The Isuzu Fargo is a light commercial van manufactured between 1980 and 2001 by Japanese automaker Isuzu in Japan. The Fargo spanned two generations, the first of which was sold between 1980 and 1995 as both van and pickup body styles, with the second generation, introduced in 1995, confined to a single van body style. This second generation was a badge-engineered version of the Nissan Caravan (E24), as opposed to an Isuzu design.
Between 1982 and 1990, the first-generation Fargo was marketed in Australia by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors as the Holden Shuttle. In Europe and New Zealand, the first series Isuzu Fargo was sold under the Isuzu WFR name. In Colombia, it was sold as the Chevrolet WFR. It was also built in the United Kingdom by Vauxhall Motors and sold as the Bedford Midi, then the Vauxhall Midi.
Export versions of the Midi in Europe were badged GME Midi and Isuzu Midi.
First generation (1980–1995)
The first-generation Isuzu Fargo was introduced in December 1980 with a 1.6- and 1.8-litre petrol engines, and a 1.8-litre diesel engine. A 2.0-litre diesel was also available, but originally only in the wagon version. The commercial (van) version gained this option beginning in August 1981. Designed very much in the mould of contemporary Japanese vehicles of the time, it featured an underfloor engine.
Japanese market timeline
The 1.8-litre options were dropped in March 1982, both replaced by 2.0-litre engines. In July 1982, the luxury-oriented 9-seater LS Wagon was introduced, featuring a standard sunroof among other features. At the same time, the column shifter was retired and a floor-mounted shifter became standard across the line. In November 1983, diesels became available with part-time four-wheel drive. In January 1984, turbodiesel engines were introduced in the Wagon LF model, followed by the addition of optional four-wheel drive on wagons in November of that year.
In January 1986, the Fargo received a facelift, with changes to the headlights (now somewhat wider and with a more trapezoidal shape) and the instrument panel. One year later, an automatic transmission became available on rear-wheel drive variants. In September 1987, the naturally aspirated diesel wagons were discontinued, leaving only turbodiesels for these noncommercial versions. In October 1988, a cab-forward pickup (truck) body style was added.
In January 1991, the 2.4-litre 4FG1 diesel engine introduced, replacing the earlier 1.8- and 2.0-litre units. Design changes were also made, to both the interior and exterior. In August 1993, the 2.4-litre 4FG1-T turbodiesel standardised across the range. Three-point rear seatbelts were now fitted to models fitted with rear seats and the air conditioning unit is now chlorofluorocarbon free (CFC).
Bedford Midi / Vauxhall Midi
General Motors-owned Vauxhall Motors offered a version of the Fargo as the Bedford Midi between 1985 and 1994. Following the sale of the Bedford Vehicles to AWD, the Bedford Midi was rebadged as the Vauxhall Midi. Versions sold in continental Europe and Ireland were sold under various names, including Bedford Seta, General Motors Midi, GME Midi, and Isuzu Midi. Between 1983 and 1988, Industries Mécaniques Maghrébines (IMM) produced the Isuzu Midi at its Kairouan, Tunisia, manufacturing facility.
Built in Luton, the Midi brought few changes to the Japanese Fargo and replaced the old Bedford CF van. This was very much a stop-gap design to replace the old CF range, but a true CF replacement never came. The van also signified the end of Bedford, and its own designs as GM used other companies designs it co owned as a cheaper option. Talks were heldwith Freight Rover during 1985 to produce the Sherpa 300 series van under licence, which came to nothing by the end of 1986.
Also, concerns arose over its crashworthiness in this same issue, following a test on the Japanese-built WFR. Engines offered were both petrol (1.8- and 2.0-litre) and diesel (2.0-, 2.2-, or 2.4-litre turbo). The Midi could be ordered with either an old fashioned, column-mounted gear change allowing a third central passenger seat in the front, or with a conventional floor shift, and was available in short and long wheelbases with a choice of standard or high roof lines. A minibus version, named the Albany, was also produced.
The Midi was also restyled in 1989 and given a new dashboard panel and seating, together with new door trims and front end fascia. The engine range remained much the same. While production ceased in 1994, SWB models were replaced by the Vauxhall Arena, and the LWB models were replaced by the Vauxhall Movano, both of which were based on Renault products.