Enter the Suzuki Jimny. With donor vehicles and parts readily available, and servicing being cheap as chips, they make perfect sense. With the idea formulated, Martin searched for a suitable and reputable company to start the build process, and being impressed with their workmanship, he now works in conjunction with Torque Performance 4x4 over in Keighley, West Yorkshire. Obviously being donor vehicles, they have had a life before being modified, so before they leave Torque Performance 4x4 they’re fully fettled, which means being completely stripped back to their individual components. The chassis are refurbished and rust protected, then the axles are stripped back, sandblasted, powder coated and fitted with new seals, swivel bearings and so on. Each vehicle is then rebuilt with quality parts to create a machine capable of working in pretty much any environment. Part of the pickup conversion includes new uprated suspension, an optional rear disc brake conversion and of course a new rear tub. Importantly, apart from from being totally refurbished, the chassis remains unmodified, so they’re still registered as a Jimny. On arrival, Martin had two versions of his TerramaxX Jimny conversion for me to play with, along with a TerratruxX that I’ll chat about later. To get a proper feel for them, Martin and Steve drove me to Martin’s family farm that’s located deep in the Dales to show off their ability. Those who know about Jimnys are fully aware of how capable these gutsy little 4x4s are, but add some of the modifications that Martin and TP 4x4 provide and they’re simply unstoppable. There really isn’t much to write about here, simply because both vehicles drove everywhere Martin, Steve and I pointed them - up bankings, through the river everywhere, both are ridiculously capable and agile 4x4s.
THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK
71
