Here’s a trio of interesting cars I’ve come across recently. I am not a car fan in any way at all, but these three cars could be of interest for fans of Japan and fans of cars in any country!
The first one, the 1958 Subaru 360 is absolutely the most classic car in Japan. It was the first car to be sold in post war Japan that reached most families in the recovering nation. As a result, most Japanese over the age of 50 have very fond memories of this one. For a decade it was almost universally the first car in most families and even today it has a cult following among older Japanese. Seeing this car on display in Tokyo’s Odabia district almost brought tears to the eyes of several of my older coworkers. Naturally, such a small car was absolutely lethal on the roads. Luckily most other cars it was likely to crash into were as small. The engine was a miniscule 356cc, comparable to many modern motorcycles. Japanese must have been much smaller in those days, as it seated, reportedly, 4 persons. No seat belts.
The second car is interesting in that it was never mass marketed, it is kit car by the almost unknown maker Mitsuoka, possibly a BUBU 356 Speedster. Mitsuoka has a cult following in Japan among makers and DIY enthusiasts, as it is often sold in kit form, delivered for home assembly by the new owner himself. Therefore it is highly customizable and not really a mass market production. I would be very surprised if you saw more than two of these a year while living in Japan (I’ve seen two, in my life!).
The third car is a brand new, 2009 model Toyota iQ. Apparently it gets 54.7 miles per gallon (US). I think it is slightly better than a SUV. It holds two persons and has fared really well in crash safety tests.
I think I should refrain from writing more about cars, since I really have no clue. Enjoy!
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