Automobile Magazine took a previously loved Isuzu Trooper to a car shredder and, just for us machine freaks, shot video of its aged, slab-sided body disappearing forever into the 6,000 horsepower jaws of automotive death. It's amazing how quickly the device of destruction chews from the Trooper's smashed-in front bumper to its rear-view-impinging spare tire.Clyde Phillips, manager of the junking facility, says on the video that they run more than 1,000 cars a day through monster machine, sending the finely shredded steel to recyclers to become newer, hopefully better, cars and trucks.
Now that this video is out, every AMC Matador in the country will be lying awake tonight wondering if it's next in the Cuisinart of the automotive world.
[Source: Automobile Magazine]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bob @ Nov 14th 2006 12:39PM
Good riddance!!
Bob @ Nov 14th 2006 12:45PM
I'm surprised you get money for it. What is it, like $20 or something? I have an ancient Cavalier I'd like to give a proper sendoff to.
CS @ Nov 14th 2006 1:21PM
the video of the lexus parking itself is priceless!
Z-Man @ Nov 14th 2006 2:17PM
I drove a 1990 Trooper in Southern Africa for four years. It made a great pack pony. It's "primitiveness" was derided by the Explorer owners of the time....but that same primitiveness let it be serviced by a blacksmith in Zimbabwe. fyi: Explorers and Blazers were nowhere to be found in Africa.
TheOne442 @ Nov 14th 2006 2:27PM
The Lexus video was great!
Jim in Tampa @ Nov 14th 2006 2:28PM
I agree with CS . . .
The Lexus video was hysterical.
Phil L. @ Nov 14th 2006 3:43PM
I had a '90 Isuzu Trooper, purchased used in '94 (in the US). We put about 50K miles on it - and only got rid of it because a third child pushed us into something with three rows of seats.
Ours had the GM 2.8l V6 (an option in the years before Isuzu had their own V6). It had the same horsepower rating as the Isuzu I4 (120), but slightly better torque. Both engines were short on power by today's standards. The GM motor had the advantage of being cheaper to service than the Isuzu engine.
It may have been classified as an SUV, but there was no 'sport' about it. But it reliably hauled us (and sometimes a trailer) around, and got us to many places we couldn't have gotten without it (beach driving on NC's Outer Banks was fun). It was easy to work on - and required very little repair.
One disappointment: Isuzu wasn't into corrosion protection at that time. Rust wasn't yet a problem when I got rid of it, but I sold it to a friend of mine; rot later appeared in too many places to repair. That said, it just kept running.
chasfos @ Nov 14th 2006 5:07PM
If you like shredding check this out. I want one!
http://www.ssiworld.com/watch/watch-en.htm
AMcA @ Nov 14th 2006 8:35PM
My Dad had a red Trooper II.
It was an unstable tin can on wheels. It gave me pleasure to see one shredded.
John B @ Nov 14th 2006 10:44PM
Let's see them try that with the famous Top Gear Toyota Hilux.
Dave @ Nov 15th 2006 12:06AM
This hurts my heart. I love my Trooper, now at 160k and just stretching its legs....