10k: Front Drive Friday: 1969 Subaru 360

The first car we featured today was a front drive Honda CVCC Civic that speedier drivers would assume driving is some form of automotive purgatory.  The Subaru 360 will seem like the 5th circle of Hell in comparison to the speedy Civic, but is wrapped in a much cooler package with a bigger price tag to match.  Find this 1969 Subaru 360 for sale in Fresno, CA for $8500 via craigslist.  Thanks to tip from Scissorkix.

The Subaru 360 was the first mass produced vehicle from Fuji Heavy Industries and was named for its 360cc twin-cylinder 2-stroke engine mounted behind the rear wheels.  The 360 was slow, even in its day, with a top speed of 60 miles per hour and a recorded 0-50mph of 37 seconds…Hell on wheels for the impatient.

The 2-cylinder 2-stroke engine mounted out back displaces 0.36 liters and makes an even 36 horsepower…for a healthy 2-stroke power density of 100 horsepower per liter.  Reports peg the 360 fuel economy at around 50 mpg, and given the performance we are likely to believe it.

This 360 isn’t in perfect condition, but it looks like a decent older restoration and would make a good driver.  The 360 was only available with a 3-spd manual transmission and at 900 lbs curb weight it might actually be fun to toss around.

The 360 is equipped with a wicked full length convertible top/sunroof/targa that will be perfect for sunny summer days.  It has been years since Malcom Bricklin first imported the 360 to the USA (before he started and failed his own DeLoreanesque car company) but the really slow 2-stroke Japanese beetle is still cool.

See a better non-German rear-engine-rear drive classic? email us here: tips@dailyturismo.com