzu's relationship with General Motors
and enjoyed a considerably greater market penetration than the sedan. The pickup was sold in North America as the Chevrolet LUV
, in Europe as the Bedford
KB and in Australia, through Holden
dealerships as both the Chevrolet LUV
and later as the Isuzu KB.
, but rather after the fictional Lipizzan
white horse belonging to the Emperor of Austria, which is the focal character of Felix Salten's
(the author of Bambi
) 1934 novel, "Florian - the Emperor's Stallion". In 1940, a movie based on the book was released, entitled simply Florian.
Mid-size car
A mid-size car is the North American/Australian standard for an automobile with a size equal to or greater than that of a compact...
manufactured by Isuzu Motors Ltd.
Isuzu
, is a Japanese car, commercial vehicle and heavy truck manufacturing company, headquartered in Tokyo. In 2005, Isuzu became the world's largest manufacturer of medium to heavy duty trucks. It has assembly and manufacturing plants in the Japanese city of Fujisawa, as well as in the prefectures...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
from 1967 to 1983. The Florian's body remained essentially the same through its unusually long life cycle, being afforded only two moderate facelifts. Isuzu Florian is closely related to the Isuzu 117 Coupe
Isuzu 117 Coupe
The Isuzu 117 Coupé was a mid-sized Gran Turismo type 2-door fastback coupe manufactured by Isuzu Motors Ltd. in Japan from 1968 to 1981. The 117 was a codename for a common development program of Isuzu mid-size cars, involving a coupé, sedan and station wagon...
, with which it shares the complete chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
.
The Florian was originally available as a 4-door sedan and a 4-door station wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
(the latter was later dropped). The Florian replaced the Isuzu Bellel
Isuzu Bellel
The Isuzu Bellel was an intermediate car manufactured by Isuzu Motors Ltd. in Japan from 1961 to 1966. It was the company's first independent design, and also Japan's first passenger car with a diesel engine. It was available as a 4-door sedan and a 4-door station wagon, called the Bellel Express...
and was in turn replaced by the Isuzu Aska
Isuzu Aska
The original Aska was developed as a part of GM's J-car program and was a welcome replacement for Isuzu's sorely dated Florian. Contrary to fellow J-cars from other GM divisions, the Aska only came in one body style, a 4-door sedan...
(originally marketed as the "Florian Aska") in the Isuzu lineup. There were only 145,836 Florians produced during the 15 years of the model's existence. The Florian was only sold in limited markets across the globe as Isuzu's passenger products were, for the most part, not sold through General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
' channels.
However the pickup
Pickup truck
A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...
derivative, the Isuzu Faster, was widely exported using Isuzu's relationship with General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
and enjoyed a considerably greater market penetration than the sedan. The pickup was sold in North America as the Chevrolet LUV
Chevrolet LUV
The Chevrolet LUV is a pickup truck marketed in the Americas since 1972 by Chevrolet, a division of General Motors . All generations of the LUV pickup have been Japanese Isuzu designs...
, in Europe as the Bedford
Bedford Vehicles
Bedford Vehicles, usually shortened to just Bedford, was a subsidiary of Vauxhall Motors, itself the British subsidiary of General Motors , established in 1930; and constructing commercial vehicles. Bedford Vehicles was a leading international truck manufacturer, with substantial export sales of...
KB and in Australia, through Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
dealerships as both the Chevrolet LUV
Chevrolet LUV
The Chevrolet LUV is a pickup truck marketed in the Americas since 1972 by Chevrolet, a division of General Motors . All generations of the LUV pickup have been Japanese Isuzu designs...
and later as the Isuzu KB.
| Sales (Japanese domestic market) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | ? | 1973 | 5,055 | 1979 | 3,080 |
| 1968 | ? | 1974 | 2,780 | 1980 | ? |
| 1969 | ? | 1975 | 1,442 | 1981 | 490 |
| 1970 | 9,486 | 1976 | 763 | 1982 | ? |
| 1971 | 6,977 | 1977 | 1,571 | 1983 | ? |
| 1972 | 6,931 | 1978 | 6,195 | ||
Origins of the name
The Florian was not named after Saint FlorianSaint Florian
Florian lived in the time of the Roman emperors Diocletian and Maximian, and was commander of the imperial army in the Roman province of Noricum. In addition to his military duties, he was also responsible for organizing firefighting brigades....
, but rather after the fictional Lipizzan
Lipizzan
The Lipizzan or Lipizzaner , is a breed of horse closely associated with the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, Austria, where the finest representatives demonstrate the haute école or "high school" movements of classical dressage, including the highly controlled, stylized jumps and other movements...
white horse belonging to the Emperor of Austria, which is the focal character of Felix Salten's
Felix Salten
Felix Salten was an Austrian author and critic in Vienna. His most famous work is Bambi .-Life:...
(the author of Bambi
Bambi
Bambi is a 1942 American animated film directed by David Hand , produced by Walt Disney and based on the book Bambi, A Life in the Woods by Austrian author Felix Salten...
) 1934 novel, "Florian - the Emperor's Stallion". In 1940, a movie based on the book was released, entitled simply Florian.