Chevrolet LUV

Chevrolet LUV

Isuzu D-Max

The Chevrolet LUV ( LUV = Light Utility Vehicle) was a pickup truck, which was based on the Isuzu Faster. The sale began in the U.S. in March 1972 in response to the Toyota Hilux, the pickup of Datsun and the products manufactured by Mazda Ford Courier. In Australia, the model was offered, but marketed from 1977 as the Isuzu KB and 1980 replaced by the Holden Rodeo. In Egypt, the car was also offered as a Chevrolet T-Series. From 1983, the Chevrolet LUV replaced S10.

The LUV has a conventional truck chassis with ladder frame, leaf springs and driven rigid axle rear. Front wheels were individually suspended on A- arms. Like its competitors had the LUV a wheelbase of 2601 mm and a platform length of 1829 mm. The only available power source was 1.8 liter four- cylinder engine with an overhead camshaft ( SOHC), who developed an output of 75 bhp (55 kW).

In 1974 the exterior of the LUV was slightly revised, but the first facelift came only in 1976. This year there was a three-speed automatic and front disc brakes. Starting in 1977, there were engines with up to 80 bhp (59 kW) and sales rose. 1978 there was a further revision of the external appearance and a flatbed with 2,286 mm length, the wheelbase increased to 2995 mm. This year 71 145 LUV were sold.

For the available all-wheel drive version from 1979 was also interested the Motor Trend magazine and made the LUV for the second truck of the year. The sales figures reached their highest level at 100 192 pieces.

In 1981 the pickup was redesigned again, with the wheelbase by 1.9 " rose to 2626 mm. The petrol engine hitherto offered was still available, but there was also a diesel engine of Isuzu with 58 bhp (43 kW) at 4300 min-1 and a torque of 125 Nm at 2200 min -1. This new engine gave the LUV with a rear-wheel drive fuel consumption of 8.7 l/100 km in the city and 6.5 l/100 km on the highway, which made him one of the most fuel efficient ever built pickups. This machine is also known for their reliability; many of the pickups reached 800,000 kilometers before a major renovation was necessary. Chevrolet introduced a sale of the LUV in 1983 in favor of the new model S10.

Production in South America as the Chevrolet LUV

The Isuzu Pickup Isuzu Faster was assembled from 1980 to October 2005 in Chile from Japanese CKD records in the Chevrolet plant in Arica. First versions K- 26 and K -28 were manufactured. In 1988, the Isuzu TF from 40 % locally manufactured parts assembled and exported successfully from 1993 to Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia and Venezuela. In total, more than 220,000 units were produced.

From the end of 1980, the cars were built in Bogotá in Colombia of Colmotores. This meant that the pickup was introduced in the Colombian market, with 1.6 -liter four- cylinder in-line engine with 80 bhp (59 kW) and 1 ton payload.

Thai Rung Union Car supplied in 1999 in Thailand body parts of their Grand Adventure- model to the Chevrolet plant in Arica to leave it there finished the LUV wagon and the Grand LUV, but what happened with little success.

Criticisms

The LUV have had a reliable and well-functioning drive train ( if they had even a little underpowered ), but there were serious problems with the rust. In the last years of production were found in almost half of the imported by sea from South America to the United States LUV already on arrival by salt water exposure rusted frame. It is not uncommon that a lot of frozen LUV while there is a well-functioning powertrain, but his frame is broken by the action of rust.

Today

2005 Isuzu D-Max replaced in all markets the LUV models. However, the name LUV is still used for a version of Isuzu D-Max. Recently, the Iraqi government has bought some LUV along with various other vehicles for use at the local and state police.

182075
de