1 Jan 1981
By CHRIS HARRIS
Holden’s Rodeo range mirrored the Isuzu’s in utility and tray formats, with its 50kW/110Nm 1.6-litre OHC four-cylinder engine, four-speed manual gearbox, 1000kg payload and 2995mm wheelbase.
All 2WD models used the 20s prefix while the 4x4 models were known by their 40s prefix.
The KB26/KB41 and KBD26/KBD41 (40kW/113Nm 2.0 diesel) from 1981 introduced a new nose, modern dashboard and other refinements.
A year later ‘83’s KB27/KB42 and KBD27/KBD42 saw the arrival of a 63kW/131Nm 1.8-litre SOHC petrol and 45kW/130Nm 2.2-litre OHV diesel four-cylinder engines respectively, with both mated to a four-speed manual gearbox.
In ’84 the KB28/KB43 and KBD28/KBD43 models – with new trim and chromed grilles – were introduced, with a 65kW/141 2.0 petrol engine replacing the short-lived 1.8, while the 2.2 diesel remained the same. Five speed manual gearboxes finally came from July ’85.
Cab chassis bodies arrived in ’88.
