I have what I believe to be a fairly rare model of the Suzuki Samurai. It is a Model 1987 Special Edition model. What I have been able to find out about this model on the web is that most Suzuki dealerships got onlyone of these vehicles as a promotional item. Basically, ts the same the as the standard models with a few refinements and extras thrown in. As I understand it, he models have the following extras:
- Special trim package with Special Edition Decals.- Separate split fold down rear seats- See thru headrest- Tachometer - Digital clock - Special pattern on the upholstery - Updated AM/FM Cassettestereo mount under the dash- Mine also has a 5 speed transmission
This vehicle also has the factory rear towing package added. Samurai's with this feature also had an extra leaf spring added to them. Lastly, ne of the previous owners added a bull bar where a tow bar can be fitted. The tow bar is included in this sale.
Here is what I know about the condition of this car. I picked this cool little 4wd up about 3 years ago at an estate auction. The fellow who had it before stored it in a shed and judging from the service records included, e took good care of it. It looks like he towed it behind his RV which was sold at the same auction. The mileage is very low 78,811 at the time of this listing.I have put less than 5K on it since I got it. It gets 30mpg for me and the motor is fairly peppy, utit is my belief it is designed to use at speeds 60mph and below. The 4WD works great. I have never gotten stuck in either snow, ud or riding it over the hill in thewoods. I have added new rear brakes,a new water pump and replaced all the fluids in it. It has a recent current inspection and drives well. I have keep itparked in my shed for most of the time I have owned it.
The body is in solid condition. The paint has fade marks on the hood andelsewhere. The only rust spots are two small rust areas behind the rear wheel wells (see photos). The rest of the bodyand wheels rims have surface rust or finish loss for a car of this age.The engine is very clean. It does use some oil but I can't tell if it is a leaky seal or rings. It shows no sign of smoke. I took it to the service shop and they believed it might have been the oil fill cap which was replaced. There were signs ofoil coming out from there and dripping down the back of the engine.Since then I have not driven it enough to see if the oil use issue was corrected. It used about a quart every 1500 to 2500 miles. The engine also idles fast when it is first started but idles down after a minute or two. The automatic choke might need adjusting.
The rest of the mechanicals are good. The steering, rakes and suspension are fine. The interior is in good condition for the cars age. The vinyl on the dash and doors shows no cracks. The carpet is in good shape too except for the area under the drivers side mat which is worn. I have put two new rubber mats down in both well areas. The front seats were split and worn. I covered them with seat covers and they look nice now. I removed the rear seats but they are in good+ condition and will be included in the sale. The radio works fine but the cigarette lighter does not work. The airvents have clips added to them to stiffen them up. The tires are in good condition with lots of tread wear left and no dry rot. The heater works good too. There is no AC. The rag top is in good shape and fits tightly to the body.
This is my first car sale on Ebay. If you look at my excellent feedback I do my best to describe items accurately. I know there is quite a bit of subjectivity in describing condition. The buyers should understand this is not a new car. If you want a new car please do not bid. This vehicle is over 25 years old and there could be issues like the cassette deck won't work.There could be more rust in the under carriage I can't see or the tow bar wiring may not work.... and so on. Some of these features I never used or tested. So please understand that you are buying it as is.Buthas consistently passed the state inspection which checks for unsafecorrosion, rakes, lectric and so on. All in all... I really like driving this little car. However, just don't drive it enough and its time to find a new home. I believe this would be a great restoration project or just drive it as is if you wish. I think it has many more years and many more miles in it.
Please let me know if you have questions. I expect payment within one week of the auction close. If you live near Culpeper VA I have no problem with you test driving the car. The winner will be responsible for picking the car up. It is drivable if you get tags and insurance or you can tow it with the included tow bar. For a fee I can deliver it within a 300 mile radius of Culpeper VA. Check the photos out closely and ask questions if you have them.
I had a great question on the mileage and if the odometer had flipped. Here was my response...Thanks for the great question. I honestly never considered that! What I did to help answer the question was to pay 39.95 for a Carfax Report for it. It shows there were three owners. The first owner had it for one year and the odometer reading when sold in 1988 was 15,367. The next time the odometer was recorded was in 2011. The mileage then was 76,370. When I got it in 2013 the Mileage was 76,500 so I guess I have put less miles on it than I thought. I then wondered if any of the service data kept in the glove compartment might have recorded mileage. Sure enough the former owners kept a detailed listing of service from 1987 to 1997. The last oil change in 97 the mileage was 51433. At the estate auction where I got it the auctioneer noted that the former owner was older and ill the last few years of his life. So based on the mileage he put on the first 10 years he had it and the other information available such as the condition of the vehicle I feel confident that the odometer has not flipped over 100K. That said... I don't deny its possible, ut I think its reasonable to believe the mileage is the lower number. Please let me know if you have any more questions. I hope this helps! Thanks Mark
I ran the car for almost 200 miles yesterday and checked for oil leaks. There was not a drop on the ground in the morning. I checked the oil stick before and after and it maybe moved 1/32 of an inch. So any oil used is probably via the rings although it does not smoke. That said my guess is somewhere between 20,000 and 50,000 miles it will need a ring job. That's a lot I know butI am trying to be as forthright as possible with this old car and if I were buying it I would want to know as much as possible!