We have had threads on diddy vans but not as far as I know diddy 4x4's, so I thought I would start one 
It's basically about Suzuki LJ's
I am sure you are all familiar with the Suzuki SJ (below two early ones with slatted front grill and drums all round
)
which began production in 1982.
Well before the SJ series there was the LJ series, beginning with the LJ10
Suzuki got a head start by buying out another company in 1968 called Hopestar that was making a mini 4x4 called the ON360 powered by a Mitsubishi 360cc 2-stroke engine.
Suzuki took the ON360 design, ditched the Mitsubishi engine for obvious reasons and installed there own twin cylinder 360cc two stroke motor that produced a mammoth 25bhp ;D It would have had a great power to weight ratio though and being two stroke it could climb super steep slopes without there being oil starvation.
The LJ10 went on sale in 1970 and by 1972 had been replaced by the LJ20 which was a lightly revamped LJ10, main changes were a different grill and water cooling instead of air cooling. Power was now up to a heady 32bhp and top speed to 47mph
The next model was the LJ50 (also designated SJ10) introduced in 1974
The ickle LJ now had a whole extra cylinder meaning capacity was now 539cc and top speed was 60mph, the 0-60 time was measured in minutes rather than seconds though
The final iteration of the LJ series, the LJ80 (SJ20) appeared in 1977 and intially ran alongside the LJ50, the most exciting thing about the LJ80 was an all new 4 stroke engine of all alloy construction and a capacity of 797cc, this engine is basically a smaller capacity version of the 970cc engine which powers SJ410's and it's common to find LJ80's with the later engine installed.
Some LJ80 piccies below
You can blame Suzuki for starting the whole "lifestyle" SUV saga
Production of the LJ80 ceased in 1981
Hope that was not too boring for you folks
Further reading if interested;
Suzuki's 4x4 history
Suzuki LJ resource site, well worth a look
LJ20 resto writeup
Ps If anyone has a cheap LJ80 (the only model officially imported to the UK although I have seen an LJ50 at an off road day) they want to sell, let me know
It's basically about Suzuki LJ'sI am sure you are all familiar with the Suzuki SJ (below two early ones with slatted front grill and drums all round
)which began production in 1982.
Well before the SJ series there was the LJ series, beginning with the LJ10
Suzuki got a head start by buying out another company in 1968 called Hopestar that was making a mini 4x4 called the ON360 powered by a Mitsubishi 360cc 2-stroke engine.Suzuki took the ON360 design, ditched the Mitsubishi engine for obvious reasons and installed there own twin cylinder 360cc two stroke motor that produced a mammoth 25bhp ;D It would have had a great power to weight ratio though and being two stroke it could climb super steep slopes without there being oil starvation.
The LJ10 went on sale in 1970 and by 1972 had been replaced by the LJ20 which was a lightly revamped LJ10, main changes were a different grill and water cooling instead of air cooling. Power was now up to a heady 32bhp and top speed to 47mph
The next model was the LJ50 (also designated SJ10) introduced in 1974
The ickle LJ now had a whole extra cylinder meaning capacity was now 539cc and top speed was 60mph, the 0-60 time was measured in minutes rather than seconds though
The final iteration of the LJ series, the LJ80 (SJ20) appeared in 1977 and intially ran alongside the LJ50, the most exciting thing about the LJ80 was an all new 4 stroke engine of all alloy construction and a capacity of 797cc, this engine is basically a smaller capacity version of the 970cc engine which powers SJ410's and it's common to find LJ80's with the later engine installed.
Some LJ80 piccies below
You can blame Suzuki for starting the whole "lifestyle" SUV saga
Production of the LJ80 ceased in 1981
Hope that was not too boring for you folks
Further reading if interested;
Suzuki's 4x4 history
Suzuki LJ resource site, well worth a look
LJ20 resto writeup
Ps If anyone has a cheap LJ80 (the only model officially imported to the UK although I have seen an LJ50 at an off road day) they want to sell, let me know
