2: Explain us the steps of building the project, with photos in chronological order. The Samurai was much like the 41 Willies I had in high school and as Paul Harvey would say, “Now the Rest of the Story”. From that point on, we started looking for vehicles to start our conversion company. This roadster was the first ever EV on Charlotte Motor Speedway and yes with a top end of 140+ MPH we were keeping up with the bad boys. However, at the end of two weeks of driving time, they were fighting with each other to see who could back it out of the shop in the morning and drive it back into the shop at closing time. Whitby’s employees gave us so much grief that it was board line insubordination. We invented an ignition board, 5-gauage instrument panel, lighting DOT board that has all DOT lights on individual circuits, and our own battery management system. Conversion companies were starting to take hold we were one that has survived the Tesla movement because we created four core EV components to simplify EV conversions. Ford Roaster 1932Īt that time Tesla was in its infancy and not a major player yet. In 3.5 months, we built a blank chassis and body to an all electric drive. Our first conversion was a Factory Five 33 Ford Roadster in conjunction with Whitby Motorcars in Greensboro, NC. This is when Mike joined Green Cycle Design Group. Our shared experiences were good and some not so good. In 2010 Mike Rollins and I connected after doing independent electric conversion projects and in comparing notes, we shared many of the same experiences. That is when I got hooked on electric drive systems, the instant torque, the quiet ride, and most importantly – no gas. Since moving to North Carolina in 2000 I connected with an Electric Vehicle group in the Raleigh area. It was a great all around farm vehicle that we could take to town or on the dirt roads. We used that to pull hayracks or chasing cows over 640 acres. Growing up on a farm in Iowa in the late 1970’s, we put a 283 Chevy motor in a 1941 Willies Jeep. The Samurai still has all wheel drive and the performance has increased, even at 115 Volts with an AC drive motor.
Finding one that hasn't changed can be difficult, and many tweaks aren't advised.This is the second one we have converted from ICE (internal combustion engine) to an all electric drive. Also, in some areas, a Samurai with a non-stock engine may not be emission-legal, so double-check the rules. The hardtop is getting difficult to find in good condition. As a result, it is the most cost-effective collectible in the future. Samurais, imports from all over the world, are increasing every year.Īccording to Hagerty, the price range has risen by 5% to $10,000 to $14,500. Because of the scarcity of good conditions, Samurai, in the American market. It was a forerunner of the present Suzuki Jimny, which by many aficionados in the United States revered as forbidden fruit. When it was new, the Samurai had a poor reputation for rollovers, but enthusiasts have come to appreciate its off-road capability. Suzuki sold nearly 150,000 Samurais in the United States in the first three years. It set a record for the best first-year sales list of any Japanese car in America, with 47,000 units sold in the first year. The Suzuki Samurai was two-thirds the price of the new-for-1987 Jeep Wrangler, with a basic price of $6,550. The third-generation Jimny debuted in 1998, and after a 20-year run, the fourth-generation Jimny debuted in 2018 it is still on market around the world. Despite its demise in the United States, it lives under names such as the Sierra, and Jimny continues to spread love around the world. Some would argue that the handling of the '88 Samurai is quite excellent, thanks to improved sway bars over prior models. While the two settled out of court eight years later, Suzuki probably ended up looking much worse.ĭespite, Consumer Reports' claim that it rolled over too frequently. Suzuki battled Consumer Reports the next year. Sales plummeted, and Suzuki discontinued the Samurai in North America in 1995. However, thanks to Consumer Reports, the Samurai's American dream came to an end.Ĭonsumer Reports released photos and videos of the Suzuki flipping up onto the outriggers. It was cute, affordable, and competent, off-road capable enough to compete with the Jeep Wrangler, which was substantially less expensive at that time. In 1985, Suzuki introduced the handy small 4-wheel-drive utility to the United States.
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