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That is mainly Subaru of America’s “Bat Cave.” Identical to Batman’s lair, it’s hidden and stuffed with goodies. It’s a plain constructing that may very well be something — perhaps a manufacturing facility or warehouse. However, inside Subaru’s Bat Cave is a set of uncommon and distinctive automobiles that isn’t accessible to the general public and even most media, however marks the corporate’s historical past each right here and outdoors of the U.S.
Subaru’s American historical past isn’t as well-known as another producer’s story. However, Subaru of America was initially based by Harvey Lamm and Malcolm Bricklin in 1968. It operated as a totally impartial distributor of Subaru autos till 1990, when it grew to become a completely owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries, which grew to become Subaru Company in 2016. Its non-public assortment is a good way to protect its historical past and legacy — and its Legacy sedan and wagon — right here within the States.
From the tiny Subaru 360 micro automobiles to fire-breathing special-edition WRXs, mint-condition Subaru BRATs, oddball one-offs, low-mileage rarities, and idea automobiles, there’s a little bit little bit of all the pieces — and I bought entry to it.
What’s Inside: A Secret Stash of Subarus
I used to be informed right away to not disclose the situation, however I may take footage and movies in addition to do a narrative — I agreed.
As you stroll into the constructing, you’re greeted with a well-organized assortment of Subaru autos starting from a Nineteen Sixties Rabbit scooter — the primary car bought within the U.S. manufactured by Fuji Heavy Industries, Subaru’s mother or father firm — to the primary and final runs of uncommon WRX fashions. Oh, and a plethora of idea automobiles and pristine variations of a few of Subaru’s ‘70s and ‘80s autos. That is heaven for Subaru lovers similar to myself!
There are two-cylinder Subaru 360s, the primary BRATs with all the unique manufacturing facility equipment (sure, the bed-mounted rear-facing seats have been there), Eighties Loyales in mint situation, angular and uncommon Eighties RX and XT automobiles, Nineteen Nineties Legacys, and just about all the pieces in between. There’s the unique Baja idea automobile — a car forward of its time — combining AWD and a pickup mattress on a automobile platform.
There are uncommon JDM (Japanese Home Market) Subies, trendy rally automobiles, and classic race automobiles. There’s even a 22B — presumably probably the most fascinating Subaru of all time — certainly one of which bought for $312,555 on Carry A Trailer in 2021. There’s even the Subaru FF1 that ran the Baja 1000 within the Nineteen Seventies.
Subaru of America Assortment: The Again Rooms
The Subaru group led me into one other room crammed with Subaru of America’s design sketches, renderings, and varied paperwork. They open a flat-file housing colourful idea sketches completed by hand all through the years. There are line drawings on microfiche and blueprints of accent concepts that had come from the American design division. This treasure trove made me swoon; I imply, how many individuals have ever seen this?
I used to be informed there was yet one more backroom that wasn’t fairly as properly organized, and naturally I needed to see it. The non-air-conditioned room housed a number of extra autos, together with a Nineteen Seventies red-and-white BRAT (the identical kind President Reagan had), a diesel-powered Subaru Outback, a low-mileage Subaru Justy, journal venture autos, and extra. Plus, there have been scads of elements, cutaways of engines, and previous dealership indicators and memorabilia.
In complete, there are 84 autos on this non-public assortment. I’m informed workers get to see this space, however most outsiders don’t. I’m exceptionally lucky to have seen these uncommon and classic autos together with the plethora of different supplies.
Sharing the Subaru of America Assortment Gold
After all, I took tons of photographs and some notes, so I may share the products with you right here on GearJunkie. Have a gander at a few of the gold I discovered in Subaru’s North American non-public assortment.
1963 Fuji Rabbit Scooter
That is the car that began all of it for Subaru in North America, the 1963 Fuji Rabbit Scooter. Made by Fuji Heavy Industries, Subaru’s mother or father firm, these two-wheelers have been the corporate’s first entry into the U.S. market.
