I'm thinking about using a 4door suzuki something, I need around a 95" WB or so give or take a few inchs and putting a different body on top.
It would sort of be old world german styling meets more modern japanese engineering.

I want to put atleast 33's under it and do lockers F/R, lift, roll bar, winch, and be able to use most every feature of the suzuki (pw/pl/tilt/cruise/4wd/auto/pm/AC/r-defrost...ect..)

Well anyway I will be attempting to get he major components in the coming months and hopefully get something started this spring.

 It wouldn't be sacrelage at all. I have been kicking around the idea of making a cab out if a 2 door and putting it on a 4 door frame with an offroad style flatbed. I think it would work very well.

  I have been kicking around the idea of making a cab out if a 2 door and putting it on a 4 door frame with an offroad style flatbed. I think it would work very well.

Thanks.
Your body swap sounds interesting also.

I have wanted a 4wd convertible bug for many years and I think The 4door suzuki chassis would work great under it.

put the 2 door body on a 4 door frame, and make a pickup truck bed for it . That would be awesome, a sidekick pickup

I have seen a few pictures of a VW Golf on a Samurai frame.  Looked pretty good. 

As for your bug, get an old VW Van 4wd and put the drivetrain in the bug.  Keep it all stock VW. 

I have seen a few pictures of a VW Golf on a Samurai frame.  Looked pretty good. 

As for your bug, get an old VW Van 4wd and put the drivetrain in the bug.  Keep it all stock VW. 

I'd love to do that but have you seen how much those old syncro vw vans sell for besides I like the suzuki engineering for the most part.

a sammy frame fits perfectly between the unibody frame rails of a '80-'89 subaru hatchback....

a sammy frame fits perfectly between the unibody frame rails of a '80-'89 subaru hatchback....

Now that would be an interesting ride to use when you go to a Subaru Wheeling Club event.  On another note, bobbed Subaru wagons are interesting creatures. 

my friend that did it, is in Yakima.

yeah, there's a good bunch of modded soobs up in the PNW....

A few years back a guy got generally favorable comments at Zukimelt with the "Spit-n-urai", a Triumph Spitfire body mounted on a Sammi frame...  ...and it did pretty well on the trails too.

Pictures here...

http://www.off-road.com/trucks4x4/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=277442

Quote from: Drone637 on October 27, 2008, 08:32:13 PM

I have seen a few pictures of a VW Golf on a Samurai frame.  Looked pretty good. 

As for your bug, get an old VW Van 4wd and put the drivetrain in the bug.  Keep it all stock VW. 

I'd love to do that but have you seen how much those old syncro vw vans sell for besides I like the suzuki engineering for the most part.

Yeah, I would say for $14,000-30,000 you could buy a much better 4wd than a synchro vanagon(aka underpowered, slowest vehicle on the road, breaks down, etc...looks cool though )

here's the pics of the soob body...
http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos2/data/500/DSC04919.JPG

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos2/data/500/DSC04922.JPG

frame fit inside the soob rails, but he had to lengthen the frame 13 inches...
and he did a spring over axle.

here's the pics of the soob body...
http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos2/data/500/DSC04919.JPG

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos2/data/500/DSC04922.JPG

frame fit inside the soob rails, but he had to lengthen the frame 13 inches...
and he did a spring over axle.

I like that also.

Thanks for the picture links.

I blew the auction on the perfect convertible bug, oh well there are others just not as good for that money.
I'm just gonna keep on the lookout.

Did he cut down a wagon or actually use a brat?

it was actually a 2 door hatchback (shorter wheelbase by 3-4" from the Brat and Wagon.  he then cut the back of the hatch off, and welded in the back wall of a Brat to make a "HatchBrat"