The Suzuki Samurai has the distinction of worldwide sales under nearly countless nameplates. It derived from a 4×4 made in 1967 by Hope Motors in Japan, called the ON360. Its primary virtue was offroad ability – other than that it was slow, noisy, and basic. Suzuki acquired the rights to the vehicle and sequentially upgraded it starting in 1970; the truck is still made today in Japan and India. It was known as the Drover, the Gypsy, the Caribian, the Santana, the Sierra, the Fox, the Jimny, and countless other names depending on its country of residence. It formally arrived in the US in 1985 (a version was sold before that but only in three states), aspirationally called the Samurai, still slow, noisy, and basic. You’d think those characteristics would have discouraged sales, but it was wildly popular: in its day, it had the best first-year sales of any Japanese car. Here on eBay is a 1987 Suzuki Samurai with a starting bid of $7500 and no takers yet. This little 4×4 is located in Hendersonville, North Carolina. You can drive it home.
Its engine is a 1.3 liter overhead cam four-cylinder adorned with a single carburetor, good for about 63 hp. A five-speed manual gearbox was the only transmission offered. In stock form, the Samurai ambles from zero to 60 in 17 seconds, and top speed is around 70 mph – shabby figures to be sure but even so, aided by the truck’s light curb weight of just over 2000 lbs. This Sammy’s Weber electric choke carb conversion is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to improving these trucks. A vast array of aftermarket suspension components are available – something worth looking into since its 4WD-friendly solid axle/leaf spring/short wheelbase configuration makes it ride like a buckboard. While the odometer does read 148,000 miles, the motor was apparently rebuilt; it is said to run and drive well, including the 4WD apparatus.
The interior is decently clean given this Sammy’s mileage and age. It has air conditioning and a new compressor that needs charging. Unburdened by air bags and dogged by a recall involving seatbelts that would not fasten, the Samurai was the subject of an unfortunate experiment by Consumer Reports in 1988: testers did finally manage to roll one. Claims that the truck wasn’t safe dented sales, from which it never really recovered. Its last year in the US was 1995.
The seller indicates that the paint is decent and he can’t find any rust. The tires and wheels are new, and it has a new bumper. The AutoCheck report records three long-term owners. Provided the chassis is sound, this Sammy might be a great candidate for an engine swap to the 1.6-liter Sidekick engine for an upgrade to 95 hp. After that, the sky’s the limit in the realm of suspension, exhaust, gauge sets, and more. What would you do with this Samurai if it dropped into your driveway?
These are great to off road in. A much better idea than an over priced top end UTV, in my humble opinion. Went up a mountainside in one of these on a trip to Colorado. The young man who owned it didn’t seem scared of anything, but my pants were full before the trip was over. Despite my shame and lack of manliness, the little car was a real pro. Very capable.
If you get off the beaten path in Alaska, you will see these little 4X4s in quite a few places that have no real roads. They get brought in during freeze up, either by plane, or even driven in when the rivers are frozen. They are surprisingly pretty tough little rigs.
Very popular w outdoorsman. Hard top model is best, throw the big roof rack basket 🧺 up top, add a winch, and go. 🏕 🦌 🎣
Great write-up Michelle.
Hard-top is indeed the one to get – Don’t see them often… This, and an ‘80 IH, were the only vehicles my dad considered buying new. Should have kicked the tires on an AMC for the trifecta. Dad knew how to pick ‘em…
The fact that anyone takes advice from the car haters that test dishwashers at Consumer Reports, says a lot about American consumers. If you were stupid enough to turn one of these little 4×4’s sharply at 40 mph? You deserved everything you got.
I’ve always disliked what was said (for the most part) by those jackwagons at CR. They are NOT car people.
Had One back in 87,same color,loved the little thing. First New car i ever owned. I paid new what they’re asking for this one.
Nobody has suggested a SBC swap yet? Must be a slow day.
LS SWAP LS SWAP lol
I found one in London in 1994- a Left Hand drive that the guy was having trouble selling- Made a good deal and drove it from London to Athens- flat out at about 80MPH all the way. Took a few days, but it ran flawlessly and I used it for a year in Greece. It was perfect for Greek driving, compact, easy to park and reliable. Sold it when I left. It was one of my favorite cars of all that I have owned.
It was 1990 I got married and me the wife went on our Honeymoon in Greece. I rented a Jeep on the island of Rhodes . When we got there and saw the Jeep it was a Suzuki samurai in gray color. I asked the person there this is not a Jeep it’s a Suzuki samurai .. I was waiting to see a Wrangler. They told me oh we called these Jeeps in our country. 😞 Ok… It was a 4 speed not 5. And it was a 1988 model. Top went down which was cool. I ask what happened to the radio. Sorry people keep stealing them! 🤨 Well top down off we went to the hotel. Unpack and went mountain climbing in the Suzuki. That little sucker can climb!!! And it’s narrow enough to go into the Old City which we pulled in the mirrors to go down the narrow streets. Now I understand why there use these. A real Jeep won’t fit!! Also I remember when these came out. Living in the Bronx it was a big hit with the Latinos they where cheap in price for new ones. My friends had relatives in Puerto Rico that would jack up the front and put big tires on it and go on the beach ⛱️. They would do the same thing to them in the Bronx. They would sneak onto Orchard Beach and drive along the water. These are cool little rides as long you don’t travel much on the freeway. They are noisy with the engine winding up in gears. And the tires making noise. They are dependable and if you take care of them I met people who put over 200,000 miles on them. Good luck to the next owner. 🐻🇺🇸
Great in a straight line but no high speed turns unless you want to be on side of the road upside-down.
In Colombia these were badged and sold as Chevrolets. The first one I saw made me think someone had done the rebadging on their own, but I saw several more on that trip.
Radio’s being stolen and the ashtray full of coins being stolen was common for the soft top version. Bought one in the fall of 86, same 1987 model. (traded an EXP straight up for a convertible). Ran great. I think it was about $6000 new. Kept it until 2010, never made it to 80,000 miles because we only used it for short rides. Sold it with the original tires and the original brakes. Bumper looked different than this one, that might not be an original style bumper. If you drove it safely and carefully, the thing lasted forever. Sadly yes, the guy who bought it put a v8 in it and jacked it way up….only to roll it within a year after.
“Nicest one left”.
These are to the rock climbing crowd what VW Beetles were to the sand people back in the day.