Andrew says some customers bolt on awnings. The cab also features a sunvisor and stone guard, and daytime running lights, though Andrew says they can either be factory optioned or aftermarket retro-fitted. Of course a key feature of this model is not just the convenience factor – Andrew quotes two to three days from start to finish, depending on the customisation – but the size. Because it can be driven on a car licence, we head out for a quick drive and photography, and are immediately impressed by the response of the unladen unit. With a manual gearbox – an automated gearbox is an option – there’s plenty of urgency from the 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine which develops maximum power of 110kW and peak torque of 375Nm As we head down a dead-end road, the super tight 8.9-metre turning circle – better than not just any ute, but even a Toyota Corolla’s 10.8 metres – is a reminder that this is a small and agile combination. Says Andrew: “it’ll fit into a standard car parking spot, so you can pull up and park as a car would.” With models available with or without a crane, the Isuzu/SBA combination offers a lot for something that isn’t too large. And it will suit a wide range of operators. “It could be for mobile mechanics…councils like them as they can store a lot of tools…local government bodies, plumbers, drainlayers and electrical companies. “We have different sizes, such as 4x4 crew cab models of NPS 450, between crane and non-crane versions, and we are in the early development stages of a crew cab 4x2.”
All Black and green and gold don’t always go together, but with this New Zealand and Aussie combination working so well, it’s like Goldilocks has found the perfect range of light trucks, that are just the right size.
Above:Two companies fit the bodies. CAL Isuzu in Hamilton does the work for North Island customers, and Smallbone Isuzu in Ashburton and Timaru for South Island buyers. Below : The blank canvas, Isuzu cab/chassis ready to be fitted with SBA body.
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