Úvod »* Prospekty a brožury» Suzuki SJ 1971-1997
Suzuki was a late entrant to the world of four-wheel drives. The company's first models were built at the beginning of the 1970's, and drew on proven micro-car technology to create a miniature 4x4 for markets in South-East Asia. To Western eyes, they appeared ludicrously underpowered and undersized, but before long it became apparent just how capable they really were. As the horizons of the Japanese car industry widened, so the little Suzukis began to appear in more and more Western countries - and wherever they appeared, they were a massive hit. The real success story was that the SJ models, introduced in the early 1980s to replace the earlier LJs. To Western eyes, their cheeky appearance and fun-seeking nature gave them a very special appeal. On the road, their firm suspension and rather buzzy engines made them tiring to drive for long distances, but as chic urban runabouts with weekend off-road capabilities they were unbeatable. Before long Suzuki found that they could not keep up with demand in Europe (where imports were of course restricted by the so-called voluntary agreements with Japanese manufactures). So an agreement was reached with Santana in Spain, who already had many years’ experience assembling Land Rovers, and from the mid-1980's it was Spanish built Suzukis which were sold in European markets. Bigger engines and a fifth gear at the end of the decade were welcome if inevitable improvements, and there were even long-wheelbase derivatives to add to the SJ's versatility. Limited editions and a vast array of accessories have all added to the appeal of these little 4x4s. Their off-road ability is not in doubt, and they have a long future in the enthusiast market. The articles in this book should persuade anyone who had doubts about the vehicles’ charms that they really do have a lot to offer. Models covered: Brute, IV, LJ50, LJ80V, LJ81, Sierra, SJ41OP, SJ410 Q, SJ410QX, JX, Samurai, Samurai JX, SJ413K Pick-up, Santana, SJ413JX, Janspeed, Allard & LWB SJ413.