Our chariot
- Make: Suzuki
- Model: SJ 4wd
- Year: 1992
- Type: LWB
- Engine size: 1.3L
Yes, it’s a long wheel base Suzuki SJ, with only 50,000 miles on the clock! It was purchased where all good things come from, on ebay, and came from near Brighton. We’re hoping the entire 50,000 miles weren’t done without an air filter and that it was removed just before we bought it (gulp!).
The team at Top Gear recently rated the Suzuki SJ as the 12th worst car of all time.
Its 1.3L engine makes an earth shattering 47kW, which is enough to propel it’s sleek aerodynamic shape to 55mph.
The hardtop is detachable, and the windscreen folds flat for the proper Mongolian experience!
Since driving the car from Brighton to our headquarters in Brackley, it has become apparent it could do with some TLC. Let’s just say almost everything electrical failed on the journey, and one of the wheels almost fell off... and that was only 150 miles. Imagine what could happen in 10,000.
We’ve made the decision to use a 1.3L car instead of a 1.0L. This means we’ll have to raise another 300 penalty pounds for our charities. The original plan was to purchase a 1.3L car for its 5 speed gearbox, and then fit a 1.0L engine (which was sold only with a 4spd). However further research revealed the 34kW 1.0L engine can’t actually push the car in 5th gear! We have decided that with 2 people and Tim (let’s just say he is much taller than your average Suzuki car designer), and our plan to tackle Tajikistan’s Pamir highway, we’d be best to stick with our 1.3 litres.
Stephen and Tim are still in Australia, so the majority of vehicle prep will be done by Derek. Keep reading our blog for regular posts about vehicle progress, and whether an engineer can actually use a set of spanners.
If you’d like to read more about the Suzuki SJ, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_Samurai.
