Suzuki LJ50
There are doors but no roof and no seatbelts. The only thing keeping me grounded was my firm grip on the two-spoke plastic steering wheel as I prepared to take this sub-600 kg 4x4 Kei car through an intimidating left-hand incline up an old slate mine. However, I remembered this simple off-roader – which forms part of the foundation of the Suzuki Jimny’s 50-year heritage – had already done more than enough to prove itself. And I’m not just referring to its effortless conquering of the 4x4 trail at the Cradle of Humankind.
The Suzuki LJ50 is a car whose legend is not widely known.
What exactly is the Suzuki LJ50? Although it looks like something that trans-ported troops through the battlefields of World War Two, this bare-bones off-roader came two dec‐ ades after the likes of the Willys Jeep and Land Rover Series 1. It’s quite a bit smaller than its inspirational forbears with a wheelbase of 1 930 mm and height of 1 670 mm.
With both axles on a pair of leaf springs with 16-inch steel wheels and drum brakes, the LJ50 was designed with simplicity in mind. Getting inside is where the entertain‐ ment begins. Rather than using conventional door handles and locks, the LJ50 simply uses a latch system. Once I was certain the door had been properly fastened and wouldn’t swing open while driving, I turned my atten‐ tion to the instruments … there weren’t many. The steering wheel has a four-speed manual shifter placed next to a manual drive selector. An array of switches and dials are on the dash for lights, wipers and choke. The handbrake sprouts from the floor of the driver’s footwell which is also convenient.
In true classic-car fashion – and to keep the wiring as simple as possible – the ignition is
found in the centre of the dash. A twist of the key brings the engine to life easily enough. Where things get a bit challenging is when you depress the clutch and engage first gear. The long arm of the gear shifter isn’t the most direct, which means I had to be extra precise in my movements. Much easier, thankfully, was the launch, which required a slight overrev of the engine and release of the clutch. Once I was on my way, it was a breeze, quite literally … with no roof or windows, I was im‐ mediately greeted by a brisk wind which was pleasant on such a hot day.
Much like the LJ50’S appearance, it’s not in‐ timidating to drive. Its leaf-spring suspension hops about on gravel in a fashion reminiscent of how cars drove in the 1960s. Responsively delivering power to the wheels, the character‐ ful two-stroke mill fills the air with a clatter‐ ing engine note (and a fair bit of smoke). Des‐ pite this jovial attitude, it does let you know it is a serious off-roader. Thanks to its straight‐ forward suspension and no-nonsense driv‐ etrain, it tackles obstacles without breaking a sweat; drivers just need to have confidence in its abilities.
The trust between car and driver was put to the test when we arrived at the slate mine section of the trial. We had to ease the LJ50 down a steep right-hand decline. Engaging first gear and low range, I crept off the clutch and marvelled at how the little 4x4 effort‐ lessly conquered the rough surface.
Next was a puddle. Not too deep if I was in something tall like a Land Cruiser 200. How‐ ever, in the LJ50 it looked as if I was about to drive straight into the ocean. But my faith in its abilities remained steadfast. I slotted it into high range, engaged first gear, revved the engine and headed through at full steam. Without any hassle, I was home and dry.
The final obstacle was the real challenge; a steady decline followed by a steep left-hand incline on a very loose surface which had to be stitched together in one fluid manoeuvre. The decline was slow and steady but once I reached the bottom, I slammed on the power and charged right up the incline until I reached a safe space to stop at the top.
The LJ50 is a mechanical marvel that charms all of your senses. As a pure offroader, it is a truly unique vehicle to pilot. In an age of air suspension, advanced tractioncontrol systems and other modern devices, the challenges of overcoming the beaten path have been all but removed. Thankfully, cre‐ ations such as the LJ50 still exist for purists to sharpen their skills.