Subaru 360 - The Oppositelock Review

"Jonee" (Jonee) 01/27/2015 at 13:45 • Filed to: Subaru 360, Microcars, kei cars

66

100

The most !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in the history of Consumer Reports car reviews came in 1969 when they covered the new to America Subaru 360. Their summation: Not Acceptable.

Not acceptable? What does that even mean? It’s not acceptable as a car? It exists in three-dimensional space. Its Higgs-Bosons all work to spec giving it tangible mass. In basic environmental conditions it retains its shape and color. All acceptable. You want more? It has 4 wheels and an engine that can propel it forwards or backwards. Its front wheels can be adjusted allowing it to change its direction. This works for both forward and reverse. It even has mechanisms that can cease its progress relatively quickly. All this sounds to me to be at the very least, acceptable. So, here’s my 56 year late response to that rag. I’ve owned half a dozen Subaru 360's, so I know what I’m talking about here.

First a little history. The Subaru 360 was a kei car produced in Japan from 1958 to 1971. After the Second World War, Japan’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry advocated for a people’s car. Companies that had manufactured vehicles, weapons, etc. for the war effort took up the cause. One of the first was Fuji Heavy Industries. Fuji had once been part of Nakajima Aircraft which made planes during the War. Nakajima was broken up after Japan’s surrender, and one of the companies created by the breakup joined with 4 other companies to form FHI for the purpose of manufacturing road vehicles. When it came time to name their passenger car, they called it the Subaru, which is the Japanese name for the 5 star Pleiades cluster. Subaru made a handful of cars between ‘54 and ‘58, but the 360 was its first to be mass produced and the first success. And, it was a big one, at least in its home country. It had a monocoque body powered by a 356cc 25 horsepower two-stroke. Those specs put it in the “kei class” which was the lowest tax bracket for motor vehicles. With space in cities like Tokyo at a premium, and the Japanese economy building itself from ashes, cheap, tiny cars were popular.

Subaru sold nearly 400,000 360's making it the king of the keis. Mazda, Honda, Daihatsu and others had competitors, but none proved as versatile or durable as the Subaru. The engines were built to last more than 100,000 miles. They were relatively comfortable and easy to maintain. There were also van and pickup variants for merchants.

Like the Beetle elsewhere, the 360 was exactly what Japan needed in that era. But, that was really true of only Japan. Europe had had its own microcar boom, but by 1960, the bubble had burst. Economies there had improved, at least in the west, and cars like the VW and Mini had run away from their tinier people’s car brethren.

America’s economy, after a brief postwar recession, was humming and small cars never really had a chance in its wide open spaces. Still, that didn’t stop one crackpot American entrepreneur from importing Subaru 360's in the late 60's. Malcolm Bricklin was a young business school dropout with a litigious nose for suckers. After a failed and rather shady attempt to start a chain of hardware stores (he was sued for fraud after promising a distribution network that was a figment of his imagination), Malcolm started importing Rabbit scooters which were manufactured by Fuji Heavy Industries.

He became annoyed when production of the bikes wound down, so he went to Japan to try and buy the manufacturing machinery to build them himself. When he saw the little cars, he figured it would be much easier to import them since they were already built, and they were everywhere so they must be pretty popular. It was a home run. At an extra bonus that must have made his mouth water, since they weighed less than 1,000 pounds, they didn’t have to meet federal safety regulations. All he had to do was ship them over the Pacific and start taking people’s money. With a $75,000 investment, he started Subaru of America, the same company that sells you WRX’s today.

The cars were an instant failure. They had absolutely nothing people expected in a car in 1968. Sure, they were cheaper than a VW Beetle, but only barely and that car was was a Rolls compared to the teeny, minimalist, underpowered Subaru. No one bought them. Malcolm imported 50,000 cars between ‘68 and ‘70 and that was 50,000 more than there was demand for. New Jersey even outlawed them for being too dangerous. New Jersey! They were priced at just under $1,300 and some dealers would sell you two for the price of one. Or, they’d give you one for a dollar with purchase of a Buick or Cadillac. It’s rumored a shipload was dumped in the ocean. As a way to get rid of them and make his money back, Malcolm hit on the idea of starting a family racetrack franchise business called “Fastrack” using Subaru 360's like go-karts. For $20,000 he’d sell you 10 cars, some helmets, a whole bunch of tires, and instructions on how to build your own racetrack. In typical Bricklin fashion, he had actually taken on a contract to dispose of thousands of used tires. So, he was paid to take the tires away and then sold them to you. Brilliant. A few Fastracks did open, but the 360's took such a beating, they were rendered useless pretty quickly.

