Subaru 360

Infobox Automobile
name=Subaru 360


manufacturer=Subaru
production=1958–1971
class=microcar keicar
length=117.7 in (2990 mm)
width=51.2 in (1300 mm)
wheelbase=70.9 in (1800 mm)
height=54.3 in (1380 mm)
weight=900 lb (408.2 kg)
predecessor= None
successor= Subaru R1/Subaru R2The Subaru 360 was the first automobile mass produced by Fuji Heavy Industries' Subaru division. The 360 was produced from 1958 to 1971.

The 360 featured an air-cooled, 2-stroke 356 cc engine mounted transversely at the rear. While this was one of the more notable cars which adopted an arrangement similar to the Volkswagen Beetle, the car is much smaller, less powerful, and was not nearly as well accepted in the world marketplace. The body size and the engine capacity were designed to match within Japan's keicar regulation of the time, and was the very first of its class to have 4 seats for adults with no excuse. The body was of monocoque construction and featured a fiberglass roof panel, which was considered very advanced in 1958. Those ideas came from the engineers know-how in Nakajima Aircraft Company, which is the origin of Fuji Heavy Industries.

When introduced in 1958, the 360's engine turned out Convert|16|hp|kW|0|abbr=on and Subaru claimed 66 mpg fuel economy; by the end of production, power had increased to Convert|25|hp|kW|0|abbr=on with a Convert|36|hp|kW|0|abbr=on twin-carbureted engine as an option.

Several variants were produced, including a station wagon (called the Custom), a convertible, and two sport models known as the Young S, which had a slightly upgraded engine and transmission (4 gears instead of 3), bucket seats and a tachometer along with a black, white striped roof with a dent along the middle to put one's surfboard. The Young SS, which had dual carburetors and chrome bores, produced 36 hp (27 kW). From 1961 onwards, a flat-nosed truck and van called the Sambar were also produced using the 360's engine, with arrangements similar to the Volkswagen Transporter in a smaller size. Many small businesses became very successful thanks to the pickup's small size for tight streets, quickness, ease to drive and great fuel economy. In the United States, these were used in parks, such as in Washington State Parks, and as small vehicles used in large manufacturing sites.

The 360 was imported to the United States by Malcolm Bricklin, but the Subaru 360 received notoriety in 1969, when Consumer Reports magazine branded the automobile "Not Acceptable" (because of safety concerns and lack of power), and sales collapsed. There were various rumors of Subaru 360s being tossed overboard or being shredded to pieces. It was also reported that many 360s sat on dealers' lots for two or three years without ever being purchased. Despite this, Subaru gained popularity in the United States with its later models, and remains profitable there today.

The Subaru 360 was replaced by the less popular but more advanced R-2 which was quickly superseded by the long-lived Subaru Rex model.

Legacy

In the 2000s, the 360 remains a popular subject for collectors, and model cars among other mini-cars such as the 2CV and Morris Mini. Although it was primarily popular in Japan, it was not entirely forgotten even in markets such as the US. It was one of the smallest cars to attract a significant following from the 1960s to early 1970s, though it was never significant in North America, and still appears in Japanese anime series such as Pokemon and Get Backers.

Future

For many years, Subaru searched for ways to capture the car's heritage in a new model. A string of city car concepts in the 1990s were tied to the 360 in various ways. The Subaru Jusmin from the 1991 Tokyo Motor Show was painted in a yellowish color reminiscent of the 360. Later concept cars such as the 1997 Elten and 1999 Elten Custom proposed a modern remake of the 360. However, it was not until the Subaru R1's release in January 2005, that a production Subaru blatantly cited influence from the 360. The R1 concept, known as the R1e, wore a 360 Young S-like yellow paint scheme along with a small front grille.

External links

* [http://www.subaru360club.org/ Subaru 360 Driver's Club]