The Maruti Gypsy was Maruti Suzuki’s four-wheel-drive workhorse, based on the long-wheelbase Suzuki Jimny. Built at Gurgaon from December 1985, it became the standard vehicle of the Indian armed forces, the police and the country’s rally scene.
Maruti Gypsy at a glance
| Maker | Maruti Suzuki, Gurgaon, India |
|---|---|
| Production | December 1985 – 2018 for civilians; batches for the armed forces since |
| Based on | Suzuki Jimny SJ40/410, long wheelbase |
| Engines | 970 cc F10A (1985), 1.3 L G13BA (1996), 1.3 L G13BB 16-valve MPFI (2000) |
| Power | 45 bhp, then 60 bhp, then 80 bhp |
| Gearbox | four-speed (1985), five-speed from 1996 |
| Drive | selectable four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case |
| Model codes | MG410, MG410W, MG413W |
| Suspension | live axles with leaf springs |
| Main users | Indian armed forces, police, rally and autocross drivers |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Gypsy.
History of the Maruti Gypsy
Introduction
The Gypsy arrived in the Indian market in December 1985 with the 970 cc F10A Suzuki engine. Codenamed MG410 — Maruti Gypsy, four-cylinder, 1.0 litre — it was offered at first only as a soft-top, with a bolt-on hardtop added later after aftermarket versions became popular. The carburetted engine made 45 bhp and drove through a four-speed gearbox and a two-speed transfer case. A freewheeling mechanism on the front axles, made by Aisin, unlocked the hubs when four-wheel drive was not in use to cut rolling resistance and save fuel. Its performance, reliability and tunability quickly made it the quintessential Indian rally car.
The widetrack
In July 1993 Maruti introduced the widetrack Gypsy, the MG410W, replacing the MG410. The track of both axles grew by 90 mm — to 1,300 mm at the front and 1,310 mm at the rear — and the cars were recognisable by pronounced painted wheel-arch flares. The change was made to answer international criticism that Suzuki sport-utility vehicles were prone to rollover. On this model Maruti also dropped the Aisin freewheeling hubs, which MG410 owners had rarely used. From April 1995 cars sold in the big cities received a catalytic converter to meet new emission standards.
The Gypsy King
In June 1996 Maruti added the engine from the Esteem: an all-aluminium eight-valve G13BA of 1.3 litres making 60 bhp, carburetted, with a new five-speed gearbox. The model was codenamed MG413W and called the Gypsy King; it was distinguished by a bulge in the bonnet and a new grille with horizontal slats. The 970 cc MG410W remained as a base model until 2000, when Maruti introduced the 16-valve MPFI G13BB engine and raised power to 80 bhp; the MPFI King also received a brake booster.
Service and the end
The Gypsy was exported to countries such as Chile and Kenya and is most often found in Europe in Malta. In India it was widely used by the police and military, and the MG413W became the mainstay of the Indian Army. Civilian production stopped in March 2019, with bookings taken until December 2018, but Maruti Suzuki kept the production line and still builds the Gypsy in batches for the armed forces, supplying spares and service for the many vehicles still in use.
Design and features
- Real off-road ability: selectable four-wheel drive and a two-speed transfer case on a separate chassis.
- Simple and tough: live axles and leaf springs all round, with almost no creature comforts.
- Rally pedigree: cheap, reliable and easy to tune, it replaced the Premier Padmini as India’s rally car.
- Long service life: still built in batches for the Indian armed forces after civilian sales ended.
Maruti Gypsy versions
- MG410 (1985): the original 970 cc soft-top with Aisin freewheeling hubs.
- MG410W widetrack (1993): wider axles and painted wheel-arch flares.
- MG413W Gypsy King (1996): 1.3-litre G13BA engine and five-speed gearbox.
- MPFI Gypsy King (2000): 16-valve G13BB with 80 bhp and a brake booster.
- Body styles: soft-top, hardtop and ambulance car.
The Gypsy used the 1.3-litre engine of the Maruti Esteem, and it shared its early engine family with the Maruti 800. More cars are in the Maruti collection.
Video: Maruti Gypsy Escapade @ Delhi Auto Expo 2014 | Take a Look !
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Maruti Suzuki Gypsy, English Wikipedia: history, models, engines, production
