Eeerrr. Just bought this...

[nigel bickle]

 

which will go nicely with this

 

 

Just got to get it home now....

[RedSparrow]

What is it?

 

I know the red one is a Bellett.

[nigel bickle]

Isuzu Bellel

[scooters]

"GAZE UPON HIS WORKS PATHETIC MORTALS AND DESPAIR!"

 

ordered for your headstone, Nige

 

sorry I meant the monument made from the hubcaps of 1960's Fiats!

 

a god among us!

[KruJoe]

Wowee! A rare thing indeed. Top score. We're guessing it's still in CA?

 

I've only ever seen one other, it was near Bangkok a few years back:

 

 

 

[dollywobbler]

Mega obscure! What an odd looking thing.

[nigel bickle]

Tis indeed obscure -I've been looking for one for years.

 

Its in a right parlous state -and hasnt been used for at least 15 years -but its relatively rust free (by UK standards) -California car prev owned by a DMV mechanic. Bought by an enthusiast (the duffer in a pair) as he's a Bellel enthusiast. He reckons its beyond him, but was used as reference to restore his ''good '' one. So I know its relatively complete -but it looks a total mess.

 

Oh -and its an (original) diesel! Seems Isuzu put a few 1900 dervs in some of their cars- prob for use as taxi's? Engine condition totally unknown -except that some plugs seem snapped off and sealed with 'goo' eons back. If its resusitable -I'll give it a good crack. Lance, the owner, who's been really helpful & says its very similar to some recent Isuzu commercial ops -so there's some hope..

 

Its going to be expensive to get back -200+ miles from the nearest Port, then containering it sadly -but needs must.

 

A Bellel & a a Bellet -cant get much better.

[CIH]

Nigel Bickle. The Hero. The Legend.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

This is beyond epicness and well into divinity territory.

 

Do you have any idea as to how many had been made?

[DSdriver]

Have you just bought both of them? In which case I suggest you should get one running and A bar the other across America on the old Route 66. Selling the film/tv rights should pay for the cars and the trip. The rest of us can sign up as camera crew/roadies. Stand by at the editing suite Mr Watanabe... incoming!

[nigel bickle]

No-I already own the Bellet -imported from Oz.Thats it being loaded onto my dolly at Southampton docks. I've the Motor show 117 too, so it'll make a fun trio.

[Lord Sterling]

Wow Nigel, great purchase what a hero! How did manage to come across that?

 

It might be expensive, but I reckon its well worth it seeing as you've been looking for one forever, once its all cleaned up and running right you'll forget the costs/time and admire it for what it is.

[Father Ted]

I have to ask this...

 

Are you immortal?

 

Only HOW THE HELL do you anticipate restoring all those cars of yours before the end of time itself?

[DSdriver]

I have just checked on the interweb and your's is an earlier model than KruJoe's spot, cos it has extra driving lights under the headlamps. It looks as though it has had a vinyl roof at some point.

The 117 is a thing of beauty, Isuzu must have realised that their own design ideas were not well received by western buyers and farmed out the design to the Italians. However the eccentricity of the Bellell and Bellett and other Jap designs such as the Crown Custom (which I have always liked), if compared today with (for instance) the Mk 1 Cortina and it's back lights which we now don't see too many of, don't look too different. (probably not making myself clear here)

[nigel bickle]

Its the first time I've ever broken my own rule -that (if forced) its sale value at any time would at least broadly equal expenditure to-date.

 

I've bought (Ebay item 300643613636 if you want to look it up) a pile of poo thats going to cost a mint to get home.

 

Please dont tell the wife!

[Mash]

Fabulous!! Don't show Michiel, he'll have a coronary!!

[carlo]

My god Nigel, one of my dream machines! These are so obscure I can't even find any decent photos of them online, now an autoshiter has bought one!

Fantastic rear end on them.

 

Would love to see some pics of this when it lands, and the 117 Coupw which I forgot you had as well.

[wuvvum]

Wow, I do like that. Has a touch of Pug 404 about the front end, but the back looks like nothing else. And it's a diesel too. Superb purchase sir.

[michiel]

Fabulous!! Don't show Michiel, he'll have a coronary!!

 

RIP Michiel, 09-11-1974 - 01-09-2012.

[michiel]

What a hero. Unstoppable. Bellegend.

 

If I still had the Florian I would consider donating it to the Bickle Museum of Automotive Rarities.

 

Bellel was the first Japanese car sold here afaik, the Diesel was popular with taxi drivers:

 

 

 

Several importers were involved, spares were a bit of a problem... one winter they even had to strip cars waiting to be sold to keep the others on the road.

 

I've got a pretty comprehensive 'drivers instruction manual' in English, if you want it it's yours! Just PM the address.

 

Some scans & press shots here:

 

http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=63765723@N00&q=bellel

[worldofceri]

Amazing. Best tail lights I've seen in a long time.

[quicksilver]

Bellett? Bellel? All you need now to complete the set is the Isuzu Bellend

Well done for buying yet another car very few people have heard of - you're the king of the obscure!!

[sporty-shite]

[gtd2000]

Bellett? Bellel? All you need now to complete the set is the Isuzu Bellend

Well done for buying yet another car very few people have heard of - you're the king of the obscure!!

 

Beat me to it!

[nigel bickle]

Michiel -an entire flikr page of Bellel stuff! Unbelievable. I've just trawled the entire Ebay world & come up with less info than you hold.

 

I've pm'd my details -yes please! If you come across ANYTHING relevant -please shout! Hard!

 

Ta mate

[lovejoy]

Bell-E Bellee good Nigel ! out here in Johnny-Depp-land, when we have a coke minus the rum, it's often referred to as

"Bell-y- wash "

I do hope you use it to clean em all up.... oh, and congrats for pushing the boundaries, again. Legendary autoshitist.

[Cavcraft]

Bloody hell Nigel, that's some serious shite buying there. Absolutely top drawer stuff, very impressed.

 

 

Here's the link (for the rest of us) that you posted the number to:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300643613636? ... 3D1&_rdc=1

[Vin]

Wowsers. This is certainly Autoshite of the highest GRADE A Quality.

 

I saw this over on 'Just a car geek' - http://www.justacargeek.com/2011/12/196 ... ellel.html

 

I never thought it would be making it's way to the Bickle collection. But then I shouldn't be surprised at all really...

 

EPIC WORK

[Taff]

top buy! and as for obscure, that makes my hunt for parts seem positively straightforward!

 

not trying to teach you to suck eggs in any way, shape or foem, but who are you using for shipping? I have used Rybec ans Kinsgtown before, both are reliable and can arrange US-based transport on your behalf fella

[Guest]

Nice one Nigel another one to add to the Isuzu collection, hope your back is a little better now so you can work on all these obscure beasts!