FEATURE – 1976 Isuzu Elf 350 tipper
To coincide with the local unveiling of Isuzu’s modern N Series model range at the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show, Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) also presented a truck from their past in the form of a classic Elf 350 tipper. Restored by volunteers from IAL, along with a range of specialty businesses in Melbourne, this workhorse is now as good as new, if not better.
Although it was wearing ‘1975’ identification on its public debut at last year’s Brisbane Truck Show, the classic Elf tipper has also been identified as a 1976 model in IAL’s literature. It’s a moot point, though, as there’s practically no difference between the two.
A Little History
The Elf name that evolved into today’s N Series has heritage dating back to 1959. The original Elf was a medium duty truck of 2 tonne capacity, powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine. What launched with a cabover body and integral fixed tray would gain a longer wheelbase version, dual cab body, separate tray option, combination van and bus bodies throughout the 1960s. Diesel engine options were introduced, too.
Near the end of the first-generation Elf’s production run, the ‘Light Elf’ was introduced. This had a 1.25-tonne payload for applications where the greater haulage capacity of the regular, medium duty Elf wasn’t required.
Second-generation versions of the medium duty Elf debuted in 1968, with the range rebranded from 1970 – ‘Elf 150’ for the Light Elf and ‘Elf 250’ for the standard version which could now carry up to 2.5 tonnes. At the same time, an ‘Elf 350’ was introduced, offering payload of 3.5 tonnes.
When a restyled and updated third-generation Elf was introduced in 1976, the 350 range, like the truck featured, remained in production with the second-generation body and chassis until 1980. There were also wide cab variants of the Elf 350, identified by a ‘KS’ code against the standard cab’s ‘KA’, with these models usually running a diesel engine instead of petrol.
Here in Australia, Isuzu trucks like this carried a degree of locally-sourced content in the 1970s and were badged as ‘Bedford by Isuzu’ in most instances. This reflected the collaboration between GM-H locally and General Motors owned or affiliated brands like Bedford and Isuzu. In addition to commercial vehicles, GM-H’s partnership with Isuzu also brought the Gemini to market in Australia, and later, the Piazza sports car.
Sydneysider
The truck featured, a 1975/76 ‘KS11’ Elf 350 tipper, was sourced by IAL from its original owner, a Sydney-based concreting business. The condition of the truck as acquired is not recorded, but Elf 350s were renowned for their reliability and bullet proof durability. These qualities led to Isuzu being chosen by trade and construction businesses in Australia throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s.
“[The KS11 350], in particular, really helped cement the Isuzu brand’s penchant for steadfast reliability, quality factory body build credentials and overall versatility,” said IAL’s Senior Product Development Technician, Darren Pottage, who oversaw the restoration.
“These were one of the first Isuzu models to hit our shores back in the late Sixties and early Seventies, so this resto has been a fitting tribute to the longevity of the brand here in Australia.”
Remade in Melbourne
Beginning in 2023, the restoration of this KS11 350 tipper saw a number of IAL staff participate, from stripping and disassembling the vehicle, through to sourcing and installing like-for-like parts and components as original.
“From the very beginning, the vision was to return this truck to its original condition, which involved removing the cab and factory tipper body, stripping-out the interior trim and essentially winding-up with a rolling chassis,” Pottage explained.
“Whilst still operational, a range of the engine componentry needed a lot of attention, including a transmission re-build, as well as sourcing a number of replacement parts.”
While the drivetrain details are not listed, it’s most likely this truck was powered by Isuzu’s ‘4BB1’ four-cylinder diesel engine. Of 3.6-litre capacity, this engine produced 75kW and 235Nm (100hp and 173.6lb/ft), matched to a five-speed manual transmission with overdrive. An ‘I’ beam front axle and full floating rear would have been part of the factory spec, too, along with leaf spring and telescopic shock suspension, drum brakes and 15-inch wheels (duals on the rear) with 7.00x16-10 tyres.
In the cabin, there was a separate seat for the driver and only basic instrumentation, but some minor luxuries like a radio and heater.
“Given the age of the truck, sourcing model correct componentry almost half a century later was always going to be a challenge, although with a little help of our parts department here in Melbourne, we were able to get our hands on everything required,” Pottage added.
Body Beautified
With the body separated from the chassis, and all the running gear removed for replacement or refurbishment, the next stage of the restoration involved extensive panel work to both the cabin and the factory tipper body. Measuring 3000mm x 1750mm x 370m (LxWxH) internally, the tipper body has a 1.9 cubic metre capacity and steel dropsides, and operates off a single hydraulic ram. Overall dimensions for a truck like this were 4925mm x 1950mm x 2150mm (LxWxH, excluding the exhaust stack). Turning circle was 10.6 metres, and the GVM 5791kg.
Tearing down the Elf 350 was done in-house, but jobs like the panel work and painting, repairing the tray after long years of hard use, and refurbishment of the cabin interior were all farmed out to professionals. This included tracking down the Elf’s original glass manufacturer, who was able to supply all new glass for the cabin.
To complete the restoration, a striking new paint job in the original Marine Blue was applied, topped with hand-painted recreations of the signage this truck wore when first put to work.
“We engaged some brilliant local suppliers here in Melbourne’s west that shared our passion for this project and really threw themselves into the work,” Pottage added.
“From the interior trimmers to the panel beaters and painters, we couldn’t have asked for a better group to collaborate with on this, and the results really do speak for themselves.”
Brisbane Star
Drawing as much - if not more – attention than the all-new NKR Series truck it was presented with at Brisbane last year, this Elf 350 tipper has been a point of pride for Pottage and the team at IAL who brought it back to life.
“It’s been a long road to get this project completed, but to see the old Elf tipper up in lights again alongside its modern contemporary in Brisbane was just fantastic to see,” Pottage said.
“This is a part of our heritage and, as a companywide achievement, it’s a piece of motoring history we can all look back on for years to come and say: ‘that’s us, that’s Isuzu right there’.”
Words & Photos: Mike Ryan and Isuzu Australia
