Since day one, Haynes has been all about helping you, the home mechanic, to carry out your own repairs on your vehicles. Here, we celebrate those who use their spare time and Haynes Manuals to repair and improve their pride and joy.
DIY champion: Ben Walsh, Dandenong Ranges, Victoria, Australia
Vehicle: 1989 Suzuki Supercarry
Australia is a land in which trucks are a staple part of the transport network.
People love them, and with good reason – because they simply manage to make everyday working and leisure life that bit easier. And because they’re popular, there are loads of different types around, from drop-side trucks based on 4x4 off-roaders, to V8-powered utes.
However, none of those interested Ben Walsh. Nope, when looking for a truck to restore, his ambitions were a little more… compact. So, Ben has ended up with a 1989 Suzuki Supercarry.
The Supercarry was designed to Japanese kei-car regulations, so is tiny, and has a suitably minuscule motor somewhere under the driver’s feet.
Ben’s is the eighth-generation model. The Supercarry was sold around the world in various guises, and was also called the Holden Scurry in Australia, while British buyers bought it under the Bedford Rascal name.
After the demise of Bedford, the vehicle carried on as the Vauxhall Rascal.
Haynes Manual for Rascal/Supercarry
Ben is under no illusions that the restoration of the Supercarry will take a while, but he’s off to a good start with his purchase of the Haynes Suzuki Supercarry manual.
He intends to put it to good use because: “The engine doesn't run at the moment so I’ve been reading though my Haynes manual checking for spark, compression and fuel!”
And that’s what Haynes is all about – using knowledge gained over decades to get old vehicles running again, and keeping them on the road. Surely in today’s world of use less and recycle more, keeping an older vehicle running is more friendly to the environment than discarding it in favour of something new.
We’d love you to show us what you’re working on and how you’re using Haynes to help you out.
Just send us a few details about yourself and your vehicle to yourrepairs@haynes.co.uk
Tell us about any issues you’ve encountered or any problems you foresee, plus a few pictures, and we’ll feature you on our website and social channels.
We’re looking forward to seeing how Ben’s restoration progresses over the next few months.