It is odd to see certain once-average vehicles become prized specimens when found in decent shape. While we all know the Suzuki Samurai to be a fun, capable off-roader, it was more or less seen as a low-priced entry into 4×4 ownership when new. Of course, the impact of rust and time are two of the biggest reasons a car can become disposable, making survivors truly hard to come by. That’s why this 1986 Samurai “tin top” listed here on eBay is so special: it’s rust-free and looks like it has been pampered since new.
There are so many correct details on this truck that you begin to lose track of them all. The original mudflaps, spare tire cover, wagon wheels, body decals, and brush guard all appear to have been dealer-installed, and it’s incredible to see them still with the truck. Usually, the spare tire cover gets tossed by now, at a minimum. The seller lists mileage at 118,000, but keep in mind, many of those were accumulated being towed behind a motorhome. That seems to be a familiar story for the Samurai, as their modest footprint made them a great accessory for camping and/or outdoor lifestyles.
The interior is just spectacular, with only modest signs of use noted. This is the benefit of being towed behind an RV most of its life, as the mileage isn’t really an accurate representation of the type of use it was subjected to. The dash looks tidy along with all other interior plastics. The beauty of a Samurai lies in its simplicity, which also impacts its appearance. With so little to otherwise deteriorate or fail, it stays looking respectable even without heavy-handed upkeep. The seller notes that the “…interior fan motor is strong.” Does that mean A/C?
Under the hood is a bone-stock 63 b.h.p. 4-cylinder. This is a lightweight truck so it can still get around town, but I wouldn’t want to spend hours on the highway in one (but you could – just aim for the light traffic hours.) The updated hoses and plug wires are nice to see, and since the owner has looked after it for the last 5 years, I suspect he had at least done the proper preventative maintenance. Check out the original jack still in place, and all of the various warning labels – it looks absolutely pristine under the hood. The seller is asking $13,000 or best offer for this minty Samurai.
The auction is already ended. Someone must’ve made an offer the seller couldn’t refuse.
Possibly the cleanest Samurai I’ve seen.
I never paid much attention to these until I saw that Top Gear episode where they went into the Amazon rain forest and James May’s Samurai held up really well, gave me new found respect for these vehicles.
Awesome little vehicles. No surprise it’s gone CVPanther
Where I live these, these Suzukis had a nasty rep for rollover crashes. The Samurai was aka Somersault, and the Sidekick was aka Sideflip.