Welcome back! Since we have a short week because of the MLK holiday yesterday, I thought we’d spend it looking at some project cars. Today we’ve got two adorable little vehicles from Japan that both make do with two-cylinder engines. Neither one is drivable as it sits, but they both look like decent projects to me.
On Friday, we looked at two cars that complemented each other well enough that I gave you a “Both” option in the poll. But the old Volvo wasn’t enough of a pull to put that option at the top – and the little Datsun pickup handily outscored it by itself. The love for simple little old trucks continues, it seems.
I still like them both, but if I had to choose, my imaginary $3,500 is going to the Datsun as well. It’s just so damn charming. And you never see them that clean anymore, especially for that price.
It took a while for Japanese cars to be taken seriously in the US. Yeah, they were cute and all, but when you could just as easily go to the Chevy dealership and get a Malibu with a V8 and air conditioning and seats like a Barcalounger, they were a hard sell. But the early adopters did love them, and of course, the rest of the market caught up pretty quickly. And now, those rare early Japanese imports are becoming true collectibles, when you can find them. I found a couple for sale that both need some work, but also don’t cost a whole hell of a lot. Let’s see which one you prefer.
1972 Honda Z600 – $2,900
Engine/drivetrain: 598 cc overhead cam inline 2, four-speed manual, FWD
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Odometer reading: unknown
Operational status: Ran and drove before being parked for restoration
The Honda Z600 was the “sporty” version of the N600, a tiny hatchback that pre-dated the Civic. I guess, in a way, that makes the Z600 the predecessor to the beloved CRX. It’s a two-door hatchback, basically a two-seater, meant to add a little style and sportiness to the economy car formula.
Like the N600, the Z is powered by a 598 cc twin, with roller bearings on the crankshaft which allow for an absolutely ludicrous redline. This tiny engine makes 36 horsepower at a mind-bending nine thousand revolutions per minute. It drives the front wheels through a four-speed manual. This example was running and driving before it was parked and disassembled, the seller says, but it has been sitting for a while and will need reviving.
Someone already put some work into this car; the interior has been gutted, but the front seats have new upholstery. The rest of the interior panels aren’t shown in the photos, but the seller says they have “every part plus some,” and show boxes of stuff that comes with it, so I assume and hope that the rest of the interior and glass is in there somewhere.
There has been some work done on the outside as well. Most of the original orange paint has been covered up with primer, and it looks like someone was getting it ready for paint. This looks to me like a perfect candidate for attempting a DIY paint job: it’s small, half the work is done, and all it needs is a simple bright color to look really cool.
1972 Suzuki Jimny LJ10 – $2,250
Engine/drivetrain: 359 cc two-stroke inline 2, four-speed manual, 4WD
Location: Monrovia, CA
Odometer reading: unknown
Operational status: “Does not run yet”
Suzuki’s little Jimny 4×4 is a legend among car folks. It was sold in the US as the Samurai for a number of years, and sold well despite a hatchet job by Consumer Reports over “unsafe” handling allegations. (I mean, it was no Miata, but it was not nearly as bad as they made it out to be.) We lost the Jimny in favor of the larger (and presumably safer) Sidekick/Vitara after that, but a lot of enthusiasts, including me, have loved the Jimny from afar ever since. But the Jimny’s story goes back even further, all the way to this little off-roader, the very first 4×4 to meet Japan’s Kei specifications.
The key to reliability when it comes to off-roaders is simplicity, and engines don’t get much simpler than this. It’s an air-cooled two-stroke two-cylinder, displacing 359 cubic centimeters and putting out 27 horsepower. It won’t even hit 50 miles an hour, so don’t expect to drive it on the freeway, but that’s not what it was made for. It’s made for going places other vehicles can’t, and at that, it excels. This one doesn’t run at the moment, but it sounds like the seller has done some work on it and it’s close to firing up.
This era of Jimny was never imported to America by Suzuki, but you may notice that it’s left-hand-drive. Suzuki did intend the LJ to be exported to other markets; it was brought here by a company called International Equipment Co. I tried to look them up, but the only company by that name I found here is in Tennessee, and specializes in fire suppression systems for buildings. I have no idea if it’s the same company, but if so, they certainly were diverse.
