For reasons I can’t get into here, old Japanese tin is becoming a bigger part of my life. For years, I’ve been all BMW, all the time, but interests are changing and some of these oddballs are scratching me where I itch. Now, a wise man once told me, the Japanese basically copy the products of other manufacturers and improve upon them, which may be true. But copy or not, rigs like this 1970 Suzuki LJ10 here on eBay look like a ton of fun for the dollar. 

Not too long ago, when Suzuki still had a presence in the U.S. market, their expertise in 4WD vehicles was well known. We used to see vehicles like the Samurai and Sidekick running around, providing capable off-road trucklets for a fairly low price tag. Now, those vehicles are a rarity, with many of them disappearing due to rust issues and hard use, none of which was helped by the dissolution of the company’s U.S. dealer network. The LJ10 (technically known as a Jimny) helped put Suzuki on the map in the fledgling days of the brand.

The seller claims he last had this Jimny running seven years ago, and that it ran well at that time. Obviously, its needs are far greater than simply just running again – everything, from the interior to the mechanical components, will need addressing. Thankfully, the opening bid is low, but there is a reserve price set. Rust appears mostly superficial, and being a California vehicle, I would assume it to be reasonably dry throughout. Of course, sourcing components like a soft top and seats will likely be a chore.

I love the bumper sticker on the back: “Welcome to Orange County. Now go home.” Yes, tourists are a pain, aren’t they? I’m sure this Suzuki enjoyed a life of surfing and sun before being relegated to a salvage operation in Apple Valley, but no matter where it goes, it won’t take up much space thanks to its status as a “Kei” car, since it clocks in at under three meters in length. If you get it cheap enough, you can offset the hassle (somewhat) of parts sourcing *(ask me how I know), as resources like Japan Parts Service exist to find the tricky bits.  Would any of you take this restoration on? I would!