The unique Isuzu Dragon Max truck on display at the Bangkok car show caught our attention. The car is a late-1980s TFR Space Cab pickup that has been highly modified. It comes equipped with a 217-horsepower 2.2-liter turbo-diesel engine paired with a contemporary eight-speed automatic transmission. A big obsession in the auto business is restoring expensive vintage sports cars that are already very expensive. But you can find some of the best restaurants in places you wouldn’t expect to find them. Isuzu, for example, is showing off the unique “Dragon Max” pickup at the Bangkok car show. It is based on a simple TFR Space Cab from the late 1980s. It’s really great. The pickup has been heavily modified, and its Thai name, “Dragon,” comes from the fact that it was first shown in 1988, the Chinese Year of the Dragon. The TFR was sold under several GM brands, such as Chevrolet, Holden, Vauxhall, and Opel, and in different places, it was called by different names. Honda also sold a version of the car with the Ippon name. This hot rod is very different from the original truck because it has a current 2.2-liter turbodiesel engine. Isuzu says that the engine has been changed to make more than twice as much power as the original small pickup truck, at 217 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The engine can use all of its power thanks to a modern eight-speed automatic gear. For the most part, this didn’t change the small lip spoiler on the trunk or the slammed suspension. Custom LED lights on the front and back of the Dragon Max have given it a bold new look. The paint is also very modern, with a semi-matte finish. The 17-inch alloy wheels with five spokes are strong and are tuned to the tuner’s specs. After a full Alcantara remake, the changes inside are less subtle. Isuzu made it easier to use by adding a modern aftermarket screen and some eye-catching carbon fiber on both sides. The gauge set has also been updated with new features, like a lap timer built right in. Every part of the build shows that it was made with speed in mind. We like seeing OEMs value their old cars, no matter what market niche they’re in. They must be worth more than what they cost because structures like that make other people want to go into the garage.
