Unmolested Suzuki Samurai

[Rougarou]

I'm hoping to hit up this auction  on this '87 Sammy.

 

 

Consumer Reports ruined it for these vehicles in the States.

[TEWKS]

I had a Geo Tracker very similar to this one as a tow behind vehicle for the camper we had. It was a fun little toy. Sold it to a nephew for practically nothing and he totaled it within a week.  Dumb ass!

[roadscholar]

3 hours ago, TEWKS said:

I had a Geo Tracker very similar to this one as a tow behind vehicle for the camper we had. It was a fun little toy. Sold it to a nephew for practically nothing and he totaled it within a week.  Dumb ass!

 

Did he roll it : ) I had one for awhile and was thinking about using as a tow behind but the more I drove it the less I liked it, it was a rolling tin can. I'm sure they're good offroad because of lightness and simplicity but onroad it's almost a joke. It made the TJ (Wrangler) feel like a Cadillac.

 

 

I will say the one Richard's looking at is pretty clean, the problem is they've attracted a cult following and around here can go for crazy money, but you never know, could be a bargain, hope so.

 

 

[TEWKS]

8 minutes ago, roadscholar said:

Did he roll it : )

 

Bill, it’s on fire tonight! That’s exactly what he did! 

[roadscholar]

3 hours ago, TEWKS said:

 

Bill, it’s on fire tonight! That’s exactly what he did! 

 

Not really : ) that's what the Consumer Reports article was about, they pulled a Ralph Nadar and slammed it for rolling over on a whim then later recanted slightly after Suzuki sued them for 60M. But yeah any immature kid can roll one just like my brother did to my 1st Beetle when he was 13, commandeered it one night and made it as far as the first 90* curve.  

[DaveTheAffable]

I have owned two Suzuki Samurai‘s in the past, and they are splendid vehicles.  This guy:

https://www.petroworks.com/about-petroworks/

… is the guy you want to be in touch with if you end up with one, or if any of you have one. His name is Gary Munk, and he is one of the nicest, smartest, gentleman you will ever meet.  They are specialists in all things Suzuki Samurai.

 

I hope the auction goes well!

[Rougarou]

Thanks much Dave.  I've been in a few of the little Sammy's and always had a fondness for them.  Came real close to getting one some years ago, but funding wasn't available. 

 

If'n I get one, it'll remain stock, no mods.  Not looking to play off-road anymore as that's a big money pit that I'm not willing to fill anymore, just a little drop top that you don't see everyday to be driven every now and then and maybe passed down to a grandboy at some point.

[roadscholar]

1986–95 Suzuki Samurai: +34 percent

From Hagerty's top 5 gainers of 2022.

 

James Lipman

The Suzuki Samurai, a member of our 2022 Bull Market list, has come home to roost. 34 percent seems relatively huge when discussing valuation—and in most cases it is—but the spunky Samurai is still quite a steal, even after the boost. A 1988 Samurai in #3 condition moved from an average of $7200 in April to $8500 in this update. For a #2 condition example of this king-size Power Wheels, what was $15,100 is now $17,100. Models in #1 condition didn’t budge an inch.

As to what’s causing this jump, it’s likely a combination of standard Japanese car market growth mixed with segment newcomers who are looking for something different to complement the other clean classics in the garage. It seems the tiny Suzuki has done well to shake off its cheerleader vibe.

[Rougarou]

Well, 'twas a beautiful little Sammi and I really, really wanted it, but I set my limit at $6500.  Extremely clean inside.  I think it was a dingy for an RV looking at the front end.  The thing idled smooth, no smoke.

 

So, the bidding slowed at $5k and I jumped in thinking that since it slowed at $5k, I may get it for under my limit......then it went up by $200 a shot,......slowly.  I'm thinking, "gee one other bidder, if it takes you this long to make a $200 call, just quit".  Well, it hit $6200, so I said $6500 thinking that the other bidder would see a little "extra" jump,.....auctioneer dragging out the final call, other bidder went to $6800  

 

What irks me was that at the $5k mark, the auctioneer drug out the final call alot longer than had been during the day.  The next vehicle up was a modern F150 (don't recall the year), but that thing went through the bids like a Hellfire through a terrorist.  We were so close at the $5k mark.  Even the wife was disappointed.

 

Oh well, not meant to be.

 

 

This fully restored International, oh man, when they cranked that truck, you could barely hear it running,.....soooo smooth, beautiful truck.  If I was in the market for a bigger truck, this thing woulda been a contender.  It sold for $12k.

 

 

[TEWKS]

A little newer but my father had a little six wheeled dump truck similar to this one. 

[Rougarou]

This was neat

 

This 49 unrestored international ran very good and had a dump bed that works,....I think it went for $8k

[Skywagon]

oh man...a mini-bike with a headlight.  Only rich kids growing up.  The best we could do was welded an 8hp chainsaw motor to my banana bike.  Welded a large sprocket on the rear wheel to give it roughly 10-1 gear ratio.  For a throttle we had a piece of string routed to the handlebars.  When you pulled that string that bike took off like crazy.  Couldn't keep the front tire down and by the time the bike hit about 30mph the chain would fly off.  What a hoot we had making it and riding it....was stolen.  I was 13.  Still looking for it 

[Rougarou]

7 hours ago, Skywagon said:

oh man...a mini-bike with a headlight.  Only rich kids growing up.  The best we could do was welded an 8hp chainsaw motor to my banana bike.  Welded a large sprocket on the rear wheel to give it roughly 10-1 gear ratio.  For a throttle we had a piece of string routed to the handlebars.  When you pulled that string that bike took off like crazy.  Couldn't keep the front tire down and by the time the bike hit about 30mph the chain would fly off.  What a hoot we had making it and riding it....was stolen.  I was 13.  Still looking for it 

 

Look at the back end of that mini-bike pictured above,.....

[Rougarou]

Ok so I was perusing the auction sites last night and expanded my search area and guess what came up,....an '87 Suzuki Samurai, but wait, not just any Sammy, the exact same one I lost out a little over a month ago,....AND, there's only two more miles on it, just up the road in Mt Airy.  Here they had it posted.  So, I tell wife, I'ma give it another go, but the cool thing is that I didn't even have to leave the house.  Via proxibid, I just cast the auction to the TV and we got to watch it come up.  So the bidding starts, and I'm watching for a slow down jump in point, bid easily passes my former high bid with a $6800 high on site bid.  But, looks like the owner wanted $7500 as a minimum (per auctioneer).  He was trying to make a quick flip I guess......so Sammy got a pass.

 

Anyway, after my second loss on this, we did some bids on some UTV's, of course, they went higher than we wanted to spend.  I did end up winning a PTO driven chipper/shredder,....these things go for $2k on craigslist, so, hopefully, all is well with it.

 

We kinda dig this proxibid site 'cause it was like we were right there in the mix. 

[TEWKS]

You’re probably better off with the chipper, says Peter.