Isuzu Bighorn

The Isuzu Trooper is a mid-size SUV produced by the Japanese automaker Isuzu between 1981 and 2002. It was exported worldwide as the Isuzu Bighorn, Subaru Bighorn, Isuzu Trooper, Honda Horizon, Acura SLX, Chevrolet Trooper, Opel/Vauxhall Monterey, Holden Jackaroo and Holden Monterey. It was a huge seller in the sport utility vehicle segment.

There were two generations of the Trooper produced – the first spanning 1981 through 1991, and the second from 1992 through 2002 when Isuzu ceased export of the model. It began its production run being somewhat primitive and underpowered, offered only with a 4 cylinder motor, standard 5 speed manual transmission, and part-time four-wheel drive system. As the first generation progressed, it became more luxurious, and offered more amenities, including a V6 engine. The second generation was more refined, and was available with two-wheel drive.

The Opel Monterey was a Japanese-built four-wheel drive Sports Utility Vehicle produced by General Motors. It was visually identical to the Isuzu trooper, but was only sold in Europe. Production began in 1994, with versions sold on Mainland Europe wearing Opel badges, and the British version being sold as a Vauxhall. Sales in Britain were disappointing, and the Vauxhall version of the car was withdrawn from sale at the end of 1998, though the Opel version continued to sell on the continent until 2002.