Japan has most likely produced extra iconic excessive efficiency autos than another car-manufacturing nation. The Supra, Jimny, Impreza and GT-R are just some of many.

Okay… rewind. The Jimny? Actually? Now earlier than you chunk my head off for mentioning the Suzuki Jimny and Nissan GT-R in the identical breath, let’s focus on it over a latte within the café of Japan’s Jimny Museum.

That is the non-public assortment of Mr. Shigeru Onoue, the founding father of Jimny specialist store APIO. Onoue-san is the plain godfather of Jimny tuning in Japan and has been producing aftermarket improve elements for the wildly-popular Suzuki off-roader for the reason that late Nineteen Eighties.

Situated within the countryside of Kanagawa, only a stone’s throw away from lush mountains and clear working rivers, it’s the proper place to geek out over a number of the finest go-anywhere machines ever made.

Strolling into the foyer, guests are greeted by a second technology LJ-20, completed in a superb mustard yellow. This one, identical to all of the vehicles within the museum, has been personally restored by Onoue-san and the staff at APIO.

Proper, I’ll order the coffees whilst you take a look at the physique of one other LJ-20. This one has been separated from the chassis, which is feasible as a result of it’s how all Jimnys are constructed.

That is the LJ-10, the primary automobile to bear the Jimny identify, based mostly off the HopeStar ON360. The ON360 by no means noticed business manufacturing, with solely round 40 ever made. Suzuki purchased the Hope Motor Firm and utilized its AWD system for the Jimny.

Okay, you’re most likely nonetheless questioning why I included the Jimny in a listing of icons just like the almighty Supra and GT-R. It’s an eyebrow-raising assertion for certain, however there’s a thread holding it collectively, I promise.

Bear in mind the rusty previous physique within the café space? That is what sits beneath it – a ladder-frame chassis that features all of the suspension elements and the part-time AWD dual-range transmission. The place the Supra has the 2JZ, this primary however sensible four-wheel drive system is what makes the Jimny worthy of icon standing.

Simply how good is the AWD system? Effectively, Suzuki themselves are just a little humble in recognissing its brilliance. The G-Trac (an abbreviation of Good-Traction) mannequin above might be promoting itself just a little brief. Simply Google ‘off highway lifted Jimny’ and luxuriate in hours of footage of little Suzukis inching up and out of some unbelievable terrain.

As a result of the Jimny has no middle diff, it should at all times discover traction at both the entrance or rear axle. I’m certain there are many different issues that make it an amazing off-roader – like method angle and wading depth – however that’s all a bit out of my information pool.

The icons we’re all acquainted with – GT-Rs, Supras and different excessive efficiency vehicles – all do wonderful issues on asphalt. However there’s one other type of excessive efficiency. Excessive efficiency autos can even exist off highway. And that’s the reason the Jimny deserves its personal museum, and to be talked about in the identical sentence as our different heroes.

To not point out the enjoyment this little off-roader brings to hundreds the world over. Simply have a look at this Santa Monica version. The FRP physique was bought at Suzy Sports activities in Tokyo and bolted straight onto any SJ-30 chassis. You possibly can’t assist however like it.

Issues begin to get just a little extra critical when the vehicles are arrange for rally. Onoue-san’s personal JB23W sequence Jimny entered the Mongolian Rally 3 times, successful its class in 2014.

He additionally entered the vehicles seven occasions within the Australian Safari Rally and 9 occasions within the Paris-Dakar, crossing the end line on all counts.

If I needed to decide one of many vehicles on show on the Jimny Museum as a day by day driver, it could undoubtedly be this shiny orange, left-hand drive Samurai. Then once more, if you wish to rub shoulders with Japan’s best on the subsequent Daikoku PA meet, then a rally-prepped Jimny is most likely the solution to go.

Toby Thyer
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