1987 Suzuki Samurai Specs
by Chris Burrows
First introduced in North America one year prior to the 1987 model-year as a two-door soft top or hard top, the Suzuki Samurai introduced Americans to a new line of small four-wheel-drive utility vehicles.
Powertrain
Carried over from the 1986 model year, the 1987 Samurai was powered by an all-aluminum 1.3 L I-4 engine with two valves per cylinder, producing 60 horsepower at 6,500 rpm. This two-barrel power-plant boasted a 74 mm bore, a 77 mm stroke and a compression ratio of 8.9:1 mated to a five-speed manual transmission. Fuel efficiency topped out at 25 mpg on the highway.
Drivetrain
Leaf springs and solid axles provide both front and rear suspension for the 1987 Suzuki Samurai, with manual ball nut steering making the 16.7 foot turning radius possible. Front discs and rear drum brakes provide stopping power, and 15-inch by 5-inch wheels and tires transfer power to the ground.
Measurements
Boasting a smallish 79.9-inch wheelbase, the 1987 Suzuki Samurai is 60.2-inches wide, 65.6-inches tall and 135-inches long. With a minimum ground clearance of 8.1 inches, the Samurai can carry 10.6 gallons of gas with a tidy curb weight of just 2,094 lbs.
References
Writer Bio
A professional writer since 2006, Chris Burrows has covered news, sports and automotive topics as a blogger and Chicago-based journalist. Burrows holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago and Master of Arts in journalism from DePaul University.