It’s complete except for the bumpers and grille, and the seller says the only rust that’s a problem is in the passenger’s side floor. Obviously it needs complete restoration, but it looks like a good candidate for it. The little two-stroke engine won’t be up to much, but it could be a fun little in-town runabout or a unique way to get around a big property.
The advantage of little cars as projects is that you can fit the car and all the parts for it in one garage stall, with plenty of room to work. You’ll have your work cut out for you with either of them, but they both look like fun rides once they’re finished. So which one are you willing to take on?
(Image credits: sellers)
Definitely the Suzuki for me. I might actually be able to fit in it, and these cars are ones where you might actually be better off being thrown out (or bailing out) in a crash, so less structure around you is probably a good thing. And it has to be WAY more fun off-road than the Honda is on a road.
The Jimney needs a Predator engine
Need another both button. But since none exists gotta go mini jeep. Neither are anything but little bangarounds and for that the tough open top Jimny is a better ride
This was the most both button post in memory, although I went for the Z.
Agree, went with the LJ
You know, yeah I agree with that, Z-body on Jimny Chassis.
I need that LJ10 in my life.
And yes, I’d keep the motorcycle engine in it. It looks like it’d be a blast to bomb around the forest roads at my cabin in.
And teach the grandkids to drive a stick. I want it.
Suzuki. I love the looks and you would never have to worry about making it road worthy.
I like the Honda better…not that interested in the Jimny
When I was shopping for my first car (way back when) I wanted a Honda 600, second choice was a VW squareback, and due to lack of either, I settled on a ’71 Fiat 128. A year or so later a ’67 squareback appeared and I bought it in ’78 and sold the Fiat. Still have the squareback. So obviously I chose the Honda.
That gen Jimny was imported into Canada for a while. I knew someone who bought one new as a runabout for his orchard. That thing redefined slow. He kept telling everyone his dog could outrun it. One day he suggested I see for myself. I took it on one of this farm roads and floored it. Sure enough his collie came running right passed me. It was terrifying when he dog circled back in front of me. The only thing worse than the acceleration was the braking. I’m glad the dog was smart enough to get out of the way, I don’t think swerving would have ended well for me.
Still gets my vote.
I would definitely not put the little Jimny motor back, but I would rather have that vehicle in this case. I might take it out of California so I could register it and the plop it onto a Rolled RZR chassis or something so I could have a more street legal and potentially daily driver deathtrap.
Honda Z600 for me. That’s a project I’d love to finish and once done, I bet it will be a hoot to drive.
Gimme the Jimmy! Looks more fun for what I would use it for. And there is no way I would take either one of these on the freeway.
I wouldn’t take either one on a city street in the age of distracted morons in 6000lb empty Suburbans (and I say that as a guy who drives a Spitfire every summer). Both would be like the old saying about what the gunk is between an elephant’s toes – slow natives. Slow is good off-road, so Suzuki all day for me. Just swap in a bigger, better bike motor and call it good. It’s basically just a really early side-by-side.
I would wa a “none” option in this case,but I’ll play. The Z looks like a bigger project and the engine has fucking roller bearings.
The Samurai is cool, but its a 4wd with a two-stroke, which means you have to rev the shit out of it if you want to go somewhere. I will go with the Z because i can at least use it in classic racing if I ever get it running.
I’ll take the Suzuki. Seems like a fun little side-by-side alternative.
Me too, because it looks like a 2/3 scale FJ40
Went with Honda, but really wanted a none of the above option.
I drove a friend’s Z600 years ago and it was tons of fun. Shifter is push/pull and twist, otherwise normal experience. He said it would get 40mpg while cruising at 80mph. 40mpg was unheard of in the 70’s.
Gets 40mpg at 80mph because the only time that will hit 80mph is when you drive it off a cliff. Frankly should do better than 40mph with all that gravity.
Tough choice today. Went Honda because I’d want the finished product more than the non-Jeep.
Hard to choose as they are both overpriced. Ran when parked means nothing. Sure it ran 10 years ago, but now good luck.