The Little SUV That Could: Suzuki SJ10
Up until the mid 80s, Suzuki made little 4×4 jeep-like things which were more military than civilian. They had a fierce reputation for being unstoppable go-anywhere beasts, due to their lightweight contruction, generous ground clearance and tiny size. Check out this mid 70s SJ10* do its thing. And if you’re wondering about the powerplant, yes it’s a 540cc 2-stroke, pumping out all of 33hp and 38 foot pounds of torque!
Will it get all the way up the hill? Place your bets!
*which may, or may not…have been designed by Albrecht Goertz
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:22 am
Now,that’s a cute 4×4! Like an FJ40 for Hobbits.
Definately a Goertz-design! Maybe you could make stickers and T-shirts with the phrase: “Designed by Albrecht Goertz” ? It’s turned into such a cool inside joke.
April 2nd, 2009 at 3:08 am
Aw man, that’s like watching a puppy try and try and try to, I dunno, catch a ball or something, and then finally do it. I nearly cried!
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:09 am
Awesome!!! I love the sound of 2 strokes …… Braaaap!
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:39 am
Most definatly designed by Albrecht Goertz, everyone knows he designed everything worth posting about.
April 2nd, 2009 at 9:35 am
Albrecht Goertz designed my Chrysler.
….
Why am I not seeing anything? Is there a video attached to this?
Oddly enough, I DO know of an LJ20 sitting in a garage locally, and I’ve been trying to get at it for years, but the owner is a junk collector/putz and wants to sell it, then when someone is interested he decides he doesn’t want to because it might be valuable, then does this all over again. I’ve never seen the truck in it’s entirety either because it’s at the back of what’s likely the world’s deepest attached garage and covered with stuff.
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Man that was awesome! Thank you for posting it. I am not into off roading, but that looked like fun. The only off road driving I have done is getting to the 2008 JCCS in Irvine in my 85 RX-7.
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Boy, if this were a military version, the foe would think the other side was making popcorn…reminds me of ancient SAABs.
April 2nd, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Hahah, Mr. Nordvik. Good t-shirt idea!
Bob – there should be a video.
Aweseome vid, Kev. it sure made the smallest of struggles seem epic!
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:44 am
Had a Lj80 long time ago. Awesome car.
April 3rd, 2009 at 9:42 am
this is the suzuki samurai’s grandpa?
April 3rd, 2009 at 1:42 pm
I love those things! My bet is that he could have eased-up the hill first shot if he had some decent tires!
My semi-nostalgic 1st-gen Montero (Pajero) has proven pretty useful here in the mountains.
Neil – Colorado
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:29 pm
wow!
its like the classic version of the suzuki samurai!
that thing is amazing!
April 3rd, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Coool!!!!
I had one of these beasts as a first car, except mine was a soft top.Very top heavy little car, so we made a thick roll cage for it, which was beneficial when I flipped it front over back one day. Tipping the scales at 700kg, it was pretty simple to get back on to it’s wheels and happily rap-rapped along as soon as it was on it’s feet.
I now own a modified jeep wrangler, and although I love it, probably would have a real fight against a little monster like that in a hill climb!!
April 6th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
I think i can, I think i can, I think i can…… I did, I did…….
April 11th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Thats awesome! Now, I wonder what one could do with a good porting job, more compression, a trio of flat slide carbs and a 3 nice expansion chambers…I’d say double the horsepower or possibly triple wouldn’t be out of the question….
April 11th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Aren’t those tires a little on the slippery side?
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:13 am
theres more on these at LJ10.com
someday I’ll get my LJ10 running…