Submitted by Paul Kramer

WHAT IS IT?

1987 was the final year of the first generation Impulse named the JR.  Other countries called it the Piazza.  Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign, it was initially shown to the public at the 1979 Tokyo Motor Show and was called the “Ace of Clubs.”  Giugiaro had designed the MkI Sirocco and many rumors suggested he had also designed the MkII Sirocco.  However, a major disagreement between Volkswagen Group and Italdesign ended their partnership.  Giugiaro was focused on getting his “Ace of Clubs” design to production before VW.  He beat them by 1 year.  The Impulse was launched to the public as a 1980 model year, while the MkII Sirocco was a year later.

Giugiaro’s design was what Isuzu’s new partner, General Motors, was looking for.  Based on the T-Car architecture platform that the Chevrolet Chevette was based on, this would be efficient in the manufacturing process. It would give GM and Isuzu a sporty coupe to compete in the growing “hot hatch” market.  The Impulse was originally designed for front wheel drive and the T-Car platform was rear wheel drive.  This resulted in an extended body beyond the front wheels.  Comparing side profiles of a Sirocco and Impulse, the silhouette is remarkably similar.

The RS was a special limited production of 1,800 units for the 1987 model year.  They only came in one color combination and were equipped with the 4ZC1 2.0L turbo charged and intercooled engine as well as rear wheel drive, limited slip, and a 5-speed manual transmission.  With its cast iron block, aluminum heads, and Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection system (called I-TEC for Isuzu Total Electronic Control), it produced 140hp in a 2,800lb body.  The RS Turbo also came with a rear spoiler, pewter colored bumpers, adjustable bolster seats, white powder-coated alloy wheels, upgraded suspension springs, and front and rear sway bars.

The MSRP was around $15,000, which is around $41,000 in today’s money.

WHY THIS ONE HAS BEST ONE ON THE PLANET CHOPS

This example lived the majority of its life in Houghton, Michigan near the coast of Lake Superior.  The primary owner was a teacher at a local community college.  She didn’t drive it in bad winter months and her husband did the majority of service on it.  In fact, he ended up hoarding several complete cars and a garage full of parts as he didn’t trust the local dealership and feared the cars would be hard to find parts for (he wasn’t wrong).  In 2019, about 10 years after he passed away, the wife sold the car to a NorCal Impulse enthusiast who was just looking for a transmission.  The car had a major service and he cleaned it up before selling it to me.

This Impulse has 72,000 miles from new and wears most of its original paint.  The interior is all original except the new headliner I installed shortly after purchasing it.  Everything works including the graphic equalizer, cold A/C, and cruise control.  Over the past 5 years/5,000 miles, I’ve invested another $5k in services to further improve and preserve this RS Turbo.

I’ve driven it up Angeles Crest several times and even taken it on a couple 1 day vintage car rallies.  It won Best in Class at the Japanese Classic Car Show (JCCS) and was a feature in Hagerty’s video series “The Next Big Thing” with Magnus Walker (watch that video HERE).

THE VERDICT

Delivered by Juror Rob Sass: What is particularly astonishing about this car is although it currently resides in California, it lived its entire life in Michigan. Clearly it was never winter driven, but it was also loved by its college instructor original owner. It’s not a pickled example, having clocked 72,000 miles. You could easily subtract a zero from that and it would be believable. Totally rad red velour, the plastics, even the stereo with graphic equalizer are in a perfect state of preservation. This one is unquestionably the best of the best. In full disclosure, this car is owned by Judge Paul Kramer. Paul took no part in the voting on the car.