We all have those vehicles in our community where even if we have never met the owner, we “know” the car. There’s a first generation Toyota 4Runner near me that’s in very nice condition, and I see it so often that it practically seems like part of the neighborhood. However, I have never met the owner to tell him what a great rig he has. In a similar way, this recently donated 1987 Suzuki Samurai with the rare “tin top” surely was known around town, especially with a sticker in the back glass indicating it belonged to a local firefighter. Since this Samurai runs and drives, it’s one of the better vehicles we’ve seen end up at your favorite donated vehicle seller here on eBay.
The Suzuki Samurai is well-loved as a cheerful rock hopper that punches above its weight on the trails. It’s also a perfect California vehicle from a lifestyle perspective, with year-round sunshine and no road salt to threaten the sensitive sheet metal. The tin top versus soft top debate can really come down to where you live, because the benefits of the fixed roof in climates where it gets cold or rains a lot are obvious. In addition, the hard top generally allows for less wind and road noise and makes it possible for the puny heater and A/C systems to work a touch more efficiently (I also think it’s a better looking rig, too).
Regardless of your preferences, the hard top certainly shows up for sale far less frequently. The convertible model does offer the option of tracking down the accessory removable hard top, which really does give you the best of all worlds. Regardless, this Samurai was clearly loved by its firefighting owner before it was donated, as the interior is in shockingly nice shape for a vehicle known to be rather cheaply constructed. The same goes for the exterior, which was likely repainted in the shade of battleship gray paint you see here (that was not a factory color.) The dash doesn’t even appear to be cracked.
The Samurai made around 63 horsepower and 74 lb.-ft. of torque, but it generally feel light on its feet and sprightly around town with the manual transmission. All that really mattered to Samurai owners was that it was shockingly capable off-road and humbled trucks with more power and sophisticated 4WD systems with ease. The seller, which routinely hawks vehicles with numerous running issues (they are donated for a reason, after all) notes that this Samurai runs decently and just needs regular services like a fresh battery, some new shocks, and an A/C recharge. This seems like a deal in the making to me; would you go for a tin top or a convertible Samurai?
Looks like a great Tin Top. Sometimes people just donate vehicles just because they’re older and dont want any hassles and just get a tax credit. I’ve always liked these. I had a chance to drive one years ago and it was a great around town runner. Plus they are very capable off road too. This one looks good from what I can see in the photos. Somebody just might get a good deal here if bought right.
A friend of mine bought one of these new back in the day, I drove it a few times and considered it woefully underpowered for commuter traffic in the area where I was living at the time. I’ve been intrigued with owning one now that I’m living in a rural area, but in the case of the above tin top, I would have to take somebody with me that knows these vehicles so I would be apprised of what I was getting myself into.
At this price, makes a great off roader. A quarter the price of an average UTV.
Todd, generally speaking,the only weak link is the engine. You are correct about slow and underpowered for highway use. The cool thing about these is these is plenty of room in the engine bay to install virtually anything you want. (AND YES, PROBABLY ROOM FOR AN LS!) One of my VOLVO techs had a “tin top” one with a toasted engine. He had a,wrecked Volvo 240 turbo that the engine needed a new home. AND because these have a divorced transfer case. Just send the power out if the gearbox to the transfer case. (About a 1 foot drive shaft) Not only after that was the whole vehicle now bullet proof. But because of gearing and weight. It was a rocket! It turned out to be a very cool daily driver that also doubled as an off road toy.
I’ve got one of these, and have been driving it around this very rural, wilderness refuge kind of locale for over a decade now. Very capable, reliable little truck, and if you don’t mind it being loud, slow and uncomfortable you’ve got yourself a good ride.
Wow, I just sold a 1987 Tin Top a while back. I loved it but I just didn’t drive it enough. Tough little vehicles that wlll go just about anywhere you want to take them. This one here looks absolutely great and with only 6629 miles on it whoever bought it really got a great deal at $5351.00.
FIster daughter had one. Learned the hard way that you have to watch the fuel mileage…if it suddenly drops, run a compression check on #1 cylinder. O2 sensor is right outside #1, if a valve starts leaking it fools the sensor into thinking it’s running lean, & dumps more gas into the engine. Melted two pistons before we caught on, but too late! Great little 4×4 roller skate otherwise!
Ended at $5,351.
This is a Japanese Kei car. I love them. They come in numerous body styles such as pick ups, this featured one, sports car convertible, sedan, coupe and the coolest ever mini van. This is what the President wants us to be able to buy. Very few people will use them as interstate cruisers they were not designed for that. But around town, fantastic!
I don’t think this qualifies as a Kei car as the engine is too big. Kei cars generally are about 660 cubic centimeters. The early Jimnys were Kei cars. Either way, I’ve always like Samurais and this seems like a very solid one. Put a 1600 in it, fix the AC and drive it.
Ideal RV tow vehicle.
I had a roommate who had a soft top, and I had a new Nissan hardbody 4×4 when they first came out. It was a super nice truck, chrome wheels, his n hers sunroofs, tinted windows, a cool striping package..but that little samurai would make it look stupid off-road, and my roommate proved to me that they wouldn’t flip as easily as Jeep America wanted you to think, he’d grab the e-brake at 35-40 mph and send it thru a gravel covered intersection doing 360’s, never even acted like it was going to flip! He explained to me the report they did on it with outriggers was ‘rigged’, they had the outriggers full of concrete, and it would flip at the drop of a hat! Too bad this one’s sold…