Vortec V6 Power: 1988 Suzuki Samurai

The 2nd generation Samurai is a compact off-roader from Suzuki, built from 1981-1998.  The Samurai makes a miserable ride on tarmac, but is legendary for its off-road capability, with one beating a Jeep record for highest altitude achieved for a 4-wheeled vehicle at 21,942 ft.  We think the Samurai is a logical choice for someone needing 4WD capabilities as they are cheap, easy to fix and built like small tanks...and the only thing you really need to do is to upgrade the miserable lump they called an engine when it was new.  Find this 1988 Suzuki Samurai offered for $19,500 in Pecos, NM via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Billy Goat: 1994 Suzuki Samurai

The 2nd generation Samurai is a compact off-roader from Suzuki, built from 1981-1998.  The Samurai makes a miserable ride on tarmac, but is legendary for its off-road capability, with one beating a Jeep record for highest altitude achieved for a 4-wheeled vehicle at 21,942 ft.  We think the Samurai is a logical choice for someone needing 4WD capabilities as they are cheap, easy to fix and built like small tanks...get one while they are cheap...uggg this one isn't cheap. The miles are low, but to get this sorta price, they'd have to detail it and feature it on one of those fancy pants auction sites where suckers people over pay a premium.  Find this 1994 Suzuki Samurai here on eBay with a starting bid of $7500 located in Glenview, IL with 2 days to go.

DT 5.0 Best High Five: Lifted Junk

There are places around the world where having a lifted 4X4 is functional, useful, and downright essential for daily driving during monsoon season, winter, or Black Friday.  Los Angeles, California is not one of those places...so, naturally, I'm going to focus my search for lifted junk in the city of Angels.

Auction Watch: 1987 Suzuki Samurai

Checkout this 1987 Suzuki Samurai here on eBay bidding for $6,300 reserve-not-met with auction ending Wednesday at 6:34PM PST.

Off Rocker: 1987 Suzuki Samurai 12A Powered

The seconding generation Suzuki Jimny (SJ40) was sold as the Samurai at dealers in the United States, and featured a mix of economical city driving and (surprisingly good) light off-roading for the weekends.  It featured a simple and durable 1.3 liter 4-banger, and many have been swapped out for domestic V8s for more low end grunt...however...I can't say I've seen on powered by a rotary before today.  Find this 1987 Suzuki Samurai 12A Powered offered for $3,000 in Buffalo, NY via craigslist.

Le Sami: 1968 Citroen 2CV, Suzuki Frame and SBC

Anything fusion is hot these days, particularly with the foodies.  Imagine you go to a trendy underground restaurant and order "the chef's special" and this thing comes out on your plate.  On the outside it looks like a crêpe, but it is sitting on a bed of seaweed and sticky rice, and it is filled with the best damn Memphis style pulled pork you've ever had.  That my friends, is nirvana.  Once your belly is full, you'll need something to haul yourself home - why not use this 1968 Citroen 2CV On a Suzuki Samurai Frame here on eBay currently bidding for $5,600 with 5 days to go, located in Boyne City, MI.  Tip from Pablo.

5k: Mountain Goat: 1985 Suzuki Samurai

The ancient Samurai in Feudal Japan were a class of Warrior-nobles, the word Samurai actually a verb meaning "to wait upon the upper ranks of society."  The reign of the Samurai came to an official end in 1947 when the last remnants (the Shizoku) were outlawed in post war Japan, but their influence was reduced in the 19th century with the adoption of a Western style military.  The automotive version of the Samurai was a four-wheel-drive compact from Suzuki that ruled the lightweight off-road market segement from 1981 to 1998.  Find this low mile 1985 Suzuki Samurai here on eBay currently bidding for $4,450 reserve-not-met with $5,500 buy-it-now located in Salt Lake City, UT.

5k: Monster & Mini: 1972 Honda N600 4X4

 Launched in 1970, the N600 was the first Honda to ever be officially imported to the USA.  It was Kei car in size, but it used a larger watercooled engine that gave it slightly better performance than you might expect from its outward appearance. The only thing Honda didn't do was create a 4X4 offroad version, which the builder of today's example has been nice enough to do for us.  Find this 1972 Honda N600 4X4 offered for $7,500 in Rocklin, CA.

