Used car buying guide: Suzuki SC100

Car enthusiasts of a definite property volition retrieve with overmuch affection the large writer LJK Setright, a predominant Autocar contributor who was overmuch admired for his unparalleled erudition and immense method knowledge. 

This Bristol-fancying circuit de unit erstwhile owned a Suzuki SC100, bought to spot him done a little hiatus but owned for agelong capable to power those for whom his each motoring utterance was gospel. One specified idiosyncratic was me, and due to the fact that Setright had one, I bought 1 too. 

When it was subsequently written off, I bought his. I bought it erstwhile it was 10 years aged and kept it for different 7 years. Alas, I past gave it away, and erstwhile I spot however highly prized surviving examples of this charismatic small car person go since, I weep with shame. 

The SC100 was calved retired of a Japanese-market kei car called the Fronte Coupé. Launched successful 1971 and penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro, it looked, if you were to squint and basal a agelong mode backmost (a precise agelong mode back, and perchance adjacent adjacent your eyes), a spot similar a Porsche 911.

It was a two-door coupé and rear-engined too, but dissimilar the 911 it was lone conscionable implicit 10ft agelong and powered by a weeny two-stroke engine. So was the consequent update, called Cervo, which deed the Japanese streets successful 1977. 

In 1979, the Cervo came to the onshore of the British, wherever it was known arsenic the SC100 GX, SC100 or, informally, the Whizzkid. 

For the UK, this tiny 2+2 got a 970cc four-stroke four-cylinder engine, transversely mounted and water-cooled. Its maximum powerfulness of 47bhp is developed astatine a lowly 4500rpm, and it produces an awesome 61lb ft of torque astatine conscionable 2500rpm. It needs that grunt, too, due to the fact that its 4 cogwheel ratios are wide spaced, though astatine conscionable 630kg it’s just to accidental determination wasn’t truly overmuch Whizzkid to overcome. 

In theory, its apical velocity is conscionable 82mph, but owners cognize it tin spell adjacent faster than that, fixed a bully pursuing upwind and the swallowing of a brave pill oregon two. 

In truth, you request those pills if you’re to thrust it anywhere, oregon adjacent sometimes slowly. 

Experimentation with the tyre pressures and the camber adjustments built into the beforehand suspension mean the SC100 tin consciousness eager, up to a point, but it takes clip to larn to thrust astir its not unexpected dynamic flaws. 

In short, its thrust and handling are beauteous overmuch what you would expect of a tiny rear-engined car with a rearward value bias of 58% and a reasonably precocious pitching moment. 

It’s beauteous unstable nether dense braking, too, specified that I erstwhile managed to rotation my archetypal illustration done astir 360deg connected the curved attack to a suburban (and luckily deserted) roundabout, which didn’t delight my 2 passengers. 

British income came to an extremity successful 1982, aft astir 4700 cars had been sold. Now determination are conscionable 21 near connected the roadworthy and 81 SORN, according to DVLA data. Many Cervos person been personally imported implicit the years, though.

In either form, it’s eminently collectable and highly prized among a tiny set of enthusiasts who tin inactive spot the immensely likeable virtues of a delightfully analogue small Suzuki. 

What we said then 

8 March 1980: “It tin support up successful municipality and entertain successful the country, providing 1 keeps disconnected motorways. The steering is airy and gives plentifulness of feel. Handling is the biggest entertainer. It doesn’t rotation much, and it’s casual to induce a back-wheel slide. Inside, it is simply a small excessively low. If crisp handling and anxious effect are paramount, determination is conscionable arsenic overmuch amusement to beryllium had from a Mini.”

An owner’s view

Alastair Clements: “I archetypal saw a Whizzkid erstwhile I was 13, and desperately wanted to bargain it to bash up, but my dada was having nary of it. So erstwhile I was looking for an economical runabout a decennary later, I got one. I loved that car and lone sold it to bargain an engagement ring. I missed it terribly but realised I had made the close determination erstwhile my caller woman gave maine different arsenic a wedding present. I’ve inactive got it, 18 years later. It’s similar a back-to-front Mini Cooper with adjacent amended steering. I’ve hillclimbed and rallied it, but since stopping the accustomed rampant rot, I’ve retired it to gentler duties. I’ve had 4 present and can’t spot myself ever being without one.”

Buyer beware

Engine: This motor is hardy and precise reliable if decently maintained. Condition is king, truthful inquire however overmuch enactment has been done connected the motor and perceive cautiously for immoderate unwanted noises. Check the ancillaries carefully, too, arsenic these volition beryllium of a bully age, particularly the cambelt. Fuel pumps request cautious maintenance. Exhaust manifolds and backmost boxes tin origin trouble: the lone entree is done a tiny sheet down the rear spot and they are nary longer available. Take immoderate imaginable bargain for a thrust to marque definite it doesn’t overheat oregon pump retired bluish smoke. 

Transmission: This manual isn’t the astir pleasant to use, though you tin polybush the linkage, which helps. It’s known to beryllium reasonably strong, though clutches tin deterioration rapidly and are comparatively pricey. 

Brakes: These likewise tin beryllium problematic and outgo a batch comparatively to fix. Discs corrode and are nary longer disposable and the unservoed brakes, handbrake and rear-wheel cylinders tin seize. Kits for the drums are hard to find. Check the hoses. Make definite the car doesn’t propulsion to 1 broadside nether braking. 

Electrics: Although beardown erstwhile caller and of precocious quality, these tin origin occupation now, owed to the car’s immense age. Fires are uncommon but person been known. 

Bodywork: Rust could beryllium the SC100’s mediate name, alas. It tin beryllium a immense and toxic and terminal issue, noticeably astir the sills, floorpan (check nether the rear seats) and rear pillars, which are highly hard and costly to repair. Also cheque the rear arches, beforehand subframe mounts and doorway edges. Rear wings outgo up to £2000, though Mk1 Ford Fiesta arches tin beryllium used, due to the fact that the illustration is similar.

Also worthy knowing 

There were immoderate tiny differences successful the bodywork betwixt the Cervo and the SC100, the second having quadrate headlights and indicators successful the grille. In the UK, lone 1 mentation was offered, the well-equipped GX, portion different countries got a CX and a much luxurious CX-G. 

The GX came with a cigar lighter, reclining beforehand seats covered with beige vinyl/cord and autarkic all-round suspension. It had 1 update, successful 1980, the dash and file switches being modified. You would person to beryllium precise young and flexible to get into oregon retired of the rear seats and immensely resilient to enactment determination for agelong oregon question far. 

Suzuki added ballast successful the chemoreceptor of the SC100 to compensate for its rearward value bias. Still the beforehand is delightfully skittish oregon horrendously light, depending connected your constituent of view, though adding shims to the little beforehand strut equine tin help.

How overmuch to spend 

£1000-£3999: Some precise bully buys astatine the apical extremity present but cheque information thoroughly. You request immoderate work past and it’s good worthy putting immoderate imaginable acquisition up connected a ramp if you can. Many are imported Japanesedomestic-market Cervos. 

£4000 and above: Well restored, mostly rebuilt and acceptable to roll. Some imports present too.

One we found 

Suzuki SC100 GX, 1981, 47,000 miles, £3500: This has been stored for immoderate years truthful needs airy restoration. It runs and drives and is coagulated underneath, though the overgarment is mediocre and the brakes aren’t great. Its model trims were removed immoderate years agone truthful the small bits of rust could beryllium treated, and they’re included. So are rather a fewer spares, including a bonnet, a wing, a grille, motor parts, trim and badges.