SUBARU 360 ? on ebay

[tropical]

I ran across this what year and what a price tag is it rare ?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...0155515923&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=018Tony

 

[johninky]

I ran across this what year and what a price tag is it rare ?
 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=28...

Yes, fairly rare. This one is a real basket case and not worth
anywhere what he is asking. Essentially just junk. Have seen a few
very nice ones for sale over the years but expect to pay in the $5K
range for a deal driver. Why anyone would want one is a mystery to
me. never find parts of any kind for them and I think they all had a
dinky 2 cylinder 2 clyce engine.

 

[The Other Dave]

I recall living in Los Angeles when this monstrosity was introduced to the
car buying public. I think it retailed for about $1500, that would probably
have been around 1969 or a bit later. Really a terrible piece of s#%t. The
dealers who took them on (mostly Chevy and Ford dealers, I recall),
eventually resorted to gimmicks to get rid of them. I recall a dealer giving
one away with the purchase of a real car. Perhaps someone can verify this, I
think that Malcolm Bricklin bought up a bunch of them and used them in a
sort of primitive "Malubu Grand Prix" amusement race track he has somewhere
in Florida. This car made a Volkswagen Beetle seem spacious and luxurious.

 

[suburboturbo]

I recall living in Los Angeles when this monstrosity was introduced to the
car buying public. I think it retailed for about $1500, that would probably
have been around 1969 or a bit later. Really a terrible piece of s#%t. The
dealers who took them on (mostly Chevy and Ford dealers, I recall),
eventually resorted to gimmicks to get rid of them. I recall a dealer giving
one away with the purchase of a real car. Perhaps someone can verify this,I
think that Malcolm Bricklin bought up a bunch of them and used them in a
sort of primitive "Malubu Grand Prix" amusement race track he has somewhere
in Florida. This car made a Volkswagen Beetle seem spacious and luxurious.






- Show quoted text -

As far as I know it was Bricklin that first brough Subarus to the US
with the 360. Back in the 1970's a friend of mine had a drivable one
and a parts car as well. May have been bad tires, but despite its
rear engine didn't have much traction and I recall pushing it home,
uphill, in the snow with my Z-28 Camaro. No prize, but still more
mainstream than the Isetta another friend drove. Maybe it was just
the Isetta's refrigerator front door/windshield with pivoting steering
column, or gearshift where the left doorhandle would have otherwise
been. The Subaru was just a microcar without the funk. Wish I could
have seen those two race.

 

[Rick Courtright]

been. The Subaru was just a microcar without the funk. Wish I could
have seen those two race.

Hi,

Saw one of those little micro-Hondas of the same era the other
day--first time in years! Could it enter the race, too?

We used some little utility vehicles to move tools and trash cans on a
college grounds crew around 1970. They looked like the tiniest little
pickup truck in the world: IIRC we could get four 30+ gal cans in the
bed. If I'm not mistaken, they were CONY 360s. Google shows 'em being
built by Aichi, but I thought back then I heard Subaru/Fuji was
associated w/ them. Anyone remember?

Rick

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

I recall living in Los Angeles when this monstrosity was introduced to the
car buying public. I think it retailed for about $1500, that would
probably have been around 1969 or a bit later. Really a terrible piece of
s#%t. The dealers who took them on (mostly Chevy and Ford dealers, I
recall), eventually resorted to gimmicks to get rid of them. I recall a
dealer giving one away with the purchase of a real car. Perhaps someone
can verify this, I think that Malcolm Bricklin bought up a bunch of them
and used them in a sort of primitive "Malubu Grand Prix" amusement race
track he has somewhere in Florida. This car made a Volkswagen Beetle seem
spacious and luxurious.

Rear engined with the engine hung out at the rearmost of the transmission...

They didn't call it the "360" for nothing!!!

 

[Bonehenge (B A R R Y)]

Rear engined with the engine hung out at the rearmost of the transmission...

They didn't call it the "360" for nothing!!!

You know you want it! <G>

Think of vintage weekend at Lime Rock Park!

 

[Hachiroku]

You know you want it! <G>

Think of vintage weekend at Lime Rock Park!

Yeah, about 20 years ago there was someone in town that had a 360. If you
remember my posts in the Toyota group, you know I like old, funky Japanese
cars, and a 360 is about as funky as you get!

 

[suburboturbo]

You know you want it!  <G>

Think of vintage weekend at Lime Rock Park!

Used to drive a Corvair at Lime Rock in club events, so I have a feel
of how rear engined cars handle on the course. Looking at an old
trophy right now that shows the outline of the track and can visualize
a Subaru 360 trying to navigate the 180 degree turn at the end of the
main straight. That "360" could easily become 3 dimensional if (and
that's a big IF) it sould generate enough speed in the straight to do
anything but spin off into the tire barriers. Ah, but I do miss the
sensation of trailing throttle oversteer and the little Subie was
probably demonic if you carried too much speed into a corner.