This vehicle is a bit of an enigma. In 1981, India established Maruti Udyog Limited, in partnership with Suzuki, to import Japanese cars to India. The populace was yearning for reliable, cheap transportation, and Suzuki wanted to avoid India’s steep import taxes, so it was a symbiotic match. By 1983, Maruti was manufacturing cars, not just importing them, under its license with Suzuki, and by 1985, Maruti began making the Gypsy, based on the long-wheelbase Suzuki Jimny. Barren of creature comforts and rough-riding, the 1.0-liter 4X4 Gypsy didn’t sell well, though the police force found a use for them. Meanwhile, Suzuki was selling the Samurai worldwide in one form or another, including in the US, where it arrived in 1985 with a 1.3-liter motor.  Here on craigslist is a 1988 “Maruti Gypsy” with an asking price of $10,999. This little 4X4 is located in San Jose, California. T.J., thanks for another weird one!

Identifying this car is as easy as looking at its “official documents”, where we see that it is really a 1988 Suzuki Samurai. So what are the historical anomalies that would give this one away as a replica, if you didn’t have these documents? First, the Maruti Gypsy didn’t receive the 1.3-liter motor until 1996, and when it did, it was called the Gypsy King. Second, the model number on the side of the hood, “MG413W”, indicates that the truck is a wide-track, also not introduced in India until 1996. (The wide-track was prompted by rollover complaints.) For bonus points, does anyone know where that model number really belongs, if it’s a Gypsy?

The 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine makes about 63 hp. This is coupled with a five-speed manual transmission and a two-speed transfer case. The seller indicates the vehicle has just 60,000 miles and runs strong with no leaks. The clutch and brakes are new; it even passed its smog test in California. Unlike the Gypsy, the Samurai’s suspension was reworked for the American market, giving the vehicle a solid reputation among off-roaders.

The seller indicates that the top, seat covers, door panels, and carpets are new. The fresh white paint is probably an improvement from the original silver color. I’m not fond of the wheel hanging off the tailgate, but judging by the sparse photos provided, everything else appears spiffy. Hagerty named the Samurai one of its “bull market picks” for 2022 so of course, nice ones are commanding hefty prices. eBay lists three for sale, from $6200 to over $27k. This one’s price seems reasonable to me; what do you think?