When I first spotted this 1971 Subaru 360, I honestly thought it was a golf cart. There are plenty of carts on the roads near where I live – they’re supposed to be licensed but frequently aren’t and that stops no one. They’re buzzing around everywhere and those with both front and back seats definitely look longer than this Subaru. I was suprised to learn that this diminutive open-top is actually a Subaru 360, a model that knocked out almost 400K copies in its fourteen year production span. Something still seems a bit off, so let’s look further. This Subaru is located in Burien, Washington and is available here on craigslist for $7,900.
My colleague Russ Dixon covered a 1971 model 360 a few months ago, and as you can see, it’s like most, a two-door sedan. Subaru did manufacture a 360 “Cabrio-convertible” but that’s more like a coupe with a big retracting sunroof – the door frames and B-pillar are still present. Well, digging through the listing we find, “Car has had the top cut off and assorted modifications to create a fun, summer look but make no mistake this car retains lots of its factory OEM parts“. Seems strange considering that this car is located near Sea-Tac airport – not the most inviting climate for a convertible, especially one with no folding top. While the body is not in great shape, it has a big scrape in the driver’s side fender, the roofectomy appears to have been well executed. Further added is, “Original 6128 mile drive train, runs and drives but will need brakes and a good ‘going through’ to be roadworthy“. There’s that “going through” toss-away line again.
Power is provided by a 356 CC, twin-cylinder engine, of approximately 30 HP, connected to a three-speed manual transaxle. Consumer Reports claimed a 0-60 MPH time of 37 seconds, and 60 MPH is all she wrote. Not much for highway use but it should be pretty adequate for covering the links Caddyshack style.
The interior has a sort of “Hey Mon” vibe to it, the kind of feeling that one would get being ferried around the grounds of a luxury resort in Grand Cayman. As with the body modification, the interior has been well facilitated too, though the rolled blue vinyl upholstery under the driver’s behind will require some repair. No telling from what those pink seatbelts were lifted.
The seller concludes by suggesting, “…would make an excellent parts or donor car for your Subaru 360 restoration project, bring it back to factory specs and make a killing on BaT, or fix up and enjoy in its present state” (the trunk/boot lid is included in the sale). As for bringing it back to factory specs, I’d say that train has left the station – and a “killing”, at least transaction-wise, is unlikely anywhere. As to what to do with it, I’d convert it to electric propulsion, it would probably be a lot faster, and then hit the nearby public golf course; how about you?
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Holidays everyone!
I see it was painted since being in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Happy Holidays everyone
What do u mean u “think” it’s a golf cart!!?? 😄
No surprise to see that scrape on the front fender. When you have a gigantic land barge like this thing, it’s really hard to judge distances.
If you cant afford a Fiat Jolly here’s your car.I think its pretty cool..and yes I’d go the Jolly look route with it…new paint and a striped Bimini top..
Reminds me of something you would see in Rodger Rabbit
Yeah, that rollbar is really gonna help in the event of a rollover.
How many clowns does it hold?
The roof of the car was a structural component. I would be concerned that the car would fold in half unless the roll bar was connected to another bar near the windshield. The Subaru 360 “egg car” was one of the reasons for the government setting safety standards, like the rubber baby buggy bumpers on MGBs, and the headlight covers on XKEs being banned. Once they get a little power, they just keep on creating more regulations, whether they make sense or not. Joan Claybrook and NHTSA even came up with a backwards motorcycle, where the rear wheel steered – Test riders couldn’t get 25 feet on it without falling over, so the geniuses decided to scrap that set of regulations.
how can it look even smaller than the un-molested?
If U can afforde to ruin a car, got money to spare, what
something like this, I say: “Go ferit.” But I’d be able to put
20 mi a yr onit.
Regarding his price – yes, pot was legalized in Washington too!
I’m surprised that Bricklin didn’t come up with this idea himself, trying to squeeze a few more dollars out of the 360 fiasco.
I was reading in another Web site that a Subaru 360 is something to hold onto as they are becoming more valuable. With who I don’t have a clue.
You forgot to mention that 356cc fire breathing monster of a mill is a two stroke.
Price is a lot rich but $2000 I would get it and use it to prank my grandson who is about to turn16 I would put WRX emblems on it and give him a WRX key and have this thing sitting in the garage on his birthday.
That would be cruel…funny, but cruel!