The Subaru 360 registers only as a blip on most Americans’ radar—if it appears at all. The microcar was the first Subaru vehicle to be imported to the US. Its journey to our shores has an amusing backstory - opens in new window or tab..
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But in Japan, the Subaru 360 was a significant car—nearly as important as the Ford Model T is to Americans. Japan’s ultra-compact, ultra-efficient kei class cars resulted from government regulations that helped get working-class people moving in the dire times after the war. That explains why someone would spend tens of thousands of dollars restoring one.
As a result, the pristine 360 recently for sale on eBay has a Buy-It-Now price of $59,850.
A Smash Hit
A 1968 poster from Subaru Of America emphasized the 360's low cost.
The Subaru 360 debuted in Japan in 1958, when most people there did not own automobiles. Only the wealthy were able to own private cars.
The government wanted to spur economic development by giving its citizens greater mobility, so they created a people’s car program. The goal was to incentivize Japan’s car companies to produce inexpensive cars for the masses. This evolved into the kei car class of vehicles still popular in Japan today.
The Subaru 360 was not the first kei car, but it was the first smash hit. You can compare it to the Volkswagen Beetle for its seminal place in its country’s motoring history. It hardly mattered that its 360cc air-cooled, two-stroke twin made just 16 to 25 horsepower, depending on whether it had one or two carburetors.
It was slow but worked well for the crowded and maze-like streets of Japan that, for centuries, only needed to be as wide as a horse.
A Restoration Befitting a Ferrari
As a symbol of its popularity, the model lasted for 12 years on the market with only minor variations. By the time Subaru discontinued the 360, Japan was making world-renowned cars like the Toyota Corolla and Datsun 240Z.
The 360 was a vestige of an earlier era. But it serves as a fond memory of when Japan was coming out of its post-war haze to become a car-making superpower.
The example for sale on eBay was restored by JDM Car Parts, a southern California-based firm specializing in importing—and sometimes remanufacturing—parts for iconic Japanese cars. The restoration work on this 360 is akin to what you would typically find on a 1960s Ferrari.
You are not likely to find another Subaru 360 restored to this level anywhere in the world, including in Japan. That’s why it was a Best in Show winner at the 2017 Japanese Classic Car Show - opens in new window or tab., the premier show in the US for vintage cars from Japan.
The Subaru 360 isn’t for everybody, but it’s a must-have for any collection of significant milestones of automotive history. And if you need one for your collection, why not get one of the finest examples in the world?
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.