Junkyard Find: A Rare 1982 Isuzu I-Mark Diesel Sedan Is Saved From Oblivion in Colorado

In the world of neglected classics, few machines are as overlooked as the early Isuzu I-Mark. Before the Japanese brand became synonymous with rugged commercial trucks in America, it tried its hand at passenger cars, and a rusting 1982 I-Mark Diesel sedan recently discovered in a northeastern Colorado salvage yard offers a rare glimpse into that forgotten chapter.

Isuzu’s American retail journey began in earnest for the 1981 model year. While a handful of Belletts had trickled into the country in the 1960s, the marque truly arrived through Chevrolet LUV pickups—badge-engineered Isuzus that predated GM’s own S-10. The I-Mark itself shared its T-platform bones with the Chevrolet Chevette, but it offered something the hatchback-only Chevy never did: a proper sedan body and, crucially, an optional naturally aspirated 1.8-liter diesel engine rated at just 51 horsepower and 72 lb-ft of torque.

This particular example, sold new at a Chevrolet-Isuzu dealership in Boulder, was clearly a budget-minded purchase. Its original MSRP of $7,405—roughly$26,305 in today’s money—didn’t include frivolous extras like a passenger-side mirror, air conditioning, or the factory radio. The first owner opted for an aftermarket Audiovox cassette deck instead, saving a few dollars. University of Colorado parking stickers hint that it served as a student’s ride before logging over 150,000 miles. Now, after decades of Colorado sun exposure, its seats and interior are shot, but its story survives—a fitting monument to a time when Isuzu still believed it could sell small cars to Americans.

By 1993, the brand had abandoned passenger vehicles entirely in the U.S., retreating to trucks and commercial vehicles. Finds like this are a reminder that the path not taken is often the most interesting one.