Image courtesy Flickr/OnInnovation
Automotive legend Carroll Shelby died in Dallas last Thursday night at the age of 89, after being hospitalized for pneumonia.
It’s difficult to say which aspect of Shelby’s life earned him the most fame and respect. He was responsible for designing and building the Shelby Cobra and the Shelby Mustang, overturned class barriers in the world of high-stakes auto racing, had a passion for chili that he leveraged into an annual fundraiser for charity, and even managed to convert the Dodge Omni into a pretty awesome car.
Carroll Shelby was the thorn in many people’s side. A plucky, unrepentant underdog, Shelby made a name for himself by putting ridiculously gigantic engines into small, unlikely car models – and then using the resulting Frankenstein monster to wipe the track with the competition. The startling racing success of his Shelby Mustang helped to single-handedly revive the pony car’s appeal, and ensure its legendary status for the future.
Shelby was born in a small rural Texas town in 1923. He served as a US Army Air Corps test pilot and flight instructor during WWII, then returned to Texas to raise poultry. When disease wiped out his entire flock in the 1950s, Shelby turned the disaster into an opportunity: to turn his hobby of auto racing into a full-time career.
The “Texas chicken farmer turned American car producer” was a resourceful innovator, an inspiration to many, and a true American legend.
Image courtesy Flickr/TurnDriverSide
You can’t help but feel a little sorry for the Suzuki Samurai. On the one hand, everyone deserves to drive a car which conforms to minimum standards of safety (see also: the exploding Ford Pinto).
On the other hand, in the decades since the Samurai slowly faded from the marketplace, we have seen the stratospheric rise in sales of vehicles (including cars, trucks, and SUVs) which are just as prone to rolling over, if not more so.
At the time, the Suzuki Samurai was a novelty: the compact SUV, a car that promised all of the visibility, off-road capability, and clearance of a 4×4 truck, with all the “fits in a normal parking space” of a regular car. The Samurai had already proven to be incredibly popular in the rest of the world, and it hit the American market with a bang, posting amazing sales in its first few years.
And then came the infamous Consumer Reports review, which claimed that the Samurai “easily rolls over in turns.”
Critics of the initial report claim that the Samurai’s “unacceptable tip-over behavior” is something that the Consumer Reports team worked hard to demonstrate. The tip-over behavior didn’t happen when “experienced drivers utilized the standard course,” so Consumer Reports modified the course (to make it more tippy) and added extra swerve tests.
Whether or not that was a fair test, news reports ran with “Samurai’s High Roll-Over Risk,” and the damage to the Samurai’s reputation was done.
It’s too bad, too, because this peppy little 4×4 was a great vehicle, and continues to sell well in other parts of the world. And as always, if you need to replace your Samurai’s convertible top, we’ve got what you need! We have a budget top by Pavement Ends, a top by Bestop (manufacturer of the original equipment), and a third premium option by Robbins Auto Tops.
Image courtesy Flickr/TurnDriverSide
Q: How do I lower the convertible top on my Suzuki Samurai?
A: If you aren’t accustomed to the Suzuki Samurai’s style of convertible top, it can be a little bit difficult to figure out how to remove the soft top. Unlike most convertibles, the Samurai’s top does not feature any lifting or lowering mechanisms. Or even an obvious place to start!
Basically, you just unsnap the top from the Samurai’s frame. There are three types of attachments: snaps, Velcro, and a “bead in the track” fastener. Start by unsnapping the top from the windshield and the bow in the rear (above the rear window).
As you move around your Suzuki Samurai, you will also encounter a few straps which are attached with hook-and-loop fastener (Velcro). Detach these.
When you have un-done all of these fasteners, the final one is a bead in a groove, which is at the B pillars, the column right behind each of the two side doors. Just lift the top, and the bead will come out of the groove in the pillar.
Once you have removed the top, roll it up and tuck it between the tailgate and the rear seats to keep it safe. Now you’re ready for a beautiful drive on a sunny day! (And if you need a new top to refresh your ride, we’ve got you covered!)
Image courtesy Flickr/xenne
The Suzuki Samurai has been in production internationally from 1968 until today, but it was only available in North America from 1983 through 1994. Technically known as the SJ413, this compact SUV featured a convertible version that includes a zip-out rear window which rolls up and fastens at the top with Velcro straps.
As a small 4WD, the Samurai was powerful for its size. It was also a trendsetter, establishing a beachhead for the SUV craze of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The Samurai was fun to drive and had a lot of personality, and a vibrant fan community still exists for this scrappy little vehicle today.
If your Suzuki Samurai convertible top is showing wear and tear from its years both on the road and off, check out our replacement options!
We offer the Suzuki Samurai soft top from Pavement Ends, which is a budget top that uses a slightly lighter-weight denim and plastic, but which is also more affordable. We also have Samurai tops by Bestop, which is the original equipment manufacture (OEM). And we have a third option: Robbins Brand tops, a premium top used by professionals, which also features a 35% charcoal tint on the windows. Read more here.
