Meet Australia's rarest Suzuki Jimny! How the brand's Project JBOX paved the way for epic off-roader Down Under - and why you'll never be able to buy it

The story behind what might be Australia’s rarest - and coolest - Suzuki Jimny has been revealed, with the vehicle dubbed Project JBOX still being driven around the country 2.5 years after it paved the way for the Jimny launch in 2019.

Suzuki might have launched the Jimny in January 2019, but the first vehicle to ever actually touch down in Australia landed in July 2018, and was immediately put to work with off-road specialists ARB who were tasked with customising a range of parts and accessories for the bite-sized 4WD.

The vehicle was dubbed Project JBOX by Suzuki in Australia, who had also coined the term "JBOX" for the Jimny.

Read More About Suzuki Jimny

New Suzuki Jimny 2021 scores Aussie upgrade!

The vehicle that forged the path for the Jimnys that would follow was fitted with a huge range of ARB accessories - including the smallest ARB Summit Bull Bar ever designed. It was also fitted with custom rock sliders, roof racks and prototype suspension for increased lift, as well as a Warn Magnum winch.

But the Project JBOX faces an uncertain future. Despite Suzuki fielding offers in excess of $50k for the vehicle, they are unable to sell it, owing to pre-launch importation rules that often see development vehicles crushed and cubed.

But that would break hearts all over Suzuki, and so the Project JBOX is being driven as a staff car by the few Suzuki employees legally able to drive it - including Managing Director, Michael Pachota.

“It was Car One, here in July 2018,” he says, “We brought it in for fitments of parts and service timing and things like that, and the fitment of locally manufactured accessories. It was important to have a car here early.

“There have been offers, but we couldn’t sell it if I wanted to.

"We’ve got a few rounds of registration on the vehicle, and only a few people are registered to drive it, so we’re still deciding what we’ll do.”

Read More About Suzuki Jimny

Suzuki Jimny five-door launch date revealed! Bigger off-roader pushed back to 2022 as brand struggles with huge 50,000-order backlog - reports

One option is for the Project JBOX to find a home parked in Suzuki’s head office, a kind of museum piece to the Jimny in Australia. Alternatively, the brand could find a way to auction it - though it is unlikely it will be able to driven on the road.

Either way, Mr Pachota is hopeful he’ll be able to keep it in one piece.

“We haven’t crushed one yet,” he says.