Subaru 360

Subaru 360
Overview
Manufacturer	Subaru
Also called	Subaru 450 [1]
Production	1958–1971
Designer	Shinroku Momose
Body and chassis
Class	Microcar
Layout	RR layout
Related	Subaru Sambar
Powertrain
Engine	356 cc EK31 straight-twin 356cc EK32 straight-twin 423cc EK51 straight-twin
Dimensions
Wheelbase	1,801 mm (70.9 in)
Length	2,990 mm (117.7 in)
Width	1,300 mm (51.2 in)
Height	1,379 mm (54.3 in)
Curb weight	410 kg (900 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Subaru 1500
Successor	Subaru R-2

The Subaru 360 is a rear-engined, two-door city car manufactured and marketed from 1958 to 1971 by Subaru. As the company's first automobile, production reached 392,000 over its 12-year model run.

Noted for its small overall size, 1,000 lb curb weight, monocoque construction, swing axle rear suspension, fiberglass roof panel, and rear-hinged doors, the inexpensive car was designed in response to the Japanese government's light car or Kei car regulations and its proposal for a larger "national car," both intended to help motorize the post WWII Japanese population. The 360's overall size and engine capacity complied with Japan's Kei car regulations.

Nicknamed the "ladybug" in Japan, and ultimately superseded by R-2, the 360 was one of Japan's most popular cars and was available in a single generation in two-door, station wagon, "convertible" (coupe with roll-back fabric roof) and sport model variants.10,000 were sold in the United States, imported by Malcolm Bricklin — advertised as "Cheap and Ugly."^[2]

The nameplate 360 derived from its tax-limited engine displacement: 356 cc engine.

Design

EK31 engine of Subaru 360

The 360 featured an air-cooled, 2-stroke inline 2-cylinder 356 cc engine mounted transversely at the rear.

As with the two-stroke Saab 93s and other small two-stroke gas engines, oil was needed to be pre-mixed with gas, with the fuel tank lid serving as a measuring cup. In 1964, the "Subarumatic" lubrication system provided automatic mixing via an under-hood reservoir.^[3]

Floor-mounted controls located between the driver and passenger seat included choke, heater and fuel cut-off — the latter to accommodate gravity fed fuel which obviated the need for a fuel pump.^[4] The initial production featured a full metal dash board and three-speed manual gearbox, while subsequent models featured a partially padded dash with an open glove compartment, pop-out rear quarter windows, split front bench seat, map pockets, a four-speed manual and optional three-speed-based 'Autoclutch' transmission^[3] — the latter which eliminated the clutch pedal and operated the clutch via an electromagnet.^[3]

Final assembly included wheel alignment, brake testing, chassis dynometer, headlight testing, and high-pressure water spray testing.^[5]

In contrast to the Volkswagen Beetle, the 360 is much smaller, less powerful, and was not nearly as well accepted in the world marketplace. The body was of monocoque construction and used a lightweight fiberglass roof panel. In the post war period, more automobiles would switch to unibody construction, which is now the norm for passenger cars and even many light trucks. Many of the ideas came from engineers from the former Nakajima Aircraft Company, which became Fuji Heavy Industries. The "suicide doors" are hinged at the rear, which Consumer Reports remarked could and did result in a partially locked door pulling open in the wind during testing.

Performance

Equipped with a 3-speed manual transmission, the 360 had a top speed of 60 miles per hour,^[6] and with a curb weight under 1000 pounds, the 360 was exempt from compliance with US safety regulations. Consumer Reports recorded a 0-60 time of about 37 seconds and reported 25–35 miles per gallon,^[7] despite Subaru's claimed 66 mpg. When introduced in 1958, the 360's engine produced 16 hp (12 kW). By the end of production, power had increased to 25 hp (19 kW) with a 36 hp (27 kW) twin-carbureted engine optionally available.

Variants

Subaru 360 Custom

Subaru 360 Convertible

Subaru Young SS

Several variants were produced, including a station wagon (called the Custom), a convertible, and two sport models known as 1) the Subaru Young S, which had a slightly upgraded (EK32 "F") 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, and 2) the Subaru Young SS, which had all the Young S enhancements, but also the EK32 "S" engine with chromed cylinders and dual BS32 Mikuni Solex carburetors, producing 36 hp (27 kW) - and 100 brake horsepower per litre.

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 Japan between 1960 and 1966, an export version, known as the Subaru 450, increased the engine's displacement to 423 cc using the Subaru EK51 series engine. This model was also given the name Subaru Maia. The Maia variant was the sole sedan model imported into Australia (approx. 35) in 1961 - along with approx. 38 Sambar vans and trucks.^[8]

Export

A used car dealer in Ballarat, Victoria (Frank O'Brien) brought approximately 73 Subaru 360 vehicles into Australia in 1961. This was a mix of Maia sedans and Sambar vans and trucks. Unfortunately they suffered from overheating problems and although a solution was eventually found, it came too late, as the associated losses were too great for the dealership to cope with and further importations ceased. ^[8][9]

From 1968, approximately 10,000 were exported to the US, with an original price of $1,297. The 360 was imported to the United States by Malcolm Bricklin before he later manufactured his own cars. The Subaru 360 received notoriety in 1969, when Consumer Reports magazine branded the automobile "Not Acceptable" because of safety concerns and lack of power. Because the car weighed under 1000 pounds, it was exempt from normal safety standards, but it was reported that it fared badly in a test crash against a large American car with the bumper ending up in the passenger compartment of the Subaru.^[10]

Sales soon collapsed, and 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 Fiat 500, 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 also appears in Japanese anime series such as Pokémon and GetBackers, as well as racing video games such as Gran Turismo and Auto Modellista. In 2013, the Orient Watch Company introduced a limited edition Subaru 360 55th year anniversary watch .

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

Notes

1. New Subaru, The Autocar, 4 November 1960, page 821
2. "What Would You Do With Eight Tiny Subarus?". The New York Times, Bejamin Preston, January 29, 2014.
3. "The tale of how Subaru came to America with the 360, and how it all nearly ended". Hemmings, February 2006.
4. "Review: 1968 Subaru 360, Owned By Lexus LFA Engineer". The Bertel Schmitt, June 7, 2012.
5. "How the Subaru 360 Was Manufactured". Subaru Philosophy.
6. Lane Motor Museum Subaru 360 Archived January 2, 2009 at the Wayback Machine
7. Joe. "Subaru History". Cars101.com. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
8. Personal interview with Frank O'Brien (Ian Newman), Ballarat Australia, 1980
9. "Subaru: The Innovator Down Under" (Davis, Pedr) Pub: Marque 1991, ISBN 9780947079277
10. "Consumer Reports April 1969" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-05-24.

• History of Subaru Kei Jidosha

External links

• Subaru 360 Driver's Club
• Subaru 360 manuals page