The Santana SJ413 was the Spanish version of the Suzuki SJ413, a small body-on-frame off-roader with a 1.3-litre engine and selectable four-wheel drive. Santana Motor built it in Linares from 1985, when the company began its alliance with Suzuki; in export markets the updated SJ413 was known as the Samurai.
Santana SJ413 at a glance
| Also called | Suzuki Samurai |
|---|---|
| Production (Santana) | from 1985 |
| Class | mini off-road SUV |
| Engine | 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol |
| Layout | front engine, rear-wheel drive, selectable 4×4 |
| Chassis | separate body on a ladder frame |
| Suspension | live axles, leaf springs |
| Steering | recirculating ball |
| Gearbox | manual with dual-range transfer box |
| Related | Suzuki SJ410 (1.0 litre) |
History of the Santana SJ413
The SJ413 was the 1.3-litre member of Suzuki’s SJ family, which began with the 1.0-litre SJ410. An updated version of the SJ413 became the Samurai, the first Suzuki officially marketed in the United States. In 1985 Santana Motor, then looking for an international partner, reached an agreement with Suzuki and began building the Samurai, Vitara and Jimny in Linares alongside its own Land Rover-derived models.
How it drove
The part-time system had no centre differential, so four-wheel drive was meant for slippery surfaces such as snow, mud, gravel or sand, not for dry asphalt. The dual-range transfer box halved the overall gearing in low range, doubling torque at the wheels for climbing and towing. The body sat on a separate ladder frame, and the live axles with leaf springs were chosen for durability rather than comfort; steering was by recirculating ball, accurate enough off-road but imprecise on it. In Australia the SJ410 and SJ413 were sold as the Sierra, while other markets kept the Jimny name.
Engineering
Like every Jimny generation, the SJ413 used a separate body on a ladder frame, with live axles and leaf springs at both ends. Steering was by recirculating ball, and the four-wheel-drive system was a part-time arrangement with a dual-range transfer box and no centre differential: the car ran in rear-wheel drive on the road and the front axle was engaged manually when the surface allowed it. The layout was simple, strong and easy to repair, which made the SJ413 popular with farmers, utility companies and off-road enthusiasts.
Design and features
- 1.3-litre engine: the larger option above the 1.0-litre SJ410.
- Part-time 4×4: selectable front drive with high and low range.
- Ladder frame: separate body and live axles for rough use.
- Leaf springs: simple and durable suspension.
- Samurai name: the export badge used for the updated SJ413.
Santana SJ413 versions
- SJ410: 1.0-litre predecessor.
- SJ413: 1.3-litre model built by Santana.
- Samurai: updated export version.
- Santana production: Spanish-built cars from 1985.
Santana later built the larger Santana Vitara, while the Santana Ligero was its own lightweight military design. More vehicles are in the Santana collection.
Video: Santana SJ413 Julien4x4 – été 2006
Video by Julien4x4 on YouTube.
Sources
- Suzuki Jimny, English Wikipedia: SJ410 and SJ413, Samurai, chassis and transmission
- Suzuki Jimny, Spanish Wikipedia: model history and design
