Jimny celebrates 40 giant-killing years

Some vehicles never grow old, even if they’ve notched up decades of trusty service. One of the best examples of this ageless phenomenon is the Suzuki Jimny.
 
The indestructible midget celebrates four decades of giant-killing greatness this year. There have been five generations of the much-lauded compact 4x4 since the launch of the original Jimny in 1970, with global sales now topping more than 2,5-million units.
 
Huge successes can have tiny beginnings. In 1970, the first Jimny was powered by a tiny two-cylinder, two-stroke engine with a capacity of jut 359 cc and a maximum output of only 18,5 kW.
 
Today, those statistics seem almost ludicrous, but that didn’t stop the first Jimny, dubbed the LJ10, from being successfully launched in Japan.
 
This first Jimny had a soft-top roof with zip-down canvas doors, and seating for only three, as the space behind the driver’s seat was occupied by the spare wheel. It was a very basic vehicle, with safety and convenience features noticeable only by their absence.
 
The LJ10 had a ladder-frame chassis designed specifically for tackling off-road terrain, and featured rugged leaf-spring suspension front and rear. Large 16-inch wheels at each corner provided traction, while the gearbox features a proper low-ratio transfer case.
 
Designed purely as a utility vehicle, the Jimny was only 2,95 metres long, and weighed a featherweight 630 kg. Yet, its impressive capabilities and sales success would provide the foundation and the impetus for Suzuki’s rapid growth and development in the years and decades that followed.
 
The Jimny’s attributes have always been legendary. It is considered indestructible, with astonishing all-terrain talent and peerless reliability, even in the toughest environments. The clean, functional design of the LJ10 unambiguously reflected the little Suzuki’s no-nonsense approach.
 
No wonder its fame would soon extend well beyond its home country. The second-generation Jimny, dubbed the LJ20 and released in 1972, became the first to be exported. A left-hand drive version with a fixed metal roof was developed specifically for the US market.
 
The new model boasted improved torque and midrange tractability, allowing the LJ20 to climb gradients as steep as 35 degrees. It was marginally longer and slightly heavier, too. Even so, it continued the Jimny’s growing reputation for durability by finishing the tough Mexico 1000 Rally, after some 34 hours of racing.
 
The LJ20 was also the first to get a redesigned front grille, now fitted with vertical slats – a design that would become an enduring symbol of the Jimny nameplate.
 
In 1975, The LJ50 became the third iteration of the iconic compact 4x4, and was built specifically for export only. The need for more power and improved performance dictated that the LJ50 needed more muscle.
 
As a result, Suzuki fitted a watercooled two-stroke, three-cylinder engine for the first time. The 539 cc unit was good for 27 kW and 57 Nm of torque, but at 700 kg, the LJ50 was also the heaviest Jimny to date.
 
Even so, it remained a paragon of all-terrain prowess, tackling (and conquering) countries like Australia, thanks to its mix durability and 4x4 talent.
 
The last of the first-tier Jimny models was the LJ80 – and it marked the use of a four-stroke, four-cylinder engine in a Jimny for the first time. It was offered in pick-up form in some countries, but in Europe, it was considered a purely recreational go-anywhere machine.
 
Launched in 1977, the LJ80’s 787 cc four-stroke unit produced 30,5 kW and 60 Nm. It also marked the end of the Jimny LJ family.
 
Its replacement was the new SJ410, which made its bow in 1981. The designation was created by combining the ‘S’ for Suzuki and the ‘J’ for Jimny with a number ‘4’ for four-cylinder engine and a ‘10’ for 1,0-litre engine capacity.
 
The newcomer represented a substantial step forward, compared to its predecessor. Larger and more spacious, it also boasted improved performance from a larger, 1,0-litre four-cylinder powerplant.
 
All these improvements served to highlight the little Suzuki’s extensive applications in both workhorse and leisure vehicle roles, as well as being a viable commuter – which, in turn, boosted its appeal around the globe.
 
 
The SJ410 had grown, but at 3,43 metres long and 1,46 metres wide, it was still a very compact vehicle. Which meant that the new engine’s 33,5 kW and 73,5 Nm was more than ample to extract swift straight-line performance and eager off-road dynamics from the little Suzuki.
 
In 1984, Suzuki launched an upgraded version of the SJ410 and badged it the SJ413. The principal change was the larger, more powerful 1,3-litre engine.
 
Credited with 47 kW and 104 Nm, it was the largest powerplant in any Suzuki vehicle at that point. It was also equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox and a more luxurious cabin.
 
The SJ413 was one of the most enduring Jimny designs in the extended history of the nameplate, lasting from 1984 to its eventual replacement in 1998.
 
The SJ413 was sold in South Africa by the then Delta Motor Corporation. Subsequently, it developed into the much-loved Suzuki Samurai that boasted a 49 kW 1,3-litre engine, wider front and rear tracks, as well as coil springs for added comfort.
 
Although the remarkably capable and big-hearted 4x4 disappeared from the SA market for several years, it has maintained an extremely loyal and passionate following among local enthusiasts – and certainly kept the Suzuki flag flying.
 
The highly anticipated launch of Suzuki Auto SA in 2008 saw a return of the company's iconic little 4x4, and a return to the original Jimny designation.
 
Completely redesigned, the latest Jimny looks street-wise and more sophisticated, but loses none of its chunky attitude or obviously considerable all-terrain talents.
 
A roomier interior, tougher and a stiffer chassis, wider tracks and improved ground clearance are only some of the many improvements made. Power has increased to 63 kW and 109 kW.
 
The Jimny has many achievements to its credit. But few compare with the record set in a modified 1988 SJ413.
 
Chileans Gonzalo Bravo and Eduardo Canales drove their little Suzuki up the slopes of the Ojos del Salado volcano in Chile on 21 April 2007, reaching an incredible altitude of 6 688 metres.
 
That feat earned the duo – and especially their Suzuki steed – the Guinness Book of Records-certified world record for the highest altitude ever attained by a passenger vehicle. The previous record of 6 646 m was also set on Ojos del Salado, by a German team driving a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.
 
Today, the latest Jimny is one of Suzuki’s most popular models around the world, including in South Africa, where the little all-terrainer has also enjoyed a long and illustrious history.
 
Thoroughly modern and carefully engineered, the giant-killing 4x4 has no fear when tackling even the most extreme terrain – and the built-in toughness to last another 40 years!