This Suzuki Carry is transformed from a pasar malam van into a retro beach surfer

Suzuki made its Malaysian comeback in April 2021 with ex-Peugeot/Kia/Citroen (RIP) distributors, Naza through Naza Eastern Motors but this is not exactly the S-badge that was once sold here. With niche models like the Swift Sport and Jimny only available for now, it’s fair to say that we will never see the Suzuki Carry ever sold here.

However, the Suzuki Carry is quite a successful truck in Indonesia where it is also the second best-selling vehicle on sale in 2021, trailing behind the Toyota Avanza. According to Gaikindo, 52,854 units of the Carry were sold and it was also Suzuki’s best-selling model, contributing 58% of the S badge’s sales.

Perhaps to celebrate the success of the Carry and to also show its versatility, Suzuki displayed a pair of unique modifications for the popular truck at the recent Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) 2022.

Also read: Used pasar malam vehicles are the most popular second-hand cars! Which should you get?

Courtesy of our Indonesian colleagues at AutoFun ID, the pair of Carrys on display is the New Carry Surf Truck and the New Carry Coffee Truck.

We’ll start this off with the Surf Truck and as our title has clued in, this Carry is inspired by the smooth beach vibes that make it suitable to be driven around Bali. The pick-up has been given a two-tone beige and light blue paintjob as well as moon wheel covers.

Complementing the surfin’ vibe is the multitude of beach accessories in the rear bay like surfboards, a mountain bike, a cooler box, and lifebuoys.

That isn’t the only thing special about the Surf Truck as the front has been extensively remodelled for a retro-inspired look. Out goes the conventional rectangular front grille and headlights and in goes a pair of round headlights and customised bumpers.

It looks cutesy but is inspired by the ST20 Carry which was the first Carry (and Suzuki) to be assembled in Indonesia. It was nicknamed the Truntung and was fondly remembered as an Angkot in the archipelago, a form of shared taxi.

Meanwhile, the Carry Coffee Truck does not have the same unique style as its surfin’ twin, and aside from the white wall tyres and a coffee booth in the back, is essentially the same as a regular Carry.

Still, for a little truck like the Carry, the mobile coffee shop still has space for a proper café stand including a custom interior cabinet, an LCD screen to display the menu, a coffee maker machine, pastry warmer machine, and a few neon signs.

The current generation Carry was launched in 2019 and is powered by a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine (97 PS/135 Nm) that is placed in the middle. The unit is only offered with a 5-speed manual transmission that drives the rear wheels. The Indo-built Carry is sold overseas including Thailand, the Philippines, and the Middle East.

It’s unlikely to make it into Malaysia but Suzuki did once offer the previous generation Carry here and it was called the Futura. Few can still be seen as pasar malam vans and some might have even been converted as food trucks. Still, what do you think of this pair of Carrys?

Also read: Suzuki's return to Malaysia: what other models could be launched here?