1990 Suzuki Carry Kei

[Digby]

As I always found these things to be a bit of a laugh and given my last one (Honda Acty) was destroyed in a fire, I
decided to pick up another tiny pickup. I'll probably get rid of the red bits and maybe the glitter effect bumper / mirrors,
but I can't wait to tear up the tarmac in this switchable 4WD version. Plus, the downforce will be immense for cornering!

It has a 660cc, 3 pot, 4 speed setup, so you are screaming at 50ish mph (although they can do more)
but it can't all be about top speed, right?










Acty death...

Edited by Digby on Friday 23 September 13:13

[Challo]

What are these like to drive OP? The lack of weight at the back must make it a tad bouncy?

[Om]

Presumably the lip spoiler is to stop it tipping over if you do an emergency stop! (brilliant little thing - I have always thought these look fabulous).

[Lazermilk]

Awesome, have you watched mighty car mods with Marty's little kei pick up?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tfSBS3HyTc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDb81vT-9rE

[Rockets7]

Where did you source this please? That’s absolutely fabulous !

[Digby]

Challo said:

What are these like to drive OP? The lack of weight at the back must make it a tad bouncy?

Cramped, noisy, slow and if lowered, a bit bouncy, yes.

Certainly nothing to worry yourself over however. If you just accept they are silly and accept you may need to stretch your legs every ten miles and will hold up HGVs, they are fine!

[Digby]

Rockets7 said:

Where did you source this please? That’s absolutely fabulous !

Spotted this one on retro rides matey.

[Digby]

Lazermilk said:

Awesome, have you watched mighty car mods with Marty's little kei pick up?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tfSBS3HyTc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDb81vT-9rE

Great! Cheers for that

[ballans]

Brilliant!
Was hoping you were going to get a replacement for the Acty.

[furrywoolyhatuk]

Lazermilk said:

Awesome, have you watched mighty car mods with Marty's little kei pick up?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tfSBS3HyTc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDb81vT-9rE

You beat me to it, love MCM, the kei cars look like great fun.

[TeaNoSugar]

My dad had 2 of these in the 90s. I learnt to drive in the 2nd one he had. I loved driving it about. Once took it into a roundabout too quickly with it fully loaded up, nearly tipped it over!
I’ve occasionally looked for them in the past to see how much I could get one for but they all seemed to have horrendous rust around the front wheel arches and under the front seats. I can’t imagine there are many left now.

My dads was the Suzuki “Supercarry” but I think it was identical to the better known Bedford Rascal (pronounced Ras-Cal; ooooooh yeah!)

[Digby]

Started stripping off the glittery bits and red bits for some satin black treatment.

Even though the idea behind my lift is to raise via the sills so you can change wheels etc (no sills on this, obviously) I was happy to see it just fitted the on the lift with the extenders used...



Also fitted a few usb slots and purchased a Bluetooth MP3 player and speaker rather than cut the original radio out..







Front bumper and lip, door handles, rear spoiler, wing mirrors and front lamp surrounds etc removed ready for paint..

[Cambs_Stuart]

Fantastic purchase. I love kel cars. Looking forward to how this progresses

[oobster]

That would make me smile every time I drove it if I owned it, fantastic-looking wee thing.

[pidsy]

Great little things!

There’s a company that imports them and puts them on eBay - some fun looking modified examples. They want strong money for what they are though.

[pidsy]

[Spinakerr]

Great purchase, and yes my preference would be to get rid of the glitter and other additions.

Please do take pics when you have it fully loaded up!

[Digby]

Bit of an update...

Cup holder fitted..(that's not rice all over the floor btw, it's bits of plastic from using the Dremel on stereo surround)





Gave the backrest part of the seat some better support...



Removed the old stereo in the end and added a new unit and four wired speakers..



Original headrest bolts are holding these up. All I had to do was extend the holes in the speaker brackets.



Once all the parts came back from the paint shop, it became obvious the rear and side latches needed to be black, too.
Out with the cans...



Suzuki sticker added to some Land rover (I think?) mud flaps ready to go on. They are the only type which cover the wider wheels.



Old ammo type box purchased for some rear storage..



Old mechanic kneeling mat cut up and fitted inside and a padlock fitted..



I gave it several coats of paint and fixed it to the engine cover. Small magnet used on the frame by the rear window to keep the door open..



Suzuki stickers added..



GPS speedo added to save changing the dashboard..



Split rim bolts removed to make masking easier on the wheels. I decided on light gold..



Fat Willy sticker also helping to block the sun..



A possible future install...



And she's ready for her first show..





And we made it. Little and Large...

[bungz]

Very cool!

Not as cute as the doe eyed Acty tho

[LordGrover]

Digby said:

Heh. That looks identical the the CB I had late seventies, paired with a six foot plus firestik antennae.