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While some modified Jeeps seem to want to kill you, the Isuzu Amigo will be your off-road friend.
The Amigo is a small, capable, slow, and gritty SUV with a four-cylinder engine, four-wheel drive, and two-speed gearbox.
This is a reservation.
Sold in the U. S. Starting in the U. S. starting in 1989, the Isuzu Amigo was meant to be their companion, a small, large, three-door stray dog with a retractable canvas rear roof to make the most of sunny days on the trails.
This brightly colored 1994 Amigo with cute ’90s graphics is like an Easter basket waiting to be filled with camping gear. It’s being auctioned off at Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is from Hearst Autos).
The Amipass went by other names around the world and was necessarily a two-door edition of the four-door Isuzu Rodeo SUV. (By the way, the Rodeo carried the perfect “Isuzu Mystery Utility Wizard” nameplate in its home market of Japan. . ) The Amipass was touted as the Rodeo’s fun little brother, the best for the Californian lifestyle of walking on the beaches, etc. Isuzu even went so far as to make a parody of Slinky’s advertising jingle to point out that the Amipass can simply go up the stairs, alone or in pairs, and it was a laugh for a woman and a child.
This example comes with a 2. 6-liter four-cylinder engine, which developed a modest 120 horsepower but had plenty of torque. The gearbox is a five-speed manual and the part-time four-wheel-drive formula includes a low-range motion gearbox. The total indexed mileage is only 59,000 miles, and the state happens to back it up. There are a few dents here and there, but the interior especially is in good condition. The Amigo didn’t have a lot of extra features when it was new. So it’s fantastic to see that this one comes with air conditioning and a cassette player.
The recent mechanical refresh includes service for the fuel injectors and new spark plugs and ignition wires. There is no note related to the manufacture of the timing belt, which is probably on your to-do list for peace of mind.
Once this is sorted out, this little Isuzu will be in a position to be your Amigo adventure for next summer. It’s a shame that rugged but small SUVs seem to be a fad that has faded over the years. Head over to Bring a Trailer to step back to a time when 4-wheelers were more fun than giant tires and tactical-style bumpers.
Ends April 3.
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