What a fun car to be able to offer! This pretty little white on red 1969 Subaru 360 Deluxe is quick to cheer you up on even the gloomiest of days! This is a long ad, ut please be sure to read the entire thing - there is a lot of wonderful detail to cover! Let's dive right in!
Background:
Let's face it, f you searched "Subaru 360" on eBay, ou know what you are looking for! I'd be hard pressed to educate on the background of these cars, ecause frankly the 360 group are dedicated bunch already. But on the chance that someone is new to them, et's chat about the background just briefly to get others to speed. After being produced in Japan for some years, alcolm Bricklin, ho was either a genius or a loon depending on who you ask, ecided to import these little kei cars to the US. He felt at the much lower price point, he 360 would extinguish the Beetle's run in the small car department. Unfortunately for Malcolm, he car never took off. It became a little bit of the booby-prize in car sales and give aways and was lambasted by Consumer Reports in their very infamous article labeled "Not Acceptable"
Still here? Of course you are, ecause you know better! The 360 was a riotous little car that while slow, iny and not well refined, as a ton of fun to drive, ad a surprising amount of space inside, ipped gas at a rate of something like 60+mpg, as reliable, asy to fix and frankly made everyone within eye shot of the car happy. Of course at the time the car was viewed poorly, s time has passed the 360's charm and fun to drive nature continue to make them more and more collectible.
So let's chat more about this car specifically!
Made in 1971 in white over red this car looks remarkably sporty. It was purchased from a 360 enthusiast who had intentions of restoring it, ut rather just drove and enjoyed it as is We have owned it for a few years and through no fault of the car, t has come time to part with it (and another 360 which we sold a few weeks ago) for just space alone (not that it gains much!) This car is part of a major private collection featuring some very significant marques. Though it has some cosmetic flaws, t runs fantastic and has been cared for in house and kept in ready to drive condition by a large team. It sits within a huge collection of micro cars including other Subaru 360 and is not just a one off purchase.
The Condition and Service:
Let's start on the engine and drivetrain:
-ENGINE
This engine comes to life immediately with a twist of the key. She warms up quickly and revs smoothly. No knocks, angs, xcessive smoke or internal issues. We adjusted the carb recently and she's running smooth. Little moisture underneath, ut nothing major or drippy. Really quite the cherry of the car, he engine runs fantastic.
-TRANSAXLE
The 3 speed transmission is in great shape. No grinds or surprises.
-SUSPENSION
Nice riding 360, othing clunking itself apart like many of them and 360 comfortable.
-BRAKES
Good pedal, hoes and drums have good life in both front and rear
-STEERING
Steering feels good, o excessive play or vibrations.
Let's continue to the exterior:
-PAINT and BODY
The paint is fairly nice! It is a 6+ out of 10. Overall shiny white paint which looks quite nice. No signs of a bondo job or accidents. Really quite nice for an original paint car, ts only flaws come in the form of a couple minor dings/scratches etc and some minor rust. No major rot, few little ridges on the lip of the trunk, few ridges on the trunk hinge where it meets the bulk head. The rest is mostly some just sporadic light oxidation. Good floors from underneath, ome light oxidation on the top sides of the floors. Some light oxidation on the inner drivers door. Overall the rust and oxidation are minor and are great for some either looking to just drive and enjoy to to have an easy restoration. This car lives in sunny dry California so it is being kept very dry in the present. This car presents as a "Driver -". cosmetically.
-WHEELS/TIRES
Both are in nice shape with no major flaws. Tires are little older but hold air well and have some good tread left.
-BUMPERS and BRIGHT WORK
The bumpers are in nice shape! No major dents, racks or issues! Chrome has some pitting or minor rust spots.
-GLASS/WINDOWS
Not to let a pebble defeat this car, he windshield is great shape, ith no chips or sandblasting. The door and rear glass is nice shape!
Onto the cabin:
-SEATS
The red vinyl seats are in fair shape. Soft, o springs poking through and good foam. A few splits in the front seats! The rears are nicer. Seat adjustment works great.
-DASHBOARD/PACKAGE TRAY
Nice shape, o major flaws. The tray is in great shape and is clean.
-DOOR PANELS
Nice panels, onderful map pockets.
-CARPET
Nice rubber carpet in the car!
-WINDOWS
All windows roll down and up with no issues. Good tracks and no dead rollers.
-GAUGES
All the gauges work! Speedo, do and gas.
The Experience:
This 360 is a treat to drive. It is fun, uirky, easonably comfortable, imble and smooth. It has all the power it had from the factory and then some, nd from even a little gas is responsive. It is so easy to fall in love with this 360. It is fun to look at, un to drive and you make friends wherever you drive! I find myself in odd cars all of the time, rom the hyper expensive and rare, o the quirky, o the mundane. This 360 seemingly always gets more thumbs up and questions then any other car. In a short drive just to photo it the other day I think I was stopped/waved at a dozen times. There is something about a Kei car! And that feeling is even greater as a driver then an onlooker. I hope you can tell by my long ad that this car is an wonderful and beautiful 360. This really is a very special car to drive and with the ongoing care within the collection, t is a worry free Subaru, eady to be enjoyed for the second half of fall! The minor cosmetics are easy, ow hanging fruit on this car and with a solid driveline could be tackled while driving and enjoying the car regularly. Nice original car to enjoy as a period piece or as a father/son restoration!
Feel free to ask me any questions at all. Residents around the country I am happy to be flexible for your arranged shipper so that you can get your new car as soon as possible. CA residents please note the black plates will not come with the car.
My standard disclaimer/mantra for any car regardless of service or price: The car is sold with no warranty. You are buying a used car. Eventually every car will break, f you find one that doesn't please let me know. I do my ABSOLUTE BEST to offer only cars that are of TOP NOTCH service. I am not a dealer, ust a guy who loves Subaru (among other cars) and hope to pass along my passion and fervor for these cars. That said if ever you encounter an issue I do my best to provide advice, irection or even parts if I have them. Please understand that it is a used car and will have minor signs of use. That means please do not expect a showroom brand new car. Please adjust your expectation level to that of a 45+ year old car, ut however is above average for it's year/miles. This is very nice condition for a Subaru of this year, ut please just remember that no 45 year old car is perfect. It is though a great Subaru! Please only bid if you intend to buy. If you would like to have an Ebay 3rd party mechanic service check out the car I MORE than welcome it. Please have the car checked out BEFORE bidding and not after, f you intend to use that service. And please, f you would like to utilize this service, ontact me with more than a couple days left in the auction so we can arrange schedules. Please check your local laws and registration procedures before buying. Buying over the internet can be scary sometimes! I get it, ecause I am an enthusiast too!! For that very reason, am more than happy to answer every and any question you may so you know 100% what you are buying. But, lease ask any and all questions ahead of purchase! All sales are final, ou are buying as-is, he sky is blue, etc, tc. Sorry to have to give the boring speech.
Please feel free to ask any and all questions!!