In 1971, Malcolm sold Subaru of America back to Fuji Heavy Industries. When they started exporting more appropriate cars themselves to the U.S., they refused to acknowledge the 360 ever existed here. For the few souls who actually did buy one of the little cars, they found themselves orphans.

They’ve always had a small, dedicated following of weirdos, though. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! was founded in 1980 by owners who wanted to keep the little things running. And, as microcars have become hot on the collector car market, nice 360's are now highly sought after.

Malcolm went on to build a car with his own name in Canada that people hated and sued him over. In a repeat, albeit much more highly publicized, performance of his Subaru debacle, he was also responsible for importing the Yugo. Later, he would try again with cars from China. This time they never even made it on the boat.

I bought my first 360 in 1997 for $1100. The guy who sold it to me had a shit eating grin like he had ripped me off, but I knew better. The 360 is the most underappreciated car ever sold in America. I love it and here’s my review.

Exterior - 10/10

It’s fucking adorable. How can you not love how this car looks? It screams “let’s go have fun!” The simple curvy swoop down the side is a brilliant styling touch. Not busy, just a friendly little reminder that, yes, even the cheapest car can have some class. I know from experience that these are the most eye-catching cars ever made. They spread joy and frivolity wherever they go. When you drive one, you’ll be a one vehicle parade. Constant thumbs up, people will wave at you, laugh with glee, and fill their Instagrams with pictures of your car. They get more attention than any Lambo, dude, and the ladies love them. It’s like having a puppy that never grows up.

Interior - Yes

It has an interior.

Okay, expanding on that, there’s a surprising amount of room in there. Surprising in that full-sized humans can actually fit in the front seat. I’m 6' tall and can drive it quite comfortably. You can even add a second person. (Note: adding passengers can seriously affect performance, but aren’t the most enjoyable drives the solitary ones?) You’ll probably have to ask them to move their leg so you can shift gears pretty often, but who hasn’t needed a conversation starter on a road trip? The back seat is perfectly suited for that floating head in a jar from the future you know. Or, a small child you don’t like. The seats are upholstered in the most exotic of materials. Vampire skin! I know, right? This gives them a distinctive, eye-popping red color. Unfortunately, the one downside to vampire skin is that it disintegrates upon first being exposed to sunlight, but, if you ever find one without tattered seat covers, you’ll notice it feels just like actual vinyl.

Acceleration - 1/1 (It accelerates to the best of its abilities.)

Accelerating is probably the most fun part of driving and the 25 horsepower 360 lets you savor the experience. It will get from 0 to 60 eventually, so just chill dude. Speed is a sensation, not a number. 50 in a Subaru 360 feels like 150 in any other car. And, the feeling is what matters. “But, what about when I’m getting on the highway with all those big cars that go fast?” “Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah highway.” Shut up and grow a pair. First of all, this is a city car. It wasn’t designed for our freeways, turnpikes or Autobahns. Secondly, you think you’re tough because you drive a bro-truck? Fuck you. It takes actual courage to cruise the interstate in one of these and I’ve done it. The slightest gust will push you around like you’re a kite. Your driving skills and powers of observation will be put to the ultimate test. You need to know what everyone on the road is doing at all times because one wrong move by you or any of your fellow drivers could spell disaster. Oh, just like when you’re on a motorcycle? Uh-uh. A Ducati gets from 0-60 in less than 3 seconds and can dart around like a hummingbird. The 360 may be small, but it handles like a bag of Jell-O. You prove to the world you have admantium balls when you drive a 360.

