1970's 100 MPG Subaru 360

[cfg83]

Hello -

Found this I don't know how :

A Peek in the “Attic”

In the early 1970s, a three-wheel, aerodynamically shaped Subaru vehicle achieved 100 miles per gallon. The testing took place in Japan, where the car was driven by a female Japanese racecar driver. Previously located in SOA’s research and development office in California, the car is now stored in the attic.

EDIT: rmay635703 originally published the URL here :

http://ecomodder.com/forum/199216-post109.html

It was just so neat I think it deserved it's own thread.

Thank You rmay635703!


CarloSW2

[NeilBlanchard]

Too bad the other pictures don't seem to be accessible?

Edit: I guess their Java script isn't working in Firefox -- Safari does show them, but they are pretty small. :-(

[rmay635703]

Yeah, I was looking at my subaru 360 history and that was one of the historical experimental Subaru 360's that was made to prove a point.

Odd that a 2 cyl motor driving a bullet car would get 100mpg eh?
(although its the bigger 2cylinder than the 360 had from a rex, that was a typo apparently)

Might be interesting to contact that site as there are apparently a few old foggies still there who worked on the car.
A Peek in the “Attic” – Part Two
(more on it but not much)
Tucker '48 Automobile Bulletin Board • View topic - Alex Tremulis car that made 100 miles per galon!

Best description here
RONGINEER - Automotive Product Design & Development

[Varn]

There is a farm house near by that has had two 360s just sitting outside rotting away. I've noted them for the past 30 years. To bad.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by Varn

There is a farm house near by that has had two 360s just sitting outside rotting away. I've noted them for the past 30 years. To bad.

Mention them here (or email the moderator)
Subaru360Club.org • View forum - Introduce Yourself!

And amazingly they will no longer be rotting there in a couple weeks.

[Varn]

The 360s have been sitting on the corner of IL95 and Co2 in Fulton County. In Illinois.

[cfg83]

Hello -

I pulled more of the small pictures :

(turning radius!)










CarloSW2

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by cfg83

Hello -
EDIT: rmay635703 originally published the URL here :

http://ecomodder.com/forum/199216-post109.html

It was just so neat I think it deserved it's own thread.

Thank You rmay635703!


CarloSW2

No need to thank, I've been sitting on that link for a while, I truly wish my Subaru 360 looked just like that car, especially if I could lengthen it to a 2 passenger and use the bullet area as a trunk.

I never could figure out why car manufacturers just don't give us the whole enchallada at least once, can't figure out why no one would want a "Unique" car either. I love odd cars I must be alone in that belief.

I would be in 7th heaven driving a 100mpg bullet car to work

[pounsfos]

i wonder what the handling would be like, might be good in a straight line, but what about at a round about

[jime57]

Originally Posted by rmay635703

I never could figure out why car manufacturers just don't give us the whole enchallada at least once, can't figure out why no one would want a "Unique" car either. I love odd cars I must be alone in that belief.

I would be in 7th heaven driving a 100mpg bullet car to work

As a first gen Insight owner for a while, the answer to your question is sales. No manufacturer wants to design, manufacturer and market a car for a niche market. I think that the Insight was considered a commercial failure, though Honda's "experiment" allowed a few of us to get something close to perfect into our hands. There is also a pretty small market for non-sports two seaters. Compare the sales of the 4-5 passenger Metro with the 2 passenger Insight of the same engine size. The Metro sold much better.

I'm a bit surprised that it "only" got 100mpg. A car of that type should have done better, but I suppose the electronic engine control of the day was pretty primitive. Doubt that there was any lean burn capability.