“Mini Raptor? Who wants one? Owner: @gildredracing”
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United Kingdom shop Shropshire Quads converts the small Suzuki Jimny into a useful pickup truck that is perfect as a farmhand.
You don't need a giant 4x4 to go off roading, hit the trails, or start exploring. I've proved that with my Suzuki Sidekick, The Teal Terror. I recently ran across this little gem, a 1979 Suzuki LJ81, which is essentially the model before the Suzuki Samurai. These little guys are a rarity, especially in such amazing condition. The tiny rig is owned by Joe and Dana Marshall who run Mule Expedition Outfitters in Washington State. They refer to it as their micro overlander, an extremely fitting term for such a small travel-ready vehicle. The Marshalls kept most things on this pristine little four-wheeler mostly stock, with the exception of the slightly larger wheels and tires, a custom winch bumper, a 4,500 lb. TJM winch, and a custom bed rack. It's powered by a four-stroke 797cc four-cylinder SOHC engine with a whopping 41 horsepower. They say it'll do 55 miles per hour—with a tail wind. Keep in mind, earlier iterations of Suzuki's 4x4s were powered by two-stroke engines. In December, 2013, the Marshalls fabricated the rack for the back so they could mount their rooftop tent for camping excursions. Frankly, it's a great little setup, and the tent stows neatly on the rack when not in use. Their goal with the vehicle is to outfit it for off-road overland travel. They're even talking about taking it down to Overland Expo one year. Of course, they said they'd likely stick to the smaller roads and dirt trails to get there. We love seeing these awesome little overlanders. It only reinforces the idea you don't need to spend a ton of money—or have a huge vehicle—to get out and explore. Be sure to check out other featured vehicles in our Subcompact Showcase, too. Want your vehicle showcased? Send us an email or message us on Facebook.
This is going to be a very rough basis to go off of, there are a variety of different models among years and tons of little differences. I have driven every single Kei truck and most iterations of them, but far from all-knowing, so please feel free to suggest additions/changes/corrections. Please do not take anything personally if I “offend” your preferred brand with certain facts and opinions based on experience and existing information resources. Mostly referencing 90-96 mo
The rugged, reliable, and attractive classic Toyota Pickup is the perfect 4x4 for this moment. Trucks and vintage four-wheelers are hot right now.
Mini Moke is a typical sight on tropical vacation spots. It was built by various manufacturers from 1964 to 1993 using Mini parts.
Click on the articles below for an in-depth blog post on our most recent builds. This page is updated periodically, so please check back again later! IS THE NEXT
With a little creativity and a lot of effort, even the most undesirable cars can become one-off masterpieces. India's Holy Shift Garage performed an incredible makeover on a Suzuki Omni, a kei van with a tiny 800cc motor that was...
Learn more about Skylite Roof Turbodiesel: 1991 Toyota LiteAce 4WD in the US on Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online.
I've said it before: lifting is the new lowering. In fact, I wrote about this trend back in 2014. Five years later, I keep seeing cars that used to be typically lowered getting lifted. Heck, there are even Facebook groups that celebrate this, such as the Safari All The Cars group. Lifting cars is definitely a thing. Enter Jake Brown, who lives in Maine. Jake took his 2009 Toyota Yaris and gave it some extra ground clearance so he could better explore New England year-round. If you're a long-time reader, you may remember the lifted Toyota Yaris Overlander I wrote about back in 2014. This is a similar idea. The car has been Jake's daily driver since 2014 and was stock before the transition, as evidenced above. It spent most of its life in Mississippi but recently moved with Jake to the western foothills of Maine. "I knew I'd need a heavier vehicle to handle the winter road conditions, but the Yaris is unparalleled for fuel economy, and it doesn't hurt that you can park it in a tight spot," says Jake. His brother-in-law, Matt, came up with the idea to lift the car. Matt, a car enthusiast and skillful mechanic, hashed out the details. This could help transform the vehicle into something that could better handle the harsh Maine winters. Jake said the unique build had appeal. Since the car was sold in the U.S. from model years 2007–2019, there were plenty of them around for parts. Plus, he'd never seen one modified quite like this. "We knew this vehicle would turn heads." A 30mm (1.2 inch) lift was installed using custom spacers. More ground clearance comes by way of 205/75R15 General Grabber tires wrapped around Sparco Terra wheels. The rolling stock is more than 3-inches larger in diameter (that's 14.3% bigger) than the stock 185/60R15 tires providing extra ground clearance, albeit there's a tradeoff in acceleration. Plus, the all-terrain tires provide excellent traction in snow and rough conditions. Sounds like just the right setup for Maine. To haul more gear, Jake added a custom-welded rack to the roof and vintage Thule crossbars. Jason says the roof basket improves the overall utility, allowing transport for camping and hiking gear on adventures to Maine's outdoor attractions. A coat of polish and some decals finish the basket's look. We're firm believers in the utility of roof racks on small cars, so this seems like a great way to expand the Yaris' versatility. Other Modifications Jake's modifications aren't limited to a lift and wheels/tires. The car has a K&N air filter and replaced MAF sensor as well as a TRD exhaust system. Other niceties include roof drip moldings, a stubby antenna, TRD decals, and a host of stickers. "As an outdoor enthusiast, I plan to use this vehicle to its full capacity as I explore New England, adding more memories (and stickers) along the way," says Jake. Here's the full list of mods and supplies: 30 mm lift kit (strut spacers) -- front and rear Tires/Wheels - 205/75R15 Grabbers with Sparco Terra Rims (Phillips TPMS) TRD exhaust Custom fabricated rack welded to roof Basket (Apex RBC-4938HD) -- attached to roof rack with refurbished Thule Racks and U bolts MAF sensor replacement K&N air filter Roof drip moldings Litty Stubby antenna Replaced headlights (headlamp renewal kit) New wiper blades (including rear) TRD decals Stickers Jake would like to thank the people that helped to contribute this Yaris and its story including Ashley E. Priebe Brown, and his brother-in-law, Matthew Priebe. I think Jake's build is great. It's not over-the-top crazy, yet ads capability and versatility to a fuel-efficient, proven platform. And if this build is any evidence, you can expect to see more lifted cars rolling around your neck of the woods soon.
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Shown at the 1987 Tokyo Auto Exposition, the Judo was a 2 passenger all-terrain vehicle with cargo space and a removable hardtop roof. Source: http://www.conceptnissan.com
While the reasons not to turn a compact BMW into a flatbed truck are many, we're glad someone decided to disregard them and create this awesome one of a kind Isetta.
