Jack White is not a 90s kid in the sense that he was born in 1975. However, he is a 90s kid in the sense that he was a teenager in that decade, and he appreciates the finest fruit of the era. Case in point, the 1991 Suzuki Samurai that the indie rocker has been driving around on Instagram.
White posted a video from behind the wheel of his new acquisition, clearly enjoying himself in the rugged little machine. Reporting that he’s been hunting for just such a vehicle for six long years, he was gifted the bright red off-roader by drummer Patrick Keeler and his manager, Ian Montone. Quite a birthday present, indeed.
The 1991 Suzuki Samurai was beloved for being a simple, capable, compact off-roader. It had a fuel-injected 1.3-liter engine good for 66 horsepower, paired with a proper part-time four-wheel-drive system with low-range. Throw in some chunky tires with big white letters and those boxy good looks, and you can see why Suzuki had a winner with this one.
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The color of the Samurai is likely no accident. It’s finished in red, with striking black and white decals down the side. It’s the same color scheme that White obsessively applied to his band, The White Stripes. “It came from peppermint candy,” he told Rolling Stone in a 2005 interview.
Those aren’t the only colors of interest in White’s video, though. You’ll notice he’s driving the Suzuki while wearing black and yellow—a color scheme which he rigorously applied to his record label and his now-defunct upholstery business. As told to Rolling Stone:
After I apprenticed as an upholsterer for a few years, I opened my own shop, Third Man Upholstery. Everything was yellow, black and white. All my power tools were yellow and black. I had a yellow van. I ran my business like a cartoon. I was making out bills in crayon and writing poetry inside people’s furniture. I didn’t care if I made any money. I was so happy to pull up in front of someone’s house wearing a yellow-and-black uniform, with a yellow clipboard.
As far as Samurais go, White got one of the best ones. Electronic fuel injection, which was first available on 1990 models, added a hint of power and better day-to-day reliability. His example also appears to be in great condition, with beautiful paint and gleaming black tires. It’s likely that this example was restored, given its fine presentation.
White actually has some history with enthusiast cars. Notably, he previously purchased a Sebring-Vanguard CitiCar when he founded Third Man Records, hoping his nascent business would be able to use the tiny electric car to make deliveries. This didn’t pan out thanks to the limitations of the tiny two-seater, but it did later play a role as a promotional tool for the business at events. The vehicle was later sold at auction in 2023, for the grand sum of $2,500.
One would imagine it’s pretty cool to be Jack White. Beyond his hit albums, Grammy awards, and successful record label, he also got a kickass classic car for his birthday. That’s winning, any way you look at it.
Image credits: Officialjackwhite via Instagram
The post Jack White Has Excellent Taste In ’90s Off-Roaders appeared first on The Autopian.
