The seller says that this car is “the world’s smallest V8 two-passenger car” and to see this 1969 Subaru 360 V8 in person you’ll have to go to Rock Island, Illinois, or answer the Craigslist ad and shovel over $25,887! Plus shipping, of course, and hopefully you can somehow find a shipper that won’t take this car down the road a quarter-mile at a time.
Being a die hard fan of the Subaru 360, not to mention the Young S edition, which this car is/was/is.. was.. and being a purist by heart, I shouldn’t like this car, but I think this is pretty sweet! I can’t believe that they did all of this work and didn’t fix the rust first, but maybe they did and it’s come back to haunt them once again? Maybe it helps keep things light… This is a 1,500 pound car as it sits here with a 350 V8 Chevrolet engine stuffed in there; which, unfortunately there are no photos of! Not that I’m bitter, but, here’s a free tip to sellers: if you’re going to sell a Subaru 360 with a Chevy 350 V8 in it and list it as a Guinness Book of World Records car, show the dang engine!
Unfortunately, the interior photos aren’t much better, but they give you a sense of the business-like cockpit that awaits you. In case you’re wondering about the oddball price, $25,887, I’m guessing that the seller is tongue-and-cheek’ing the name of the car, which must be the quarter-mile time: 8.87 seconds. Not bad, not bad at all. Now, about the $25,000 part.. Just kidding, I’m sure that they spent a ton of money on this car and there’s no question that this was a feat of engineering just this side of the typical NASA project of the 1970s, but it was probably more fun. This thing has carbon fiber floors and seat backs and custom fabrication all over the place.
It would be an intimidating car for sure. Who wants to say that their ’71 Hemi Cuda was whipped by a Subaru 360?! I’m bummed that a yellow Young S edition was sacrificed for this monster, but I guess it’s better than having it rot in a field somewhere. I would have absolutely no use for this car what so ever, but that doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t love to have it! Have any of you ever done the quarter mile in less than 10 seconds?
No cage?
Just watched the video. Engine in the front.
Good catch, Newport. I saw that and I somehow still defaulted to where the Subaru 360 engine was.
This is just someone’s toy, and I highly doubt the 8.87 refers to it’s time in the 1/4 mile. I believe, anything that is under 10 seconds requires a parachute and roll cage. Still, in this video, you see it clearly has a Chevy V-8 in it, and sounds great. I wonder what IDOT thinks of this vehicle? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYWZKJO7vIc
be cooler if he would have put a 360 dodge v8 in it our amc 360
If Consumer Reports didn’t like the original for safety reasons, wonder what they would think of this! “On the test track, our engineers did 12 burnouts, popped 24 wheelies, then lost control and rolled 48 times. Not Acceptable”.
Engine sitting in passenger compartment provides so many possibilities. 1) Easy to work on motor with it running. 2) Engine heat will keep you warm on winter months. 3) Can warm up your leftovers as you drive by setting on headers.
looks well executed and cool. but with no cage and the engine in your lap it also looks like a death trap. 25k could be spent on something better IMO. should have swapped in a WRX drive train…
I remember when I restored my 68 Chevy 4×4 and people telling me I was nuts not to remove the gas tank from behind the seat for safety reasons. Well after looking at this death trap on wheels with the motor and gas tank all in the passenger compartment I still don’t feel bad about my decision. This looks more like a novelty tow vehicle for those rails.
Car without purpose.
Enjoyment is a purpose.
After watching the video posted by Howard I’m inclined to say that his car never touched the track. More likely the 8.87 time came from 1 of the rails that it’s showing towing around. I don’t believe any track would let it onto the track without more safety equipment.
I think you’re right, Mark.
it says right in his CL ad that it’s to short to run at the strip. imagine what a handful that thing would be!
“They would not allow us to run it because of how short it is!! ” No, they wouldn’t let you run because they didn’t want the lawsuit that would follow the crash.
Yeah, thats no race car. Just a cool pit car
How about a Subaru 360 that’s ACTUALLY gone over 100 miles an hour. Didn’t need 8 pistons to do it either.
http://Www.facebook.com/notabusacompcoupe
yeah but they did swap in a Hayabusa motor, far cry from a stock subie motor.
Why???????
Because you can! And it really is cool, just because it is – No Reason.
Why ask why?
2000 Horse power in out boards! :)
The salesman at the boat dealership must have got a good bonus check that week when the guy walked in and ordered “8 of the biggest engines you’ve got”.
“And what was it you said you wanted to use them for”?
“Oh you want to tow some skiers, what 10 at once”?
Just because you can does not mean that you should. . .
The boat actually belonged to a drug runner in south Florida. But I’m sure he used it strictly for water skiing!
might have TOO much free time on his hands! wish I did.
shop i worked at we put a350 chevy /auto in a 66 corviar with mustang rear end was a fast little car. also chopped 57 chevy frame put a carmin ghea body on it with 302 chevy with 2/ 4 bbl / auto very fast car
You mean a Karmann Ghia?