Handling - 0.5/1

So, yeah, it could handle better. But, like accelerating, going around corners is fun. More so even than going straight. Due to its rear engine, short wheelbase, and light weight, the 360 likes to oversteer. But, this is okay. Just slow down and prolong the joy of turning. Plus, taking corners too fast is dangerous. The 360 has a unique and effective countermeasure to this by folding its wheels under itself if you exceed the recommended turning speed. This is much more effective than some computer or LSD since it actually teaches you a lesson rather than doing the work for you.

Brakes - 10/10

Drum brakes on each 10" wheel. That’s right, every wheel gets its very own brake. But, drums suck, you say? It weighs 900 pounds soaking wet and has 25 horsepower. It doesn’t take much to stop it. Just putting your hand out of the window provides enough resistance to slow it down, so why add the expense of ABS and discs? Plus, the shoes on every one I’ve had chattered and vibrated like a malfunctioning sex toy, so you get the experience of anti-lock brakes without all the complicated technology.

Gearbox - 10/10

It’s got reverse, and 4 forward speeds: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and OT. What the fuck is OT? 4th gear, you idiot, only here it’s called “Over the Top(?).” Why? Because that’s cooler than “4,” asshole. Quit bugging me. It’s a marketing thing, you wouldn’t understand, just know that you like it. They were going to call it “Off the Hook,” but they figured dipshits like you would get confused by the “OH” abbreviation. Anyway, each gear is higher than the previous one and they are all accessed using the simple stick with hand conforming knob. What more do you want? 2, 3, and OT are synchronized because if you need to downshift into 1st, you’re doing it wrong. It also has a dogleg 1st arrangement because that’s the way God intended shift patterns be laid out. Is shifting precise and sharp? Don’t you like a little mystery in life? Should everything be predictable? Booooring. The gears are there. Go find them. It makes it that much more rewarding when you do get 2nd.

Engine - 10/10

You know what sucks? Oil changes. You know what you never have to do in a 360? Change the oil. That’s right. Never. Two strokes use a miraculous combustion/lubrication combination that just burns the oil away. Refill as needed and give Jiffy Lube the finger whenever you drive by one.

Ride - 10/10

Shocks in front and swing axels behind give it a fun, bouncy ride that continuously reminds you you’re driving on pavement.

Toys - A million

It’s its own toy. Look at it. You could get it with an AM radio and a speaker, but it’ll be completely drowned out by the roar of the mighty two-stroke. Which is good since AM radio is terrible.

Storage Space - 0/0

Okay, you can fit some shit on the seats.

Value - Absolutely

It was the cheapest car on the market when it came out. Here in America is was a full $300 less than a Beetle. What a bargain! I mean is a Beetle really $300 more car? How it didn’t sell millions over here is beyond me. Today, it’s a collectible and prices are rising, but even the nicest one will be cheaper than a new Camry. And if you’d rather drive a Camry than a 360, I don’t know what to tell you beyond, where the hell is your sense of adventure and whimsy, you dull fucking lemming?

Now, I’m not a mathematical fellow, but that adds up to a darn near perfect score to my eyes. Not acceptable? Hardly. It’s totally acceptable. Best car ever made, maybe. Sure, it will try to asphyxiate you with two-stroke exhaust. And, yes it’s clunky and slow. One critique CR had was that the positioning and shape of the light switch on the dash made it easy to accidentally turn the lights off while moving your hand from the shifter back to the steering wheel. I found that bit hilarious and absurd until I did it myself one night. And then kept on doing it. But, that stuff’s part of the fun. This is a car that will make you smile and laugh constantly and we need shit like that nowadays. Incidentally, Road & Track loved the 360. They recognized that it was ugly (repeating the tagline from the ads), and that it didn’t get the claimed 66 mpg, and that it was too small for this country’s huge boat-car filled streets, but they said it was “lots of fun since you can do most of your motoring with your foot against the firewall. There are very few cars that can be driven in such a manner and this tends to bring out the banzai in almost any driver.” Who isn’t sold on that? They went on to say that, “an immediate transformation of all full-sized cars into 360-class cars would solve most of the world’s ills associated with the automobile…” Indeed. And what a happy world that would be.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

As Du Volant > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 13:50

17

!

