Subaru 360
Subaru 360 Subaru 360
Poor provincial houses are molded to each other - as if hugging, it is easier for them to confront the formidable and unpredictable ocean. The European, who first came to the country of low, lean (sumo wrestlers do not count), but stubborn and hardworking people, is surely fascinated by outlandish snacks on tiny plates. To their suit - tiny, but almost like outward trees with an unusual name for the Russian ear, “bonsai” … This “Subaru” is a typical child of its country. And its time.
THEATER OF MINIATURES
It's funny to compare the Subaru-360 with almost the same age as our ZAZ-965. The Zaporozhets 3330 mm long outgrew the Japanese by 335 mm. The base of the “Subaru” is only 1800 mm - 223 mm shorter than the 965th. And the total weight of the Subaru is 640 kg, already 325 (!) Kg less than that of a Soviet car. In general, ours is an accelerate!
Subaru 360
Subaru 360 Subaru 360
Japan in the mid-1950s was a closed and not at all rich country. But one of the main industries, designed to raise the level of production, and hence the income of citizens, has already become the automotive industry. And here is the engineering concern "Fuji Heavy Industries", which is engaged, in particular, in aviation, after several prototypes decided to make folk minicars. The first serial "Subaru-360" came out of the gates of the plant on March 3, 1958.
Finishing is not rich, but neat. When landing, the most difficult thing is to tuck the legs between the armchair and the wheel arch. Sitting down, I felt quite bearable
Finishing is not rich, but neat. When landing, the most difficult thing is to tuck the legs between the armchair and the wheel arch. Sitting down, I felt quite bearable. Finishing is not rich, but neat. When landing, the most difficult thing is to tuck the legs between the armchair and the wheel arch. Sitting down, I felt quite bearable.
The machine conceptually fully corresponded to many European counterparts - an air-cooled motor located at the rear. True, the most popular in Europe, Volkswagen-Beetle and Fiat-500 were equipped with four-stroke engines. But two-stroke, for example in Germany, was enough.
The Japanese, however, ennobled the two-cylinder, motorcycle, in fact, unit with the device proudly called the “Subarumatic”. Unlike the familiar Soviet motorcycle engines, the Japanese himself prepared a mixture of gasoline and oil. The ingredients were poured into different containers.
Speedometer proudly marked in miles! However, it is very similar to that of the 965th Zaporozhets
Speedometer proudly marked in miles! However, it is very similar to that of the 965th Zaporozhets. Speedometer proudly marked in miles! However, it is very similar to that of the 965th Zaporozhets.
Together with the engine, a four-speed gearbox with overdrive (0.806) transmission worked. It’s not very true, however, it is clear why she needs this baby with a 25-horsepower engine. According to the passport, the maximum speed is 110 km / h, and cruising proudly indicated in the brochure is 80 km / h. It turns out, "Subaru-360" - a car for the poor? Not at all!
SMOK JAPAN
Riding on this baby is much easier than eating with chopsticks (although in reality even sticks are a simple matter). The first impression is that these tiny handles, doors, levers are scared to touch. But getting into the car is only a little more difficult than in the mentioned Zaporozhets. The most surprising: you can live even from behind. But at first it’s scary to go in there: how then to take it off yourself? Well, in the front, getting used to it, even individuals of a completely non-Japanese physique are normally located.
All controls are made on the principle of "nowhere is easier."
All controls are made on the principle of "nowhere is easier." All controls are made on the principle of "nowhere is easier."
The joke about “a drop of gasoline and a drop of oil” does not go from the head. There he is, by the way, and a characteristic push-pull haze.
But this toy is on its way! And it’s easy to start, and the gear ratios of the transmission are selected so that there is a feeling of quite normal dynamics. At least you expect much more childish behavior from this baby.
For cold start, in addition to the air damper, a mixture enrichment lever is used
For cold start, in addition to the air damper, a mixture enrichment lever is used. For cold start, in addition to the air damper, a mixture enrichment lever is used.
