THROWBACK: When all taxis were Isuzu Geminis

Most Filipinos who grew up in the mid-1970s and to the early-1990s are very familiar with the yellow taxicabs that plied the streets of Metro Manila.

Among the many makes and models, there’s one that stood out during that era. I’m referring to the iconic Isuzu Gemini four-door subcompact sedan.

Manufactured from 1974 to 1987 by General Motors based on its T-car platform, the first generation (PF) Gemini was sold under several other names in various markets around the world.

Locally, the Gemini was available as a four-door sedan or a two-door coupe that came with a gasoline engine.

Simple design

The Gemini sedan was designed with simplicity in mind, incorporating squared fenders, round headlamps and chrome bumpers.

It wasn’t until 1979 when it received a facelift that consisted of a slant-nose front end with square headlamps and a more modern-looking bumper with rubber bumper corners that was found on most cars during the '80s.

The vent on the driver's side C-pillar opened up to reveal the gas filler cap.

The Gemini also had a non-conventional dashboard design. Instead of the usual bulky dash to fit the air-conditioning controls and whatnot, this one looked like it was compressed flat to the firewall with rectangular aircon vents and a center console.

Come to think of it, it did make up extra space that, in turn, created a roomier cabin.

Diesel power

Like most cars from that era, the Gemini had a manual transmission and rear-wheel drive with coil-spring rear suspension and trailing arms.

This enabled it to handle better than its competition, which still utilized archaic leaf springs. But the most distinguishing feature of the four-door Gemini would have to be its diesel engine.

Isuzu is known for making robust engines that can be found propelling almost all public-utility jeepneys and trucks of all sizes. The 1.6-liter, G161Z inline-4 diesel engine in the Gemini made around 60 PS and 119 Nm of torque.

It wasn’t much in terms of power, but it was surely capable of handling the rigors of the daily abuse that comes as natural when used as a taxi.

What’s important was that it thrived during those days when a liter of diesel was just seven pesos and a few centavos (take us back!). It was also a time when traffic wasn’t as chaotic as today, given that were fewer vehicles on the road.

Popular taxicab companies back in the day were R&E, Dollar Taxi and others.

The Gemini was a popular fixture even in the movies. The late Fernando Poe Jr. even starred in a movie where he played a taxi driver driving what else? A diesel Isuzu Gemini, of course.

Aside from being used as a taxi, the four-door Gemini also served as the patrol car for the Metrocom (predecessor of the Philippine National Police). The Gemini was also where a lot of rally drivers got their start.

End of an era

As the 1990s ushered in a new generation of modern cars, the four-door Gemini was gradually phased out.

Giving way to better cars from popular Japanese brands, its demise also had a lot to do with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) ruling that states that a taxicab can only have a maximum operational lifespan of 10 years before being pulled out of service.

As far as the familiar yellow colors are concerned, the LTFRB also mandated in 2001 that all taxicabs should be white. Some taxicab companies, however, still use their own colors to distinguish their units while keeping the roof and pillars white.

Airport taxis, on the other hand, are yellow.

Do you miss the old Isuzu Gemini?

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