modification on suzuki ss80 (the oldest 800)

hi folks,

i am planning to buy an used maruti 800 ( the original japanese suzuki ss80)

when i saw its japanese pics i got crazy about it

here is the link of my flickr account for some pictures

http://www.flickr.com/photos/smartclickr/sets/72157622409498838/

Q1. from where & for how much should i get this used car in good condition. (i am in ludhiana)

Q2. what should its restoration cost & from where to restore (rust, smoked windscreen,....). i think a 25 years old car will have messed up interiors.

Q3. engine overhauling??

Q4 will i face any problems from Govt. i mean 25 yrs old car, its pollution, etc.....

Q5 can i replace its 796cc engine with more powerful zen 993cc engine. (fuel efficiency??)

regards

Prabhjot Singh

Your signature kind of rubs on your approach to cars!!(kudos to the initiative)

Prabhjot at the outset this is going to be expensive, so whats the budget that you are planning to work on?

well binoy my budget is around 50k to 70k and can be more flexible

NO REPLY??

No cars with > 20 years are allowed on roads because of registration expiry.

So unless you live in hinterlands, where you know and chat daily with your local thulla, >20 years will be very inconvenient.

As I know there are no 'ss80' units that are <20 years. So your project has gone beyond the relm of possibility . Next move?

Prabhojit, I've owned an SS80 in mint condition for many many years and sold it in 2004. It was one of my first cars. Although they are a joy to drive there are many things about the SS80 which are a pain in this day and age.

To start with you can't find any body panels / and the sheet metal on this car is fairly thin. The A pillars, firewall, all Fender corners (where the mudflaps mount), the bottom of the front doors, the rain channels are all prone to rust however well you do try to primer and paint the car.

The original Mikuni carb packing kit, is a pain to obtain in the market as are little things like the indicator lights, tail lamps and the front grille. Forget about interior parts! I took two years to find a rear strut for the bootlid glass!!!

You'd get an okay car for as little as 20K but you'd need a lot moolah for a full restoration and the mods you want.

My sincere advice - Find a good 5 speed MPFI 800 or an old zen and work on that car. Although i'm a lover of the SS80, it can be quite frustrating to work on and modify the car - especially on a budget. However, if you have all the money in the world and the time, a well kept SS80 is a joy.

Here's a picture of my car before I sold it in '04. Apart from window tint, sealed beam headlights, a Pioneer Stereo and a better aircon compressor, it was almost factory stock. It was amongst the first 100 to roll out in end '84.

I really really miss her so much

[URL=http://img12.imageshack.us/i/oldfaithful.jpg/][IMG]http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/5714/oldfaithful.th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

OR

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/5714/oldfaithful.jpg

Yeah ur projects will cost u very much & it will be very hard also to find its parts it many cost u more that buy a New 800 or even more that when ur car is ready to use .

I too thinking of keep my 97 model 800 as a part of history in house & go for a Gypsy 4x4.

U will have insurance problem since ur car is modified u will lose insurances of ur car

PRAJOBITH.,   i think the cars market value is around 25 to 50k   

 Two months back  i had purchased a well maintained ss80 for 37k . now i kept that vehicle to some modification in engine,exhaust, headers,interiors and the wheels . 

Well if someone finds a good SS80 please let me know - it is a beautiful car to drive and own.

A friend of mine bought one about a year or more back - the car is still in MINT condition, runs as silently as an electric vehicle and has no rust.  EVERYTHING on that vehicle is original, including the OE seat covers! 

PS:  His car is over 20 years old (its a 1985), but he's still able to register it and run it around.  I own two 55 year old cars and a 25 year old bike - no issues with those either.

Hey kartik ganesh, Will it be difficult to register a 1985 suzuki SS80 model in mumbai if i find the car in some other state. so far i haven't found one in mumbai yet , considering it the 20 year model. please do advice.