10k: Micro Machine: 1972 Suzuki Jimny LJ20

The first generation Suzuki Jimny is almost an unknown, but you are likely familiar with the SJ30 generation which was known as the Samurai on these shores.  The SJ30 Samurai is a slow vehicle by any yardstick, but the older LJ20 Jimny makes it's younger sibling feel like a Bugatti Veyron.  Fortunately, speed and coolness are not always proportional.  Find this 1972 Suzuki Jimny LJ20 offered for $11,900 buy it now (currently bidding for $8,602 reserve-not-met) here on eBay located in Phoenix, AZ.

5k: Off Road Only: 1989 Suzuki Samurai V8

The Suzuki Samurai is a small box shaped sport utility vehicle that seats 4 and skips over hills with ease. The little Suzuki is known for its mountain goat like abilities in off road conditions not because it has a big engine, but because it is has decent stock ground clearance and is so light that it won't sink into soft surfaces. Unfortunately, a stock Samurai is oibara seppuku slow and you won't want to drive it on the street for more than a few miles, unless you find one that has been turned into a sand dragster...then you cannot legally drive it on the street.  Find this 1989 Suzuki Samurai V8 currently bidding for $1,000 reserve-not-met with a $7,000 buy-it-now and 1 day to go on ebay, located in El Cajon, CA.

10k: Samurai Swapped: 1961 Morris Minor, Suzuki Inline-4 Power

Over 1.2 million examples of the Morris Minor were sold between 1948 and 1972.  The Minor was built by Morris Motors Limited in the UK and would be easy to dismiss for an Austin Mini imitator (family sedan built in bulk, many variants available, old styling lasting for decades), but the Minor predated the Mini and was designed for folks other than midgets. It used a front engine / rear drive setup instead of the Mini's front/front...which makes it much easier to swap in something odd.  Find this 1961 Morris Minor with Suzuki Samurai inline-4 power offered for $12,500 in Bensalem, PA via craigslist.  Tip from David K.

2k: Greenzilla: 1987 Suzuki Samurai

 "I love it when a plan comes together" -- John "Hannibal" Smith of the A-Team. 
DT's in-house/out-house master of graphics Kaibeezy delivered a new badge late last week - called the Flatbrimmer badge.  You probably noticed it on the E36 M3 market update posting from yesterday and can see it on the left.  The badge was created a few days ago but you just won't believe the car that Kaibeezy found on his local craiglist today.  Find this 1987 Suzuki Samurai for sale in San Leandro, CA for $2,000 via craigslist.

5k: V6 Vortec: 1988 Suzuki Samurai

The Samurai is a small boxy looking sport utility vehicle that seats 4 and dances over hills with ease. A stock Samurai is oibara seppuku slow and while you might be tempted to drop a big V8 into the front, it probably makes more sense to save two cylinders and use a Chevy Vortec V6.  Find this 1988 Suzuki Samurai for sale in the Hudson Valley, NY area for $5,000 via craigslist.

5k: BumbleBeater: 1986 Suzuki Samurai Chevy V8

The Suzuki Samurai was a surprisingly competent small 4X4 SUV from Japan with a propensity for rolling over, so much so that later models had a warning notice about tippy-ness to potential drivers on the sun visor. The Samurai was powered by a tiny underpowered 4-cylinder engine, but over the years quite a few of them have gotten transformed into V8 powered monsters.  Find this 1986 Suzuki Samurai V8 Chevy powered for sale in Marshalltown, IA currently bidding for $2,050 reserve-not-met with a few hours to go.

5k Flash: 1987 Suzuki Samurai 4X4; Original Survivor

The 2nd generation Samurai is a compact off-roader from Suzuki, built from 1981-1998.  The Samurai makes a miserable ride on tarmac, but is legendary for its off-road capability, with one recently beating the Jeep record for highest altitude achieved for a 4-wheeled vehicle at 21,942 ft.  We think the Samurai is a logical choice for someone needing 4WD capabilities as they are cheap, easy to fix and built like small tanks.  This 1987 Suzuki Samurai is for sale in San Bernardino, CA and currently bidding on ebay for $2,550 reserve-not-met with less than 1 day to go.

5k: 1988 Suzuki Samurai - 12k mile Survivor

The Samurai in Feudal Japan were a class of Warrior-nobles, the word Samurai actually a verb meaning "to wait upon the upper ranks of society."  The Samurai with wheels was a four-wheel-drive lightweight from Suzuki - the Miata of SUVs.  This 1988 Suzuki Samurai is for sale in North Bergen, NJ on ebay currently bidding at $5010 reserve-not-met.