It’s light, compact and scrabbles across rough terrain with mountain-goat agility, but rust-prone bodywork can seriously take the fun out of owning an old Jimny.

One way of banishing the rot and keeping the good bits is to contact Scamp Motor Company.

See also: First impressions: Go-anywhere £8k Suzuki Quadtruck

For just under £7,000, Scamp owners Matt Parker and Robin Waite will supply a tough box-section structure that can be bolted directly to the original chassis, completely replacing the factory body.

This Mk4x4J kit is designed to fit any Jimny built between 1998 and 2018, giving countless tired and terminally crusty donor cars a second chance at life.

© James Andrews

There’s plenty of scope for customisation, too. Buyers can choose between hard tops and canvas roofs, full and half lift-off doors, and a variety of rear body styles, including pickup and tipper configurations.

Underneath, it remains reassuringly Suzuki. The engine, transmission, running gear, wiring loom and even the heater stay in place. And cars fitted with air-conditioning can keep that too.

Lighter and tougher

© James Andrews

Once the kit has been fitted, owners are left with a vehicle that’s far more akin to a UTV than a car.

Not only is it lighter and more compact than the original, but the generous wheel arches allow larger tyres to be fitted without resorting to suspension lifts.

The example featured here rides on 215/75 R15 BF Goodrich all-terrains, although there’s room to go larger still before modifications become necessary.

Minimal overhangs have improved approach and departure angles, and there’s a distinct lack of fragile plastic trim to crack and deform.

Looks are unapologetically functional.

The slab-sided styling won’t win everyone over, but the proportions work surprisingly well in the metal and it has far more kerb appeal than the photos might suggest.

Finish quality largely depends on how much effort the builder wants to invest.

Bare steel kits will need protecting, while galvanised versions can be left exposed or given some colour.

Matt and Robin opted to roller-apply textured black paint on their demo car, which has come out well and is blissfully simple to touch up after encounters with gateposts, spiky hedges or dogs’ claws.

© James Andrews

Inside, the vibe is more stock trailer than passenger car, with acres of exposed metalwork and not a strip of sound deadening material or carpet.

It’s noisier than a regular Jimny as a result, though the rigid structure means there are fewer creaks and rattles.

Muck-caked wellies and waterproofs are of little concern either, as a quick sluice with a hosepipe or pressure washer will soon get it spick and span.

Building it

In proper kit-car fashion, the Mk4x4J is designed to be assembled at home using a relatively simple set of tools.

That said, transforming a rough donor into a finished vehicle is not a quick weekend job. Scamp estimates about 200 hours of work, making it an ideal winter project.

The process begins by stripping out the Jimny’s interior before disconnecting ancillaries and lifting off the original body.

© James Andrews

That leaves the engine, transmission and running gear sitting neatly in place and, crucially, exposes any hidden corrosion.

Thankfully, rusty chassis rails are rarely fatal on Jimnys and repairs to common trouble spots such as body mounts are generally straightforward – particularly when the body is lifted clear.

Once any repairs have been carried out, the metal can be cleaned, treated and heavily undersealed to keep future rust at bay.

Some builders may even choose to strip everything down completely and have the ladder frame galvanised, although that adds considerable time and expense.

Matt Parker (left) and Robin Waite © James Andrews

With the underpinnings prepared, the Scamp assembly bolts straight onto the factory mounting points before about 60 aluminium panels are bonded and riveted into place.

This process involves an industrial quantity of rivets, so it’s worth investing in some sort of powered gun.

Minimal work is required inside as the Jimny dash fits straight into the Scamp shell, with just a minor trim to the plastic where it butts up under the windscreen.

For more budget-conscious builds, it’s possible to bolt in the original front seats.

But builders may want to opt for some sportier perches such as the Sparco buckets Scamp decided to slot into its demo car.

Budgeting the build

Basic kits start at £6,999, which includes a mild steel frame, aluminium body panels, rivets, adhesive and a build guide.

Lift-off doors are extra, as are the windscreen, galvanising and custom add-ons like load beds, all of which need to be specified at the time of ordering.

Then there are finishing touches to consider, such as lights, door handles and mirrors, all of which the builder needs to source themselves.

As the Scamp is still a Jimny under the skin, buyers can customise further by tapping into the vast arsenal of upgraded aftermarket parts.

© James Andrews

Among the treats on offer are lift kits, steering dampers, under-belly protection plates and towbars.

Once complete, the vehicle must be re-registered with the DVLA, which is a surprisingly painless process.

Crucially, the Scamp retains the donor car’s original registration number and keeps the same vehicle excise duty classification.

Towing capacity also remains unchanged at up to 1,300kg with a braked trailer.