Jonee > As Du Volant 01/27/2015 at 13:52

0

Ha!

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 13:57

6

Orlove's Grandfather's car.

thebigbossyboss > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 14:04

1

Ohhh. I'm saving this for later when I have time to read. THANK YOU JONEE!!

Jonee > thebigbossyboss 01/27/2015 at 14:06

0

You got it.

Hey, y'all, watch this! > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 14:06

12

I want to give this car a hug.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 14:21

3

Great stuff. Congrats on the front page!

Takuro Spirit > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 14:22

18

Got to get up close and personal with a 360 van at the Subaru parade/world record event.

10/10, would SQUEE

Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 14:24

1

My grandparents bought one of these as their first car when they moved to the states. I really wish they wouldn't have sold it back then, but they did before I was born.

Doctor-G-and-the-wagen > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 14:27

1

There's some one in my town that has a 360. I want to have a photoshoot with it so badly, I would seriously do it for free.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > As Du Volant 01/27/2015 at 14:29

0

I see what you did there.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 14:32

3

Jonee, you're the bomb.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 14:33

1

Orlove'd

Bubs > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 14:36

2

It's been awesome to see 360s getting so much love lately!

imprezanoturbo > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 14:37

4

"Is shifting precise and sharp? Don't you like a little mystery in life? Should everything be predictable? Booooring. The gears are there. Go find them." I can tell you this carried over with Subarus for a long time. My '78 4WD wagon and my '84 4WD wagon had gallons of slop in the gear box.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 14:38

0

It is called a 360.

Sorry, I could not help it

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 14:40

3

If you can find one, these Rabbits are really serious collectors items now.

DennyCraneDennyCraneDennyCrane > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 14:41

5

Its Higgs-Bosons all work to spec giving it tangible mass.

AHEM. The car itself has ZERO Higgs Bosons. The mass comes from the matter's interactions with the Higgs field.

The confusion arises from the fact that the Higgs Boson is a result of the presence of the Higgs field. However the Higgs Boson is not a stable particle, with a mean lifetime of 0.156 zeptoseconds. Not making up zeptoseconds, here, that's a real unit of measurement. And it's fun to say. Say it! ZEPTOSECONDS!

/Science nerd'd

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 14:42

0

OverTrive.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 14:47

1

One of the local Subaru dealers around here has one on their showroom floor.

It's hilarious. I want to drive one.

Great article!

Dr_Watson > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 14:50

2

Bricklin probably should have stayed in business school. Spending your life supplying things with no demand seems like he dropped out before taking any actual classes.

Jonee > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 01/27/2015 at 14:51

3

Great bikes, too. I've also had a couple of them. The top of the line Superflow was the Cadillac of scooters.

RedWhine > Takuro Spirit 01/27/2015 at 14:51

5

Now that is a cool ass little van

Steve in Manhattan > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 14:52

7

Remembered seeing this in Hemmings a couple years back. Not quite as menacing as a police Charger, but ...

Megamullin > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 14:57

0

The Oprah will not accept that.

At that price everyone gets a Subaru 360.

And bees.

Because Oprah GIFs are the best GIFs

505Turbeaux > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 01/27/2015 at 14:57

3

not the 90's as pictured. I know because I had one for years in great shape. Awesome bikes, but it is the big 301's that are worth the cake. 55 MPH all day out of the 90 though!

Francois > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 14:57

5

Had a university friend in Montreal who had one. He took it to Mt. Tremblant for a day's skiing and when he came back to the parking lot, that afternoon, it was gone. Two months later he got it back when it was found 20 yards from the lot under trees and snow. He was told it was probably picked up and carried away by some 1970 pranksters.

thebigbossyboss > Francois 01/27/2015 at 15:02

3

That is funny. but also sad.

Jonee > Francois 01/27/2015 at 15:03

5

Yeah, I daily drove one around Boston and parking could be treacherous. I found it turned around, on its side, on a lawn. One time it was completely gone so I called the police to see if it had been towed and sure enough, it was. "Why did you park it on the Boston University steps?" they asked me. They had a good laugh when I explained some jerks carried it there. Still had to pay the tow fee, unfortunately.

