1987 Suzuki Samurai 3-door 1.3l Tintop on 2040-cars

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Trick motorcycle rider breaks world record for fastest wheelie

The world record for the fastest wheelie ever was broken last week in a British racing event by certifiably crazy man Gary Rothwell. It goes without saying, but we'll say it anyway: don't try this at home, kids. On September 20, in at an airstrip in York, England, Rothwell rode his 540-horsepower turbocharged Suzuki Hayabusa 209.8 miles per hour over while balancing entirely on his rear wheel. Rothwell beat the previous world record by a whopping 10 miles an hour, according to Gizmag. Rothwell was going overboard to ensure he cinched the title. He was still miffed over his failure to break the record last month. He only reached 197.8 miles per hour in that attempt, just shy of it. Rothwell also holds world records for being the fastest man on skis, which involved him jumping off the back of his bike and being pulled along at 150 miles per hour on titanium skis. He completed the wheelie at the last Straightliners Top Speed event of the year. Straightliners is known for hosting the fastest of anything. This year featured everything from a shed that traveled over 88 miles per hour to a jet-powered shopping cart. They also welcome trick riders of all flavors to come and share their expertise. Related Video: News Source: Gizmag Motorsports Weird Car News Suzuki Driving Motorcycle Videos world record top speed fastest wheelie

Junkyard Gem: 1991 Geo Metro LSi Convertible

Beginning in 1985, General Motors brought over Suzuki Cultuses and sold them here with Chevrolet Sprint badges, which Americans bought in surprisingly large numbers (considering the crash in fuel prices around that time). When the time came for The General to launch a separate brand selling rebadged Japanese machines— Geo— the second-generation Cultus became the Geo Metro. Sporting a fuel-sipping three-cylinder engine, the Metro mostly sold to penny-pinchers interested only in cheap commutingÂ… but GM decided to make a fun convertible version, anyway. Here's one of those cars, finally retired near Denver at age 30. The 1991 Metro hierarchy started with the El Cheapo base and XFi models, at $6,795 (about $13,810 today), then moved up to the better-equipped LSi. The LSi hatchback coupe cost $7,795 ($15,840 in 2021), while the LSi convertible stood at the top of the Metro pyramid at $9,740 ($19,795 now). Believe it or not, Ford managed to undercut the 1991 Metro with its Mazda-built Festiva, priced at $6,620 in its cheapest form. You could buy a Suzuki-badged version of this car, known as the Swift, and the Swift GT had a screaming four-cylinder engine. 1995 and later Metros also had the option of a four-banger, but a 1.0-liter three-cylinder was the only engine available in the 1991 Geo Metro. If you wanted to get close to 60 highway miles per gallon, the Metro XFi had a specially-tuned 1.0 that delivered, though it sent a mere 49 horsepower to the front wheels (the last new car available in the United States with under 50 horsepower— including highway-legal EVs— was the 1993 Metro XFi, by the way). The engine in today's Junkyard Gem was rated at 55 horses. A five-speed manual transmission was standard equipment in every 1991 Metro, though a thoroughly miserable three-speed slushbox could be had for $465 extra (about $945 today). Because most Metro buyers wanted fuel economy first and foremost, automatic Metros are rare (though I have managed to find one in a boneyard). How many total miles? The five-digit odometer means we'll never know. The 1991 Metro convertible came from Japan, but all the others sold here that year were built in Canada. Today, that plant builds the Chevy Equinox. A new convertible for less than 10 grand was a steal in 1991, when a new Mercury Capri convertible cost $12,588.

Japanese tuner adds 1980s rally flair to the Suzuki Jimny

Since its launch in 2018, the fourth-generation Suzuki Jimny has been modified by a long list of tuners from all over the world. We've seen it turned into a mini Ford Bronco, a Mercedes-Benz G-Class lookalike, a clone of the original Land Rover Defender, and a small pickup truck. The latest Jimny-based builds explore a completely different avenue by giving the off-roader a look inspired by rally cars from the 1980s. Designed by Japanese tuner DAMD for the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon, the builds are called Little 5 and Little Delta, respectively. The name says it all: the Little 5 is a tribute to Renault's 5 Turbo and 5 Turbo 2 and the Little Delta draws inspiration from the Lancia Delta Integrale. While both models were hatchbacks, the retro look works surprisingly well thanks in part to the Jimny's small footprint and boxy proportions. Both builds receive the same basic body kit, which includes a deeper front bumper that looks much closer to the 5's than to the Delta's and flared wheel arches, and they ride on OZ Racing wheels. DAMD fitted the Little 5 with a redesigned front end that brings rectangular lights and Renault's diamond-shaped logo, "NON-TURBO" decals on the doors for a touch of humor, and a roof-mounted spoiler. Blue paint adds a finishing touch to the look. Painted red, the Little Delta gets a specific grille with four round lights and bright trim as well as a specific spoiler. DAMD hasn't released interior photos. It looks like the Little 5 uses standard Jimny seats while the Little Delta receives front sport seats. Technical specifications haven't been released, either, but we have a decent idea of what's under the hood. Suzuki offers the Jimny with two engines: a turbocharged, 658-cubic-centimeter three-cylinder fitted to base models in Japan and a naturally-aspirated, 1.5-liter four-cylinder offered in the rest of the world. The decals on the Little 5's doors suggest power comes from the latter, which develops 102 horsepower. We don't know what's next for either concept, but we wouldn't be surprised to see both body kits join DAMD's catalog in the coming months.  Related Video Featured Gallery DAMD Suzuki Jimny Little 5 and Little Delta Aftermarket Design/Style Suzuki SUV Off-Road Vehicles