Who made the Chevy LUV motor?
The engine behind the Chevy LUV was built by Isuzu Motors, produced as part of GM’s collaboration with Isuzu. The LUV is essentially a badge-engineered Isuzu Faster pickup, and in North American versions the powertrain was supplied by Isuzu, including an inline-four gasoline engine and, in some export markets, diesel options.
The Chevy LUV embodies a 1970s cross-brand strategy by General Motors to bring Isuzu’s small-truck engineering to the Chevrolet lineup. The engine and most drivetrain components were sourced from Isuzu, reflecting a close partnership between the two manufacturers during that era.
Origins and partnership
Key facts about how the Chevy LUV came to be and the GM-Isuzu relationship.
- The Chevy LUV is a badge-engineered version of Isuzu's Faster pickup, marketed by Chevrolet in North America and abroad.
- GM and Isuzu formalized a collaboration in the 1960s–70s to bring Isuzu’s light-truck technology to Western markets.
- Isuzu supplied the powertrain for the LUV, including inline-four gasoline engines and, in some export variants, diesel options.
The partnership meant the LUV’s propulsion system was primarily Isuzu-derived, reflecting a broader strategy to leverage Isuzu’s small-truck engineering in GM’s lineup.
The Chevy LUV engine lineup
Overview of the engine configurations used in the LUV across markets and model years.
Gasoline engines
- Typically an Isuzu-designed gasoline inline-four powered most U.S.-bound LUVs.
- Engine design emphasized compact size and reliability characteristic of Isuzu small trucks.
Gasoline engines formed the backbone of the LUV’s performance in North America, delivering practical utility for the era’s pickup customers.
Diesel engines
- Isuzu-sourced diesel powertrains were offered in some export markets, giving buyers in those regions a more fuel-efficient option.
Diesel variants were not widely available in the United States, but were part of the global Isuzu engine lineup used in LUV export markets.
Legacy and context
The Chevy LUV’s engine partnership with Isuzu helped establish Isuzu’s presence in North America and showcased a then-common badge-engineering approach within GM’s product strategy. The arrangement influenced later cross-brand projects and solidified Isuzu’s role as a supplier of compact-truck powertrains to GM.
Summary
The Chevy LUV’s motor was built by Isuzu Motors as part of a GM-Isuzu collaboration; the truck was essentially a badge-engineered Isuzu Faster, with Isuzu supplying the engine for most markets and offering diesel options in select export regions. This partnership is a notable chapter in the history of cross-brand automotive engineering.
