A brief history of the sc100 (Whizzkid)
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Those of you who attended the Japanese Auto-Extravaganza and visited our club stand may have seen a slightly different red sc100. Well, you're half right, it's actually a Suzuki Fronte Coupe and was the forerunner to the sc100. It is powered by a 356 cc triple cylinder triple carb' two stroke engine producing 37 b.h.p and was never (unfortunately) sold in this country. It is owned by myself and Sam my partner, and although not immaculate it is taxed (free as it is over 25 years old), MoT'd and insured.
The name Fronte can be traced way back to 1962, when it was used on the Fronte LC10, rear engined, rear wheel drive cars with either two or four seats (coupe or saloon). To confuse matters, a passenger car version of the Suzuki TL van was also put on sale in March 1962 and became known as the Fronte TLA model and was front engined!!
FRONTE LC10
In February 1963, the FEA model, which had larger (better) brakes and an improved lubrication system, superceded the TLA. When first raced it came first, third and fourth in the 1963 mini car class at the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. From now on this series of cars was to become exclusively rear engined. More info on the restoration can be found HERE
FRONTE FEA, WINNING CAR AT THE 1963 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX
To keep pace and to progress, a new 360cc three cylinder two stroke was developed but this time it was water cooled with a separate oil lubrication/injection system known as CCI. This was fitted to the Fronte FEA from 1965 until the model was discontinued in 1967
The new Fronte LC10 was launched in April 1967 to much press and TV coverage. The response more than matched expectations, with over 170,000 applications for test drives with only 500 demo cars available in the first week. Production was soon running at over 7000 cars per month.
A modified high performance Fronte became available in November 1968, the LC10 SS, using the same three cylinder 360 cc engine but now with triple carbs’ to give more than 100 hp per litre (TVR Cerbera today only has 64hp per litre but a lot more torque per litre). As a publicity campaign, Stirling Moss (right) and Mitsuo Itoh took an LC10 SS along Italy’s "Road of the sun"
STIRLING MOSS POSING WITH LC10 SS
By 1970, the high performance small car market was booming so again the Fronte design changed. This time a Fronte saloon and 2+2 coupe (LC10 SSS) were offered. They were designed by ITAL design, led by Giugiaro, with the same engines, but with some modifications to cope with ever increasing emission regulations. This is the model of Fronte Coupe that Sam and I own. Ours is designated LC10W GXCF. From what we can make out from our Japanese sales brochure, it was top of the range when new.
TIM AND SAM’S LC10 SSS (FRONTE GXCF)
Read more on this site about the restoration of this car.
By 1976 the K car (something to do with restricting engine capacity, body dimensions and top speed in Japan for taxing and parking regulations) had been changed to allow 550cc and larger dimensions. Fronte was no more (sob sob).
The original Fronte Coupe and saloon shells grew in length and width (approximately 4.5 inches) and height, the coupe essentially the same body shell as an sc100. The car was now known as the Cervo. For the home market, three engine options were offered, including for the first time a new 4 cylinder, 4 stroke engine, developed to meet the ever tightening emission regulations. This four cylinder coupe model was known as sc100. R.I.P. two-stroke engines, not just in their cars, but new four-stroke bike engines as well (no relation to car engines, whatever people tell you).
SUZUKI CERVO
Examples of a Fronte Saloon and Coupe were originally brought into the UK in 1973 for evaluation purposes. Both of these cars proved to be OK for town use and local trips, but tended to overheat (and seize) when used on long motorway trips and complaints by test drivers also centred around a lack of torque (pulling power). Both of these vehicles still survive (the coupe having been used by members of the Barry Sheene racing team), but are unfortunately now non-runners. It wasn’t until October 1979 that the car as the sc100 finally went on sale in the U.K. (and Holland). It was the first passenger car sold here by the newly set up Heron Suzuki four wheel division. Clever marketing and advertising led to the car being given the name "Whizzkid". It was not, however, the first four wheeled vehicle sold by the new network of four-wheel dealers. They were already busy selling LJ80 4x4 off road vehicles and ST80 vans and pick-ups. Only one trim level of the sc100 was ever sold here and in Holland (GX). Price when new in 1979 was £2400 (a bargain). Club member Martyn Beedham owns the only exception to this rule that the Club is aware of. His 1983 CX-G variant is a Hong Kong import boasting black interior and air-conditioning as just two of the many differences compared with UK models.
From day one, demand outstretched supply due to the car’s sporty looks, unique design, and excellent value for money. However, in 1982 the Cervo in Japan was discontinued in favour of the new front engined front wheel drive Cervo (sold here as the Alto). So in 1982, after just 4696 cars had been imported and sold in the UK, the sc100 ceased. There was only one spec’ change during this period, which was to slightly modify the dashboard and column switches in January 1980. Early cars are now extremely rare, with only five that we know of in the Club (two owned by Sam).
So that’s it in a nutshell, I have tried to be as accurate as I can. The rest they say is History.
FINALLY, THE SC100 GX "WHIZZKID" THAT WE ALL KNOW
Were you aware of the LOTUS / Suzuki connection in the early 80’s? When Suzuki stopped production LOTUS Cars showed an interest in continuing production in the UK. Click here to see LOTUS, SUZUKI AND THE WHIZZKID.
If, like me, Suzuki history interests you, there is a book that may be of interest (sadly no longer in print), called "SUZUKI" (strangely) by Jeff Clew. There is also a museum you might like to visit where you can see an example of every car and bike ever produced by Suzuki. The only drawbacks however are that you will have to:-
With special thanks to Alex Clouter for providing some of the above photos taken at the museum.
Currently the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders lists only 316 sc100s still on the UK register.
Visit our Buyers Guide for pre-purchase advice and technical tips
5 September 2000