I had a Suzuki Samarai back in about 1989-'90. My friend bought it new and then seized the engine somehow and I wound up with it. I bought a used engine from a junkyard car that had burned up in a fire, (strange how I remember all of this), all I needed was the long block so it was all good.

I have fond memories of that little bugger including driving it all the way to MN. from Los Angeles for my brother's wedding in 1990. It was pretty much pedal to the metal all the way in 5th gear, for some reason I went through Arizona and it was 122 degrees with no air conditioning. I had my new German Shepard puppy with me and I was stopping constantly to drench him in water. We made it to NM and it was a lot cooler for the remainder of the trip.

What I remember very distinctly was that on a 2k mile drive flat-out including the aforementioned heat and going over the Rockies, it ran flawlessly and did not use one drop of oil or coolant. Seriously, not one drop. I sold it in MN. and picked up a nice Toyota PU with a shell. I still have a photo of the Samarai around here somewhere...

Turns out the photos I remember are motorcycle photos that the Samarai snuck into. The first is my friend on his new Harley Davidson and the second is my and my friend's BMWs: :cool:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1705467968.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1705467968.jpg

And lastly, the puppy from the same trip in NM:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1705468040.jpg

This little guy burns a little bit of oil but burns it just about ANYWHERE:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1705471497.jpg

^^^ that's awesome crowbob. So you still have it then?

Denis/Speeder: that is crazy that you did a cross-country trip with it :eek: Not exactly known for the highway and why most, even today, have low miles on them.

I was wondering between hardtop and soft top because I would really like to haul my kayak but I see that's been solved by someone.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1705509953.jpg

And the bike hauling situation is no problem.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1705509991.jpg

I worked at a place that rented windsurfers in high school and a guy would come by every Friday with an open Samurai.
My job was to load and tie to the roll bar. That thing would creak and bend every time I tightened up the straps. Always made me laugh.

I do. DD in the summer. There is zero rust so I can't bring myself to expose it to salt. Texas car. Was towed behind RV for years...PM me if interested.

I want it. Link?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3TRl4edM_74?si=EFjVva6ri_xZxilb" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

5 part series on getting an old Jimmy out of the mountains

And 2 more multipart series from the Mormon Mafia, where Fabrats does an engine and axle swap and Robby Layton gives it a $50,000 paint job.

The poor thing was totally overrestored and useless as a Samurai. I don't think Ed ever drives it.

That old Cherokee is really impressive towing that thing through the forest with its wheels locked up. I have experience moving cars and getting them on trailers with locked wheels and it's no fun.

I think he fixed it up to surprise some old guy that left it there 20 years ago. If I remember correctly, with all the mods, the old guy didn't like driving it.

was an interesting series to watch as they first had to find it based on old memories, then figure out how to drag it out. Agree that it was totally over restored and not driven by the original owner. It is a 5 part series, if you have time to waste

I don’t.

I do! Will be watching later :D

I like this 4 door . A little more interior room and longer wheelbase for on road stability . Like when soccer moms blow by you in their minivans :D

There were a bunch of versions of the Jimny over the years. Only the 2-door 'jeep' version was available here in the US.



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1705611760.jpg

I once saw a Jimny with a bumper sticker that read "Land Rover Recovery Vehicle"... :p

Today I saw the flatbed truck version drive past. I could imagine it would be quite handy. Just about all the others around here are the Jeep looking ones.

There is/are companies that import old Subaru (600cc) pickup trucks. I would rather have one of those.

This is the site, in this search I was looking at a Capicino.

https://cars.trovit.com/index.php/cod.search_cars/origin.17/what_d.suzuki%20cappuccino/id_search.48840954/from.alert/tracking.HcpBCoAgEADAv-xZQWs19TNiuYRRFmpdor8HnmdeqJRjyqtPERxIYSSGnUqrfG5c aq3CFDFYOw6WgEG3ftEYFFYhg3Rc5XzI13veaGngxPcD/email.scottinla57@gmail.com/act.d9e216700db1eec2e7db511d707f21e8/lastAd.2024-01-10+00%3A00%3A00/alertLanding.1/internalsection.1034/?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_term=suzuki %2520cappuccino&utm_campaign=logo&origin=17

Almost makes me want to move to Belgium. UT guy is Life off Smokey. I started following him over all of his KTM videos.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dXwwJloozXI?si=78qYloql1cdJi-7E" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Are you referring to the Sambar? Actually probably the best of the Kai-class pickups. Cheaper than the Jimny/Samurai by far. I've been looking at those too.





http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1705696669.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1705696713.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1705696713.jpg

As if the stock Jimny isn't cute enough, you can get this body kit for it:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1706203937.jpg

The Jimny, of all years/models, is a popular 4x4 in Kenya. Earlier ones are essentially RHD Samurais, but still popular. Light, and short wheelbase. With the right tires they go anywhere.

Cheers

I just can't see the benefit over a simple straight 6 wrangler. or Cherokee if you want interior storage space. 33's, air lockers and some rock rails in lieu of running boards and you can literally get through just about anything. even pivoting off rocks and trees with the rock rails. That tiny a ****box (Suzuki) becomes a liability at higher angles with that ultra narrow track and ultra short wheelbase. and let's not forget the abundance of parts for the wrangler/cherokee series.

Said it before and will say it again, the ultimate off road vehicle is the Jeep LJ. Perfect size. I'd maybe go 35's on that. Auto trans, ARB front and back, low COG build....would be a total beast in all kinds of terrain.

^^truth. Had a 06 Rubicon LJ on 33's. Wheeled it hard in the Farmington NM and it worked well on road too.... A auto trans and wheelbase is a must when it gets steep.

MMiller that is for sure! We followed a group up what felt like some crazy steep rocks and I'd have paid a LOT to have the LJ wheelbase instead of my TJ.

My sidexside is a 1987 Samurai. I use it daily on the ranch. I got the fold down windshield kit and tube doors. The real sidebyside boys hate on me a lot. I got my sami for 3K and can go anywhere they can, and I can drive right on to town while they have to trailer up.-WW

ps. The amount of cash I saved getting a Sami vs, a UTV/ATV was brilliant and those old rigs are easy peezy to work on.

^^^ Exactly. I saw this little mini-jeep in a parking lot. It's an Oreion Reeper. Basically a side by side with a jeep-like body. Looked pretty cool but close examination showed it looked sort of flimsy. Cheapo Chinese Chery motor. $25,000 MSRP. No thanks! :cool:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1706987613.jpg