Isuzus a feature of Japanese Vehicle display.

Isuzus have claimed much of Brett Wild’s attention and time over the last three decades.

Three of his Isuzus – a 1965 Wasp, a 1968 Bellett 1600 GT and a 1969 Bellett Deluxe Sedan – are on show as part of our current Japanese Vehicles exhibit. The Wasp is one of 122 from the only shipment ever imported to Australia, in 1965, with approximately 10 or 12 still in existence.

“They are basically unknown in Japan as very few were sold there too. Even Isuzu has no records of them as they were so scarce,” Mr Wild, of Lilydale, said.

The ‘69 Bellett Deluxe was a genuine one owner car until he bought it in September 2014.

“It’s one of the very last Bellett’s imported here – 16,000 came here between 1964 and 1969 – and was a special order. Its metallic blue colour isn’t normally available on sedans. It’s original and unrestored, with only 124,000 miles on the clock since new. I bought it for my daughter Belinda,” Mr Wild said.

The Bellett 1600 GT is one of 290 GT’s imported in total between 1966 and 1969. There are approximately 50 still in Australia, “but they are a cult car in Japan”, Mr Wild said.

“I originally got into Isuzu because when Mum first moved to Melbourne from Brisbane to be with my Dad and needed a car she wanted a Mini, but Dad refused because he reckoned they were impossible to work on,” Mr Wild said.

“He looked around and found her a Bellett, and we’ve had them ever since. When I was 15, in 1989, I was cashed up from working a couple of jobs and I wanted to find a car to muck around with. Dad said ‘we’ll get you a Bellett, I’ve still got parts in the shed’.”

Mr Wild also has a 1980 Honda H100 (A model) motorcycle in the display.

“It’s a rare thing with very few sold, and it’s even rarer as most were a 4-speed, but this one is an optional 5 speed. I’ve seen about half a dozen other H100s but never another 5 speed.

“I found it in 2009 with only 4,600kms on it, from new. It hadn’t been used since 1985.”

The Japanese Vehicles exhibit runs until the end of February 2016 at our Maffra Motor Museum, 1A Sale Rd, Maffra.