Isuzu Unicab

I’ll begin with the obvious: what beautiful promotional photos and ads! What a cute ute!

There's something about how Isuzu depicted its Unicab that I really enjoy. Here, a few great shots of it out in (presumably) the wilderness, and some nice photographic illustrations go a long way.

Actors are present, enjoying both recreational and work activities in the Unicab — of course Isuzu includes an illustration of the truck’s frame, but don't these ads make you think that this plastic door'd utility would be great for an evening out?

Fold up the windshield before heading to dinner, ya?

First shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1966 and going on sale in mid-1967, the Unicab is very much in the same vein of something like the Fiat 127 Cavalletta or Citroën Mehari — which the Unicab beat to market by a year. Isuzu was ahead of its time on this one, and one of the first manufacturers to release a truly small, city-sized, rear-drive, soft-ish roader.

Unlike those European trucklets, two, four, and eight seat Unicab models were available and was created from the outset to walk the line between leisurepony and workhorse.