Japanese designers clearly tried to make the car as comfortable as possible on the go. Yes, despite the 10-inch wheels and a base of 1800 mm! Independent torsion bar suspensions provide a pretty decent ride. But of course, it all works on the road. Those in the Japanese province, as you know, differ from freeways only in width. Well, what we still call roads, it’s difficult to explain to the Japanese, even having learned his outlandish language.
The steering wheel is not light, but light. But on this machine, its “weightlessness” is not at all annoying, but rather perceived as a feature that harmonizes well with everything else. The brakes, of course, are without an amplifier (and what should I strengthen?), But each wheel has its own cylinder on the front wheels.
The largest unit on the subarika panel is the Clarion receiver
The largest unit on the subarika panel is the Clarion receiver. The largest unit on the subarika panel is the Clarion receiver.
So I see how, at a very decent 70–80 km / h along the narrow but smooth Subaru track, the Japanese family is happily driving the family somewhere to the park on the weekend.
Japanese? Not only!
FROM FIRST STAR
In the 1950s, little more was known about cars produced in the Land of the Rising Sun outside its borders than about Japanese culture of that time. Say, in 1958, when the production of Subaru 360 began, later becoming world famous Akira Kurosawa released the film Little Three Wretches in a Hidden Fortress, which was little known today, and the young writer Kenzaburo Oe won the literary prize named after Ryunosuke Akutagawa, which soon became very popular in the homeland. How many outside Japan knew (or now know) about this?
If you really need to go, you will climb on such a sofa
If you really need to go, you will climb on such a sofa. If you really need to go, you will climb on such a sofa.
Meanwhile, the stubborn kid “Subaru” bent its line. The first 73 cars were exported to Australia in 1961. And then the incredible happened: cars began to be bought in the USA! By the way, the car with which I had a chance to talk, with the left-hand drive, released in 1969, is from there. I would like to meet an American who bought this miracle four decades ago. Probably the big one was the original! With a little effort, this car can be hoisted if not in the trunk of some “Pontiac” full-size by American standards, then in the back of a farm pickup - for sure.
In fact, this is not the trunk, but the compartment for the battery, jack and spare wheel
In fact, this is not the trunk, but the compartment for the battery, jack and spare wheel. In fact, this is not the trunk, but the compartment for the battery, jack and spare wheel.
Laughter, but until 1971, when the story of the Subaru 360 ended, about 10, 000 cars were sold in the United States. On the scale of the local market, of course, zilch, but if you take into account, to put it mildly, a construction that is not trivial for the States, then there are many. Why not turn a beggar into a prince?
The two-cylinder motor is comparable in size to the air filter housing
The two-cylinder motor is comparable in size to the air filter housing. The two-cylinder motor is comparable in size to the air filter housing.
Moreover, the spread around the world of six Subarovsky stars, which are cringing here on the trunk lid (or rather, a compartment for a spare wheel and a jack), began with this ridiculous crumbs. With such bugs, the Japanese already in the 1960s clearly proved: a microcar can be quite comfortable, rationally arranged, neatly finished, and easy to drive, and, importantly, reliable.
9
This almost 45-year-old Subaru is quite alive. Cracking with a two-stroke opponent and a little impudently blowing a bluish smoke, he, like a small dog, which is an old puppy, is eager for a much longer trip than we can afford. Although he is small, he is certainly not stupid and not helpless. And he can be considered a well-deserved prince, but not proud and arrogant, but hardworking, good-natured and cheerful.
12
CHILDREN YEARS TO "SUBARU" -FATHER
Production of the Subaru-360, the company's first production car, began in 1958. The machine was equipped with a two-cylinder 25-horsepower two-stroke engine with a volume of 360 cm³. The more expensive version of the Young SS was equipped with a 423 cm³ engine that developed 36 hp. Four-speed gearbox with overdrive.
eleven
On the basis of the Subaru-360, a station wagon, a minivan and a truck were produced. Until 1971, about 392, 000 cars were manufactured. The successor to the 360 was the Subaru-R2.
