LATEST NEWS
- 2009 Events - UPDATE
- 30th Anniversary of Asso di Fiori!
- Wonderful 1:43 diecast Piazza models! UPDATED!
- Parts Update!
- Piazzas on the WorldWideWeb!
- Exposure!
2009 EVENTS - UPDATE
This year's JAPS car show was attended by IPTOC despite conflicting weather forecasts. Four HBL cars made it in the end and, once the torrential rain around midday had been and gone, the afternoon ended up with us flying the Isuzu flag (quite literally!) in scorching hot sunshine!!
Report and pictures to follow shortly.
ASSO DI FIORI ANNIVERSARY!
It's the 30th anniversary of the unveiling of the Asso di Fiori (Ace of Clubs) concept car at the Geneva Motor Show which later became the Isuzu Piazza and Impulse JR.
It would be great for 2009 to be the year where we managed to trace as many more of the still "hidden" Piazzas as possible. So, to offer an incentive to all you shy Piazza lovers, please email iptoc@hotmail.com with "Hide and Seek!" as the email title, and state your car registration number and a contact telephone number - once I've verified that you and your car are NEW to IPTOC, I will be in touch to offer you a free IPTOC pen, plus a voucher to use against parts purchases to keep your beloved Piazza on the road!!
We still only know of the definite existence of about A QUARTER of the Piazzas remaining in the UK, and it is imperative that we find as many as possible so that we can assist in any way possible in keeping these cracking cars on the road!!!
If you're not a Piazza owner, but know where there is one hiding, again - PLEASE email in with the whereabouts (and if possible contact details of the owner).
Equally, anyone who has a "spares" car or who has in the past broken a car for spares - if you have the registration and/or VIN numbers I would be grateful for them so that I can score them off the original 1662 official imports.
WONDERFUL 1:43 DIECAST PIAZZA MODELS!
Some have you may have seen some diecast models by Norev recently, listed on eBay for anywhere between £40 and £50 EACH plus postage and packing!!
However, IPTOC have stumbled across a brilliant and reasonably priced source for these beautifully detailed model cars - have a look at http://www.minicapopo.jp/product-group/50
to get an idea of the appearance of the models and the prices in Japanese Yen.
Then simply email the wonderful Junya at info@minicapopo.jp and he will quote you an all-in price for the model(s) you require.
I ordered a full set of the currently available Piazza ones, and they were delivered within a week!!
AMAZINGLY DETAILED MODELS AT PRICES MUCH BELOW THOSE ON eBAY!!
PARTS UPDATE!!
IPTOC has just bought a new consignment of hard-to-get parts, but it's strictly first come, first served on these limited items.
Isuzu Japan have now seen fit to DELETE vital items (such as steering rack mounting bushes, most suspension bushes, hydraulic repair kits etc.), therefore these parts are NO LONGER AVAILABLE from anywhere except IPTOC.
Latest details and prices on the PARTS page.
Please note, some price increases have been necessary due to costs incurred as a result of the recent increase in the value of the US dollar.
Please PLEASE continue to support IPTOC when purchasing new or used parts for your Piazza or Impulse as, without this, things like the website, further purchases of rare parts (as per above) and keeping all technical information up to date would not be sustainable unless we were to start charging a membership fee.
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PIAZZAS ON THE WORLDWIDEWEB!
Being a bit of a sad git, I like to try and keep abreast of anything Piazza that's going on in the world, and have found these little snippets on the internet that may amuse some of you just as much as they have me!!
Firstly, the Internet Movie Cars Database has been updated, showing details of various films featuring Isuzu Impulses (the US version of the Piazza) - take a look here:
Secondly, have a squint at these movie clips on YouTube, they're pretty damn good!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rqcpdPBz4M
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyH4dHg7Dpc
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaP7B8a35_s
and an original Japanese advert nestles about 2 minutes 30 seconds into this interesting (ahem) collection of Japanese TV ads!
If anyone has any idea who owns these films or the copyright, please drop me a line as I would like to have MPEG copies for when YouTube and Piazzas are nothing but distant memories!!!
EXPOSURE!!
ISUZU PIAZZA TURBO features in PRACTICAL CLASSICS!!
Yes, Practical Classics have finally recognised the Piazza as the future classic that it is and, with assistance from IPTOC and the use of Brian Hester's car, put together a Buyers' Guide which featured in the issue published in April 2007.
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