Soused > DennyCraneDennyCraneDennyCrane 01/27/2015 at 15:06

1

Youngest of the Marx brothers — never appeared in a feature film.

DennyCraneDennyCraneDennyCrane > Soused 01/27/2015 at 15:08

2

Well, he was pretty tiny...

FriscoFairlane > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 15:15

10

Hell, did Bricklin do anything that did not turn out to be a total boondoggle?

Jonee > FriscoFairlane 01/27/2015 at 15:18

11

Nope. They all ended in disaster and litigation. Which I feel like was how he liked it.

FriscoFairlane > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 15:20

3

I could see him somehow being sued after buying a cheeseburger. What an interesting and glorious life he must have lived!

Caddyman > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 01/27/2015 at 15:21

1

I thought the same exact thing the instant I saw that pic.

Hey, y'all, watch this! > Takuro Spirit 01/27/2015 at 15:23

2

That's too fucking cute. I can't deal.

facw > FriscoFairlane 01/27/2015 at 15:28

3

I recommend this book on the Yugo, spends a lot of time dealing with Bricklin's other shenanigans: http://www.amazon.com/The-Yugo-Rise-…

Jonee > FriscoFairlane 01/27/2015 at 15:28

2

His son made a documentary about him that is supposed to be great, but I've never seen it. I actually sold him some of my old 360 automobilia that I wonder if got used in the movie. It looks like it mostly focuses on one of his more recent escapades. That Yugo book obviously also talks a lot about ol' Mal.

FriscoFairlane > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 15:30

0

Now that looks like some good watchin'. I am totally checking that out.

asbsvc > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 15:30

2

Ah well, such is life. Those bros who stole the little 360 probably owned massive 'Murican penile extenders that Phil Hill referred to as "wallowing pigs." These are wonderful pieces of minimalist design. Both CR and those tools can get stuffed IMO.

TotallyThatStupid > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 15:31

7

I'm sitting here laughing into my hand at my desk. That was just awesome. All of it. Seriously.

Jonee > 505Turbeaux 01/27/2015 at 15:32

0

The Touring 150 is the real sleeper of the bunch. Great scooter. Quick and comfy.

Jonee > TotallyThatStupid 01/27/2015 at 15:33

0

Thanks!

Imirrelephant > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 15:35

2

Brilliant write up! Keep up the good work!

ranwhenparked > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 15:35

0

I've heard a story, not sure if it is true, that Fuji Heavy Industries actually tried to stop Bricklin from starting his 360 import business. They were aware that the Little SuBARu was inappropriate for the American market and had bigger, more competitive designs in the pipeline that they wanted to launch in the US eventually, and didn't want their reputation wrecked beforehand. But, he went and did it anyway.

Again, not sure that's totally true, since he did buy 50,000 of the things, which probably made him FHI's best customer, and he was very obviously using Subaru's name and logo for his entire operation, so there must have been approval.

godblessE39 > Takuro Spirit 01/27/2015 at 15:36

0

Handsome and cute. Forget a 2cv, I want this!

kckempf > FriscoFairlane 01/27/2015 at 15:38

0

He's still around, suing and being sued.

DavidHH > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 15:40

0

I've seen the Subbie Van, one was at a shop I worked at. I had to move it several times, with a pallet jack, as it would not roll [it seemed that every year, another wheel would lock up, even though it was stored inside] It was a truly horrible piece of crap, that would have been a horrible piece of crap, even if they offered it in 1950.

I've heard from a relative that the 360 was also bad, but he bought it running for a $100, instead of renting a car. Yes, they are collectors items now, but so is the peel mini car. As in a collectors item that you don't want to actually drive. Just like the original Macintosh computer is a collectors item that you don't want to use as a computer.

ffoc02 > As Du Volant 01/27/2015 at 15:41

1

So this would have been $300 cheaper to roll?

ffoc02 > Bubs 01/27/2015 at 15:43

1

That's because, "It's the little Soo-bAr-ruu, WOW!"

