Chevys made in Japan?

In a recent NY Times article about moving the operations of the Rolling Rock brewery from Latrobe, PA, to Newark, NJ, one Latrobe resident remarked, "No offense to New Jersey, but I didn't think it had any mountain springs... and moving it someplace else is like hearing that Chevys will now be made in Japan."

Actually, the Chevrolet LUV pickup was built in Japan by Isuzu and sold in Chevy dealerships from 1972 to 1980. Curious name for a truck, though. "LUV" actually was an acronym for "Light Utility Vehicle."

Think we're making this up? GM documents its "capital alliance" with Isuzu beginning in 1971.

How much did people love their LUVs? Found a few on eBay selling between $1,500 and $3,500.

Chevrolet also sold the Sprint, a very small three-cylinder economy car. Originally introduced in 1984, the Sprint was imported from Suzuki in Japan.

Also to be found on Chevy showroom floors in the 1980s was the Spectrum, a larger subcompact, imported from Isuzu in Japan.

And who can forget Geo, GM's attempt to start a small-car brand from 1990-1997? Offerings included the diminutive Metro (built by Suzuki); the Prizm (based on a Toyota Corolla); the Storm (an Isuzu product), and the Tracker (small Suzuki SUV).

"Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet" went the advertising jingle. They left out "sumo wrestling, sushi, sake, Isuzu, and Suzuki."

--Mike Quincy