They have been additionally the car to jumpstart Malcolm Bricklin’s automotive profession. Whereas Subaru grew to become a hit, certainly one of Bricklin’s different import endeavors, Yugo, wasn’t.
1968 Subaru 360
The 1968 Subaru 360 was Subaru’s first four-wheel foray within the U.S. With a small two-cylinder, two-stroke, rear-mounted engine, and sub-1,000 pound curb weight, the 360 was exempt from U.S. security requirements on the time. About 10,000 360 fashions have been imported into the U.S. by Malcolm Bricklin.
1969 Subaru 360 Van
Alongside the petite 360 was the Lilliputian 360 van, also referred to as the Sambar. This one is a 1969.
These vans had the identical rear-mounted 356cc engine and working gear because the coupe, however the extra sensible and roomy van inside.
Subaru X100
The thought behind the Subaru X-100 was easy: have a car that would cross North America on one tank of gas. In accordance with Japanese Nostalgic Automotive, the concept was to suit this three-wheeled contraption with a 25-gallon gas tank. At 100 mpg, that’d be 2,500 miles, sufficient to cross the continent.
This could’ve been wonderful throughout the oil embargo of the Nineteen Seventies. The X-100 took longer than anticipated to construct, and the idea was fitted with a 1-gallon tank for testing, and it was profitable. By the point it was mentioned and completed, the oil embargo had ended and so had the X-100’s growth.
The X-100 was a single-seat car with an airplane-like cover. It was exceptionally tight. That steering wheel went to a single wheel on the entrance of the car.
One non-Subaru merchandise? The taillight. This was from a 1955 Ford Thunderbird, of all issues.
1978 Subaru BRAT
Lengthy earlier than the Baja was in manufacturing, Subaru had the BRAT. This stood for Bi-drive Leisure All-terrain Transporter.
This absolutely accessorized 1978 mannequin — the primary BRAT — sports activities all of the add-ons: orange bumper and wheels, racerback mattress cowl, additional lights, and naturally, the rear-racing bed-mounted seats.
The customized graphics, higher cowl, and painted rollbar helped to indicate off what a BRAT may appear like.
Then there have been the notorious rear-racing, rear-mounted plastic seats. These seats helped Subaru classify the car as a passenger automobile versus a lightweight truck, thus skirting the notorious 25% “Rooster Tax” on imported mild vans.
2000 Subaru Baja STX Idea
The Subaru Baja STX Idea debuted in mannequin yr 2000 on the Los Angeles Worldwide Auto Present. Blazingly orange, the idea was primarily a Subaru Outback with a pickup mattress versus wagon physique.
The Baja went into manufacturing in July 2002 however was solely produced till 2006. It was clearly forward of its time, as we now have the Ford Maverick, Honda Ridgeline, and Hyundai Santa Cruz cashing in on this recipe.
1974 Subaru DL Wagon
This vibrant blue 2WD 1974 Subaru DL Wagon was one of many many autos in Subaru’s again room. We have been capable of rise up shut and private with lots of them.
1976 Subaru DL 4×4 Wagon
The Subaru Leone DL (or simply DL) was obtainable in coupe, sedan, and wagon type. This vibrant pink 1976 wagon in wonderful situation represented a 4WD mannequin with a 1.6L horizontally opposed “boxer” engine. This was additionally the corporate’s first 4WD wagon.
1971 Subaru FF-1
Parked in a nook of Subaru’s assortment is that this matted 1971 FF-1. The FF-1 was Japan’s first front-drive automobile with a horizontally opposed boxer engine.
This one specifically is particular: it competed within the 1971, 1972, and 1973 Baja 1000. The automobile was privately campaigned and is alleged to be one of many inspirations for the corporate’s rally heritage and well-known STi (Subaru Technica Worldwide) tuning division.
1981 Subaru GL Wagon
Whereas Subaru’s first 4WD wagon was the DL, the GL was its successor. Sure fashions had an non-obligatory third headlight within the automobile’s grille. This mild had a vacuum-actuated lid that’d open up when the lights have been turned on.