DavidHH > thebigbossyboss 01/27/2015 at 15:44

0

Your right, it's sad his friend actually got his horrible car back. I would have thanked a car thief for stealing it.

GreenN_Gold > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 15:45

1

It's funny in a counter-intuitive way to see "Fuji Heavy Industries" printed on an ad for this cute little guy.

DavidHH > FriscoFairlane 01/27/2015 at 15:48

0

His safety sports car came with gull wing doors with no rubber seals, so they were noisy and dusty. It was a horrible fiberglass "sports" car that sucked to drive, particularly due to having one of the worse clutch linkages ever.

Jonee > ranwhenparked 01/27/2015 at 15:50

1

Yeah, I've heard that, too, but I'm not sure what the real story is. I know he had that contract to import the Rabbit scooters and it could be that when they stopped production of those, he threatened to sue for breach of contract, or something, so they agreed to sell him the cars. I found a quote from him about going to Japan to buy the Rabbit machinery and then he fell in love with the 360 and had to have it, but you can't trust anything that guy said. I do know Fuji was pretty dismayed at the 360's reception here which is why they always said it wasn't them who exported it. The 50,000 number could be an exaggeration, too. Where'd they all go?

S.A.Yeager > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 15:50

1

Great article. I have been interested in these for quite awhile, now I really want one.

Kiltedpadre > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 15:51

0

A local Subaru dealer has one on the showroom. I was there yesterday with my wife and got to really check it out. They even let me sit in it and I was surprises how well I fit at 6-4, I'm not so sure I could comfortably drive it though. The service manager told me if I came back when the weather was better I could take it around the lot a few times. Yea, I plan to be back.

Jonee > DavidHH 01/27/2015 at 15:52

1

I still drive my 360 all the time. It's a great car. Well made for what it was, it was just too minimal for most of America's tastes.

DavidHH > Hey, y'all, watch this! 01/27/2015 at 15:54

0

And I want you to take a very long drive in one, with three of your friends, and tell me how you feel about the car afterwards.

Personally when i see crap like that, I'm glad we now have DOT safety requirements that block importing garbage like the 360, otherwise my wife would come home from the Hospital nauseous and in despair from the messy cases at the ER.

Jonee > Kiltedpadre 01/27/2015 at 15:56

1

Do it. The first one I bought was owned by a guy around my height (6'), but twice as wide. And he drove it fine. It was hard being a passenger with him, but he fit behind the wheel.

Tony Soprano even squeezed into one on that show.

DavidHH > imprezanoturbo 01/27/2015 at 15:58

0

Did your 78 or 84 burn when the carb. flat got stuck? The shop car did twice, unfortunately I saved it with a fire extinguisher, so it was fixed and could burn two customer cars the second time it caught fire.

Lechurus > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 15:59

0

MFW: "Soobaaroo"

thebigbossyboss > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 16:01

2

Now that I have read this article, I thank you for writing it Jonee. Slow car fast is the best philosophy. I want a land yacht though, not because it's fast, but because it's huge and similarly in the post emissions era gives lots of smiles per dollar.

Kiltedpadre > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 16:01

0

Yeah, thankfully I'm tall, but not shaped like Tony Soprano. My biggest issue in some small cars with manual transmissions is the pedal spacing. I wear a size 14 shoe and occasionally have a hard time getting the brake pedal without getting the gas as well, but I can't imagine not taking that thing out for a spin to try.

1965gto > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 16:02

1

Thanks for that, knew someone who owned one and got to drive it circa 1972, you make it seem more charming than I remember. There was a dealer in Derby, CT which closed pretty quickly and there were about a dozen of them left rusting behind the building until the mid 80s. BTW, that photo of the young hippie chick standing proudly in front of one with the church in the background, was that taken in New Haven?

Baconpocket > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 16:17

0

thank you sir. I want a 360 pickup so bad.

