Ah yes. The one called it "cheap and ugly" in the US adverts. What is it then? Two years after the post-war period is declared over, Fuji Heavy Industries (now Subaru Corporation) has released the Subaru 360, marking it the first time selling a proper four-wheeled vehicle and a turning point in Japanese car manufacturing industry.
From its egg-shaped body and interior space for four people, it was powered by a 356cc engine, which is the standard kei-car displacement back then, mated to the back of the car. Early models produce only 15HP of power and it was mated to a 3-speed MT. Thanks to its fiberglass roof panel, it weighs only 400kg and to make it smooth to handle, it's got a 4-wheel independent suspension.
Until 1971, the Subaru 360 became a phenomenon and there have been different versions including the Young S and SS, sport versions for young car enthusiasts.
In pop culture reference, the Subaru 360 became the car of choice of GetBackers' main characters, Ban Mido and Ginji Amano.
Yes, you heard that right. This is the car the GetBackers used mission after mission when our favorite vigilantes kicking butts but anyway, no time to feel the tense because I'm trying to talk about what is like to drive the first Subaru ever made and despite my poor tastes for classic cars, it isn't half bad for a micro car that changed the very landscape of the Japanese car manufacturing renaissance.
Yes, the engine maybe small, it's short on power, but for a tiny car, it has endless possibilities you can think of and just imagine how much potential you can create with just a "cheap and ugly" car like this. Whoa, said that much...
After my brief drive with the car favored by the GetBackers, how about a little demonstration to see the Subaru 360 is still the Subaru 360 I know from the past mid-century, let's pit in with something very similar to it and since we're in Suzuka, I picked a suitable rival for it.
Of course, this is the one favored by everyone's favorite master thief, Lupin the Third, but this here is the Abarth 595 esseesse, an improved version of the standard 500 that resulted to the ideal mantra that small is better, even when it comes to picking the best handling classics. Talk about some mid-century atmosphere here and with all of the ingredients here, looks like it's going to be a showdown between the vigilante and a thief. However, we're experiencing light showers around Suzuka but never mind, let's get this showdown on the road.
And now, the lap times...
595 - 1:32.304
360 - 1:33.516
Whoa, looks like Lupin the Third managed to get away from the GetBackers by about a second. Man, you boys really let the master thief get away, huh? Even Inspector Zenigata couldn't figure it out how Lupin got away in this latest scheme. Oh, well...
The Subaru 360, found in Forza Motorsport 7's Tonino's Car Pack, may not be the ideal car for those who are interested in fast rides offered in the game, but as a time machine, it's important to know every car company's roots by understanding the classics and this Subaru 360 is the ideal example of that.
Without the 360, cars like the Leone, the Alcyone, the Legacy, the Impreza, and the Forester, among many other noteworthy Subarus wouldn't exist and looks like we have to give this "cheap and ugly" Subaru a big thanks. Too much, I said? Anyway, here's for 60 years of making cars, Subaru. It's a shame that the way Subaru has pretty much vanished these days, shrivelled up to the point that they're making boring cars. It's heartbreaking...
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