It may very well be argued that the GL was the primary mainstream Subaru wagon. This explicit mannequin is a 1981, however wagons of this model have been supplied till 1984 within the U.S.
1998 Subaru Impreza 22B STi
This can be probably the most fascinating Subaru ever made: the JDM 1998 Impreza WRX 22B STi. With fats fenders, a giant spoiler, and all of the go-fast goodies, the 22B was created as an homage to efficiency, a celebration of three consecutive titles within the WRC rally collection, and the corporate’s fortieth yr in enterprise.
Solely 424 of them have been produced globally. These have been bought for over $300,000 at public sale, making them one of many rarest and most beneficial Subarus on the planet.
Formally, the automobiles made 280 horsepower, however that’s been known as into query as Japan had a protracted settlement to not make autos with over 280 horsepower — wink, wink.
Amazingly, we have been informed this 22B was a U.S. press fleet automobile at one level. Little did they know this right-hand-drive automobile would ever be value over a quarter-million {dollars}!
1996 Impreza WRX #555 (JDM)
That is JDM 1996 Impreza WRX #555 with a uncommon manufacturing facility graphics package deal designed to duplicate the late Collin McRae’s rally automobile. Whereas it appears to be like like a full-on race-ready automobile, it’s only a graphics package deal. The stylized brand changed the numbers 555, which have been the State Specific 555 cigarette firm brand.
1993 Subaru Justy 4WD
The Subaru Justy was the corporate’s subcompact automobile within the Eighties-990s. The tiny Justy fashions for North America have been supplied from 1984 to 1994 in two- or four-wheel drive; this mannequin is a 1993.
They have been notable for a few issues, certainly one of which being the primary automobile bought in North America with a CVT, the opposite being one of many final automobiles bought with a carburetor (1990). They have been additionally certainly one of few automobiles providing a three-cylinder engine (1.2 L), and possibly the one three-banger with 4WD in North America, too.
One other treasure within the firm’s flat file was this cutaway line drawing of the 4WD Justy. You may clearly see the subcompact automobile’s engine and driveline format.
1987 Subaru RX
Earlier than the legendary WRX, there was the RX. Launched in 1987, the RX had 4WD and a turbocharged 1.8L EA82T engine making 115 horsepower and 134 pound-feet of torque.
These buggers even had a low-range switch case for off-road motion. Solely 2,600 of those have been imported to North America, making them a real rarity.
1986 Subaru XT
This Subaru XT GL 10 epitomized Eighties futuristic styling. With an angular form, 4WD, and a turbocharged 1.8L engine (and, after all, a digital dashboard), the longer term was now … in 1986.
The XT was in manufacturing from 1985 till 1991 when it was changed by the equally funky SVX. This ’86 XT GL 10 present car was in excellent form and was the one car within the assortment with pop-up headlights. Ah, the ’80s.
Subaru Justy LSR
Do you know a Subaru car holds a land-speed document? Do you know it was … a Justy?
This little automobile took the I/Manufacturing document in 1988 at 117.553 mpg and bested itself in 1989 going 123.224 mph! It is a document that also stands right now!
The automobile nonetheless utilized the 1.0L three-banger engine, however had choose modifications to make it quicker than any Justy ever.
1982 Subaru BRAT With Customized Camper
It is a 1982 Subaru BRAT with a very customized camper on the rear. The automobile is a part of the corporate’s assortment however is presently on tour for the Subiefest reveals, that are sponsored by Subaru.
The camper, made by artist Jay Nelson, pops up for compact tenting talents, full with a wooden range.
1992 Subaru SVX Indy Tempo Automotive
One other automobile from the non-public assortment presently on tour with Subifest is that this rad 1992 Subaru SVX. Coated in a PPG pink paint fade, the groundbreaking SVX, with its operable home windows set inside different home windows, was used as a tempo automobile on the Indy Automotive World Sequence for a number of seasons within the Nineteen Nineties.
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