MysticStick > FriscoFairlane 01/27/2015 at 16:18

1

Yep, worth a viewing. It is a bit slow at times but also a fantastic insider look at who Malcolm Bricklin is and a ride-along on a Chinese venture that was sort of another Yugo/Subie type deal (spoiler: it fails, but how it fails is interesting). I ended up really liking him. For all his failures, he just kept trying. At 75 years, he probably won't have another shot.

greenagain > Francois 01/27/2015 at 16:19

1

My Step-Dad bought an Isetta brand new back in the day, and people always picked it up and did dumb stuff with it. He would find it backwards in the street, or on someone's porch.

greenagain > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 16:21

0

"the shoes on every one I've had chattered and vibrated like a malfunctioning sex toy, so you get the experience of anti-lock brakes without all the complicated technology.

Ha ha. Good writing.

Maxxuman > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 16:22

2

"Rounding up all of the used tires in the World..."

See that kids, Motor Trend used hyperbole long before Jalopnik was born!

Maxxuman > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 16:24

2

"For the few souls who actually did buy one of the little cars, they found themselves orphans."

I have a feeling most were probably orphans already, in a figurative sense...

As Du Volant > imprezanoturbo 01/27/2015 at 16:26

0

I had an 88 XT6 with so much slop you could slide the shifter into a no-man's-land to the left of second gear. Sure was interesting the first time that happened.

Maxxuman > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 16:33

1

"When you drive one, you'll be a one vehicle parade." More like a half mile parade of cars backed up behind you, but at least you'll be having fun.

Maxxuman > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 16:34

0

I could totally see Torch in one of these. The color's even close on this one, but he'd want a stripe of course.

Tofuman > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 16:48

1

I would love having this little 360 van.

Tohru > imprezanoturbo 01/27/2015 at 17:03

2

I can confirm that Fords picked up on this too. My '97 Escort had enough slop in the shifter that you could wallop an unsuspecting passenger in the kneecap with the shift knob in 3rd, 4th, OR 5th.

Tohru > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 17:05

1

This is excellent Oppo. Well done.

Jonee > 1965gto 01/27/2015 at 17:19

0

I did find that photo at a thrift store in Connecticut, so it's possibly New Haven. It kind of looks like the plate on the car is yellow-ish. Did CT have yellow plates back then?

Kinja'd Again > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 17:20

0

They should make a current 720 NoScope Edition for Call of Duty.

Maxaxle > Steve in Manhattan 01/27/2015 at 17:26

1

"Control, we're in hot pursuit of someone on a moped. They're not slowing down."

Geezer G > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 17:33

1

I remember looking at Subaru's in the early 70's when one of their ads showed that 17 soccer balls could be carried in the trunk. As I recall, all of the door panels looked like painted cardboard. It screamed "cheap", so I opted to take the high road and bought a Datsun 510 instead.

I'd already had a Saab 96 with a 2 stroke V4 and a rather Spartan interior , so I probably would have felt right at home with a 360, though.

Excellent article!

Great reading!

Birddog > FriscoFairlane 01/27/2015 at 17:45

0

If you are exceedingly good at something you may as well stick with it.

Jonee > Geezer G 01/27/2015 at 17:46

0

That's funny. I've never seen that ad. Were you a soccer coach? If so, how many balls fit in the 510?

Steve in Manhattan > Maxaxle 01/27/2015 at 17:49

2

It's the Vauxhall Astra diesel of its day.

sdwarf36 > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 18:15

1

Growing up, I had a buddy that had a pair of these-in a pick up form. He had a hot dog cart he'd put in the back. At the end of the day, we'd take the cart out + go crusing around the backroads. Had a blast with it. You get spoiled in a normal car with things like —making it over a hill. "thinking we'll be doing 20 going over the top?" "I dunno-I didnt get good run at it." Its all in the planning-and low expectations.

NipperDawg > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 18:31

1

Maybe someday my Justy will feel the love of a 360. Little known fact is that you could have a 360 with a semi automatic and electric powder clutch. SO in a way my Justy is cousin of this lovely 360.

I want a 360.

JohnTaurus-3L-AX4N > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 18:31

1

I always give Jiffy Pube the finger everytime I drive by. Low quality filters, low quality oil, low quality service for damn-near the same price as a dealership. It amazes me how much people will put up with for the illusion of saving time.

