Craigslist Find of the Day: Propane-powered '86 Suzuki Samurai
Click image to enlarge
It's coated in new flat black paint, has a set of driving lights mounted to the fenders, is lifted two inches, and has removable doors. It also has a range of 290 miles per tank of fuel, and a full tank only runs the owner twelve bucks and change. That's because this '86 Samurai's been converted to run on propane, and since its wee little bed is outfitted with a pair of forklift-style storage cylinders. The buyer also gets the original carburetor in the deal. $3,500 cash, a Buell XB motorcycle, or an inboard-engined ski boat are all it'll take to get this LPG 'Zuki into your driveway. It's located in Dalton, GA (32 miles outside Chattanooga, TN; 88 miles outside Atlanta) and you can read the original listing here.
Thanks to "mehugtree" for the tip!
[Source: Craigslist]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
c 2:53PM (7/05/2007)
Ouch a terrorists dream !!!
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Frogwhistle 2:47PM (7/05/2007)
Good luck parking that baby at the airport...
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carlo 5:43AM (7/06/2007)
There is nothing special in this car. Propane (LPG) is a fuel commonly sold in many gas stations in europe (and costs less than half of the price of gasoline): for my personal experience it is widely used in italy, france and netherlands.
The frightening thing in this particular car that fuel conversion is home-made and that it is allowed to circulate on public roads! this is unbeliveable.
I have been driving LPG-converted cars for more than a decade... being LPG much cheaper than gasoline so it is quite common to see gasoline-hungry cars converted to LPG powered... by the way: they are BI-FUEL cars, not LPG only cars: there is an additional tank for LPG: it does not replace gasoline. you can switch from gasoline to lpg and vice-versa by simply pressing a button.
It is quite curious that in USA you have never heard of it: Chevrolet, in italy offers the LPG conversion FOR FREE on any gasoline powered model. the same applies for Chrysler! american cars dealers are the more LPG-happy car dealers
Even Mercedes has some methane-powered model (methane and LPG are diffrent fuels, but the conversion kits are nearly the same thing... there are differences only in the tanks - methane can't be stored in liquid form-and the software needed for the ECU)
LPG conversion is professionally made: the lpg tank is usually shaped as a tyre, and takes the place of the spare tire in the car... the car is NOT constrained to use exclusively LPG: it can use BOTH LPG and gasoline... so if you are out of lpg, you can switch to gasoline.
several european firms are producing LPG conversion kits that use direct-injection systems
take a look at this, for example: http://www.ozonlpg.com/systems.html
By the way: LPG and methane powered cars are considered by local laws eco-friendly as hybrid cars, because they cause much less pollution... especially methane powered ones.
I belive that methane would be a far better solution than hybrid cars: has anyone ever made an analysis of wich will be the environmental impact of the disposal of the huge batteries used by hybrid cars?
I don't think so...
ch 11:57AM (7/09/2007)
I want to convert a samurai to cng and fuel it at home. Anybody know of an available kit.
Paul Y 2:57PM (7/05/2007)
It's been said before, but if gasoline was only recently made available as a fuel (all other things being equal), people would be up in arms about how damned dangerous it is.
To stay on topic, however, this is neat. I always liked Samurais, and this would be a lot of fun, and cheap to run, at that!
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ckm 3:02PM (7/05/2007)
People often do this for off-roading as propane doesn't spill at high angles....
Chris.
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bathtub gin 9:48PM (7/05/2007)
How about upside down? Isn't that the natural position for a Suzuki samurai?
Tyk 4:44PM (7/05/2007)
These have been around for a while, they're known as improvised explosive devices in Iraq.
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Daneeeh 4:53PM (7/05/2007)
Guys...
Argentina has been using this fuel system for over 15 years...
The other day I saw an American documentary about this "new" tendency.
You can get more info here http://www.gnc.org.ar/English/main.htm
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innocent bysitter 9:47PM (7/05/2007)
This system has been in use in America for years, too - on forklifts.
Barney 5:28PM (7/05/2007)
A lot of vehicles run on propane and it's amazing to get comments like those from Tyk, c & Frogwhistle. What a bunch of paranoids. As if Gasoline hasn't been used as a bomb as well. Those three will go into hysteria if NG was use instead.
The little Samurai is better then new with this system. Only one thing that is a minor problem and that is if you run out of fuel. Locally some people have jerry-rigged an small 25# bottle to use as a reserve fill. It's not an easy task to fill another bottle without pressure but can be done.
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c 8:23PM (7/05/2007)
Actually propane powered vehicles has been around for decades,Chrysler used to sell propane powered cars from the factory some were propane only and some were duel fuel flick the switch and run on either gas or propane,and you could get yours converted as well by the aftermarket.Natural gas is cleaner and safer than propane,less explosive,but considering the terorist threats/attempts in the u.k and around the world this thing would get many stares!!!!And yes it would be a terrorist ream its already half assed done !!!
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Baratacus 12:57PM (6/09/2008)
Propane cylinders do not explode on their own. Propane is pressurized to a liquid state and when it's released to the air it vaporizes. If you breach the container with an impact from a projectile or in a collision, the container will expel the gas rapidly but it will not explode. The escaping gas can be ignited by a flame. If the tanks structure is compromised by flame. (thrown into a fire or put it against a blow torch) The tank can explosively rupture. Not likely to happen in a vehicle since there is no source of combustion. Simply igniting escaping propane gas from a tank will not cause the tank to explode.
Igniting fuel vapors from a tank of gasoline will cause a gasoline tank to explode since it is not a closed system, gasoline tanks can blow up from a static spark or other ignition source, but the tank must be mostly empty for there to be enough air in the tank for combustion.
Consumer Reports 5:50PM (7/05/2007)
Forget the propane. This thing is dangerous because it's a Samurai that's been jacked up two inches!
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Dave 6:20PM (7/05/2007)
What size are those propane tanks?
It costs me ~$14 to fill a 20lb propane tank around here. I don't think I could refuel that thing for $12.90.
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Rocket Punch 9:24PM (7/05/2007)
Improved MPG and now with 40% more flip!
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Rene Curry 12:56AM (7/06/2007)
In China they use motorcycles to transport propane tanks! Mostly for hot-pot restaurants. I have seen 6 tanks on one motorcycle!
Comment from a visitor " They all don't realize they are suicide bombers"
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Will 1:18AM (7/06/2007)
You guys are morons. Sammies are great little vehicles for off-roading if done correctly, and the propane conversion is great because it provides better mileage, longer range, and slightly cleaner than gasoline. In fact, I want to do this to my '78 bronco off-road beater in the future.
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jasmin ras 3:42PM (7/10/2007)
http://idateher.com the black list for players on craigslist
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jasmin ras 3:41PM (7/10/2007)
http://idateher.com the black list for players on craigslist
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