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Junkyard Gem: 1990 Geo Storm GSi

General Motors created the Geo division in 1989, to sell rebadged Suzukis, Toyotas, and Isuzus in the United States. Most of these cars were snoresville econoboxes, but two Geo models got high-performance upgrades and GSi badging: the Prizm GSi (aka Toyota Corolla GT-S) and the Storm GSi (aka Isuzu Impulse). We saw a discarded Prizm GSi in this series last year, and now it's the Storm GSi's turn, with this '90 in a Phoenix self-service yard. The Storm GSi had a DOHC four-cylinder Isuzu engine making 130 horsepower, which was excellent for a 1990 car weighing a mere 2,392 pounds. The 2,174-pound 1990 Honda CRX Si had a mere 108 horsepower (and two seats), and it cost $11,130 versus the Storm GSi's just-slightly-higher $11,650 price tag. Of course, Isuzus never developed quite the reputation for reliability enjoyed by Hondas. This Isuzu notched up an impressive final mileage figure, though. The Storm sold for just the 1990 through 1993 model years, and the GSi still has a devoted following to this day. The interior is straight-up late-1980s-style Japanese-econobox stuff, with plenty of tough gray plastic. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Not long ago, Toyota and Honda were the last word in the world of sporty imports. But that was just the calm... before the Storm. Featured Gallery Junked 1990 Geo Storm GSi View 12 Photos Auto News Isuzu Automotive History Performance geo

Junkyard Gem: 1980 Chevrolet LUV Mikado

During the 1970s and into the 1980s, each member of the Detroit Big Three imported Japanese small pickups and sold them with Ford (Mazda Proceed), Dodge/Plymouth (Mitsubishi Forte), or Chevrolet (Isuzu Faster) badges here. Ford developed the Ranger and killed the Courier for 1983 (though Americans could still buy the Mazda-badged version all the way through 1993), while The General axed the LUV after the S-10 debuted in the 1982 model year. Isuzu sold the same truck as the P'up through 1987, though, and we might as well follow up our recent P'up Junkyard Gem with its LUV predecessor. LUV stood for Light Utility Vehicle, and I've managed to spot a handful in the boneyards over the years. This one now resides in a yard in northeastern Colorado. The Mikado trim package included striped seat upholstery and a sporty steering wheel, plus these cool dash badges. As far as I can tell, no LUV Mikado advertising featured any Gilbert and Sullivan tunes. This one is fairly rusty for Front Range Colorado, and it has endured a bed swap from some other small truck. The engine is the 75-horse Isuzu 1.8-liter. Members of this engine family went into everything from Chevy Chevettes to Isuzu Troopers in the United States. Very unusually for a small pickup during the Malaise Era, this one has a luxurious automatic transmission. Acceleration must have been a leisurely affair in this truck. Air conditioning? Unheard of! Someone stuck every one of their lunchtime apple stickers on the driver's door. After 41 years of work, this truck is done. Come on strong in a LUV of your own!

Porsche revives Pink Pig and Rothman's liveries for Le Mans

Long-time fans of Porsche, particularly its motorsports history, are in for a treat at this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. The company took two of its 911 RSR race cars and gave each of them a famous color scheme from the past. The designs are part of the company's 70th anniversary celebration. The first and most unusual paint scheme is a modern rendition of the "Pink Pig." The design was used on a Porsche 917/20 in 1971. Just like the original, it's finished in a pale shade of pink with dotted lines marking out sections of the car. Each of these sections has a label for a different cut of meat from a pig. The other livery isn't as strange, but it's no less recognizable. It features a blue, red and gold color scheme of tobacco company Rothmans. Rothmans was a sponsor of many racing Porsches over the years, and the colors appeared on everything from Le Mans racers to the Paris-Dakar 959. This version on the 911 RSR notably lacks any tobacco branding or advertising. The two 911s with the retro colors will be competing alongside 8 additional 911s with more modern liveries. They will compete in the GTE classes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.