Oh, and about kei cars in the US, nothing compares to my favorite, the Honda Z600 Coupe. Advacado green, please. Oh, and you can keep the rear seat so I can fit more groceries in it, lol.

Subie Gal > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 18:45

2

"Secondly, you think you're tough because you drive a bro-truck? Fuck you. It takes actual courage to cruise the interstate in one of these and I've done it."

Ahahahaaa I think I love you... I have 3 of these little monsters right now. Hands down the best cars I've ever owned. Giggles for days. And days. They're just..... FUN.

Jonee > sdwarf36 01/27/2015 at 18:47

0

Well said.

Subaru would actually sell you one with all the hot dog equipment installed. They only sold a handful, like with the normal ones, but I know there are a few survivors. There was one on Craigslist a couple months ago, actually.

gkwilly > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 18:49

0

wow.

I remember those at a local dealer when I was a teenager, but never realized they were a fli-by-night import. Now they're more interesting

Jonee > JohnTaurus-3L-AX4N 01/27/2015 at 18:49

1

I actually also owned a pea green Z600. Awesome little car. Much more capable, obviously, than the 360 with that bigger motor.

Jonee > Subie Gal 01/27/2015 at 18:53

0

Is that one yours? It's magnificent. I've only ever had sedans, but the vans do zing my heart strings, too. They're just so much more complicated with their fuel pump as opposed to good ol' gravity.

rflan0104 > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 19:03

1

This was my dad's first car, he won it in a contest when it first came out. He owned it for a grand total of 2 days. My grandpa made him trade it in immediately for a VW Beetle. It had a grand total of maybe 50 miles on it yet he got something like $600 in trade in since the dealership really didn't want it. He said he could feel the suspension sag inwards when he sat in it and it was a terrible car.

digitalsandwich78 > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 19:11

1

I remember watching a NHK documentary on the development of the 360 long time ago. One memorable part was when they did the government mandated hill climb test, the government inspector had no faith in the car, and refused to sit in the passenger seat for the test. Instead, he put an equivalent weight sand bag on the seat, if memory serves. They had skeptics at home as well.

I really enjoyed reading the article!

Jonee > Kiltedpadre 01/27/2015 at 19:14

0

Oh, you're definitely going to be pressing the brake and gas pedals simultaneously in the 360 then. Not much room down there as the wheel well takes up most of the space. And, I guess Japanese people have tiny feet.

manifold engines > Kiltedpadre 01/27/2015 at 19:15

1

Is it this one?

Subie Gal > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 19:17

4

Thank you! Yep. That's my 1970 360 Van aka Stanley.... Hubbs and I have a 360 truck, a 360 sedan, + a 1970 Subaru FF-1 as well.

Quirky, odd, and hilarious. All of them. I wouldn't give them up for anything.

Jonee > NipperDawg 01/27/2015 at 19:18

0

I drove one of those auto-clutches once. Weird, and even slower than a normal one. The science of how the iron dust thing works makes my head spin. I kind of get it, but I don't.

Cavalcanti Martins > Jonee 01/27/2015 at 19:24

0

I make up to $90 an hour working from my home. My story is that I quit working at Walmart to work online and ­with ­a ­­little ­effort ­I ­easily ­bring ­in ­around ­$­40h ­to ­$­86h… ­Someone ­was ­good ­to ­me ­by ­sharing ­this ­link ­with me, so now i am hoping i could help someone else out there by sharing this link­... Try it, you wOn't regret it­!... www.­W­i­k­i-­R­e­p­o­r­t­.­­C­o­m­

Jonee > Subie Gal 01/27/2015 at 19:24

0

That's awesome. You're my kind of car people. I had a basket case FF-1 wagon once. It was so cool and fascinating in its own right. I really wish I hadn't let it go, but too many projects, not enough room, etc. I doubt I'll ever find another one on this side of the ocean.

Kiltedpadre > manifold engines 01/27/2015 at 19:25

0

I don't believe so; I don't recall the one near me having the chrome piece on front of the rear wheels. Where is that one located?