Subaru 360
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Subaru-360-'58.jpg
The Subaru 360 was the first automobile mass produced by Fuji Heavy Industries in Japan. Production ran from 1958 to 1969.
The Subaru 360 featured an air-cooled, 2-stroke cycle engine of 356 cc capacity mounted transversely at the rear. The engine was designed with a capacity of less than 360 cc so that the Subaru 360 would qualify for Japan's Keicar class. The body was of monocoque construction and featured a fiberglass roof panel, which was considered very advanced in 1958.
When introduced in 1958, the Subaru 360's 356 cc engine turned out 16 hp and Subaru claimed 71 mpg fuel economy—by the end of production power had increased to 25 hp with a 36 hp twin carb engine was an option.
Several variants were produced, including a station wagon (called the Custom), a convertible, and two sports models known as the Young S, and the Young SS. A truck and van called Sambar were also produced using the 360's engine.
The Subaru 360 was replaced by the less popular but more advanced R-2 which was quickly superseded by the long-lived Subaru Rex model.
The 360 is the original mass-production Subaru, and for many years the company 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. In the Subaru Jusmin from the 1991 Tokyo Motor Show, this was simply a yellowish paint color reminiscent of the 360's. Later concept cars such as the 1997 Elten and 1999 Elten Custom proposed a modern remake of the 360. However, it's not until the Subaru R1's release in January 2005, that a production Subaru blatantly cites influence from the 360. The R1's Motor Show teaser, the R1e, wore a 360-like yellow paint.
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