£17,250.00
Tiny Car Company are excited to offer for sale from our own collection, this 1968 Subaru 360 Overtop Kei car. One of only 2 we know of in the UK.
The 360 was the very first car built by Subaru and was made from 1958 till 1971 by which time nearly 400, 000 had been built. The car was the first mass produced vehicle built to conform to a new class of vehicle in Japan called the Keijidosha or Kei Class, limiting size and engine capacity to just 360cc and allowing tax and insurance benefits. Motorising the post war population in Japan, the Subaru 360 quickly became one of the most popular cars in Japan and to this day is considered to be an icon and as such very few leave japan!
This particular Subaru 360 came to the UK in 2016 from Japan, Since its arrival in the UK, prior to us acquiring the car, it had resided in a private collection. The car has the original Subaru Suited key, brochure and advertising poster. The mileage was warranted by BIMTA in japan at only 55, 956KM and now reads only 55, 988Km (35, 000 miles).
Overall this car is in very solid original condition, having been left untouched since its arrival from japan, it even retains import stickers and Japanese writing on the windows. The car has been UK registered and is wearing small Japanese style numberplates.
The bodywork is very solid with only small areas of surface corrosion on the single skin section at the bottom of the door. The car sits on original tyres which would need to be replaced if the plan was to use the car on the road.
The paintwork, which we believe to be original, is in the classic off-white that Subaru 360s are most known in, over the years it has developed some cracks, we believe from the car sitting in the sun but it has so much charm in its lightly patinated state.
The brightwork is in very good condition all round with only light tarnishing and the rubbers and plastics on the car are all in great shape with the exception of the opening rear window rubbers which are perishing.
Inside, the car has grey corduroy bench seats in very nice condition and the cute padded dash and steering wheel are free from cracks and in nice order.
In our ownership we have cleaned out the carburettor, freed off the brakes and with a fresh battery, fuel and some 2 stroke oil, the little 2 stroke air cooled 2 cylinder fired immediately and we have had endless fun taking fellow small car enthusiasts up and down the lane. The car always starts on the first turn of the key regardless to how long it’s been since her last start. This is a running example that could either be preserved in its lovely original state or could, with a set of new tyres be put on the road to be taken to shows and events.
The Subaru 360 was recently tipped by Hagerty as being one of the fastest appreciating classic cars so this example makes for a great investment opportunity, Hagerty UK also reviewed our 360 when they paid us a visit last year to check out our Tiny Car Collection! US market cars have been making 40-50,000 dollars at auction and when it first arrived in the UK in 2018, this car was valued by Barons auctions who placed an estimate of 15,000 to 20,000 on the car as an unregistered import.
The car can be viewed at our showroom in chelmsford, Tiny Car Company offer Part Exchange, Finance, delivery and the usual dealer facilities.
