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SUBARU HISTORY scroll down history, logo, 1968, 1970-present the 1st US Subaru was a 360. The white 1969 360 5 door van (left) is only 117.9" long this is an unoffical site by Joe Spitz who is soley responsilble for all content.  All text, content photos © j. spitz. Reproduction prohibited you are here: http://www.cars101.com/subaru/subaru_history.html V 3/18/07 2006 B9 Tribeca SUV arrived spring 2005 2005, 2006 Outback 1984 turbo coupe, thanks Carl D. 1984 GL turbo convertible (done by an aftermarket company) 96-99 Legacy Outback (97 shown) WRX STi (04 shown) Forester (05 shown) 1995-1999 Legacy sedan (LSi shown) 1995-1999 Legacy (99 GT shown) 1992-1997 SVX 1980-1984 Subaru (83 ski car shown) Subaru Brats on left, Baja on right

Subaru History: On February 15, 1967 Malcolm Bricklin and Harvey Lamm form Subaru of America (SoA) in Pennsylvania and contract with Fuji Heavy Industries to import the Subaru and in 1968, the first year, import  332 cars. In 2000 SoA sold 172,216 cars which is 14,351 per month or about 20 cars per hour around the clock every day of the year.

Subaru's logo:  In 1953, five Japanese companies merge to form Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd, with a “Subaru” cluster of stars as its official logo for its cars. Better known by the Greek name Pleiades, part of the Taurus constellation, Subaru is also Japanese for 'unite'.

The first U.S. Subaru is the 360. This very small rear wheel drive minicar had a 2-stroke, 25 horsepower 356 cc engine (thus the 360 name), weighed under 1000 pounds, got 66.3 mpg, went 0-50 in over 37 seconds. and cost $1,297. It came in a few models: 2 door sedan, then the "Young S" 2 dr sedan, minivan (that's me in the white 5 door van below), a truck version, and even a mini race car too. There may have been as many as 6000 of these imported through 1969, though they weren't exactly a best seller.
Check out my classifieds page to buy or sell one.

1968 Subaru's first year in the USA.... for those who remember it and those who don't..

It's a year of love and hate... Riots in Chicago at the Democractic convention.
President Johnson doesn't run for re-election, Richard Nixon beats Hubert Humphrey but is shamed out of office in 1973.

A Hershey bar is 5 cents. Apollo 7 and 8 are launched. In Vietnam it's the Tet Offensive. Redwood National Park established in California. Designer Ralph Lauren is 29 and just starting out.  Dr. Christian Barnard performs the first successful heart transplant. Martin Luther King is assassinated in April and Robert Kennedy in June.

Rock and roll thrives-  new groups include Led Zeppelin, Blind Faith, The Band, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Carpenters etc. The Monkees film their final TV episode. The Beatles release The White Album. Jimi Hendrix does Electric Ladyland
Books: Dean Koontz's Star Quest, Airport by Arthur Hailey, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick (filmed as Blade Runner)
Movies: 2001 Space Odyssey, The Graduate, Bonnie and Clyde, Valley of the Dolls, The Odd Couple, Planet of the Apes, Rosemary's Baby
Sports: Detroit Tigers over the St. Louis Cardinals, Green Bay Packers over the Oakland Raiders, Boston Celtics over the LA Lakers
Born: Lisa Marie Presley, Cuba Gooding Jr, Ashley Judd, Pauly Shore, LL Cool J...
Died: Woody Guthrie, Alice Toklas, Langston Hughes, Helen Keller, John Steinbeck.. and of couse RFK and MLK

CARS: Volkswagen has 57 percent of the U.S. import market, selling 569,292 vehicles in the United States.Toyota Corolla introduced in the USA, Honda arrives in 1970.
VW Beetles are under $1,800 and outsell Mustang, Pontiac, Chevelle, Fairlane, Fury, Buick, Oldsmobile, and Chrysler. (courtesy MS Bookshelf 1997).

1968-1969: Subaru 360. It's small (very small, see above)
1970  Subaru Star. It was 1000cc, FF-1 1300 Star with a 1100 cc engine and front inboard brakes.
1971 SoA introduces the very first Japanese mass production front-wheel-drive car to the US, the Subaru 1000 (first made in Japan 1966).  The 1000 costs $1,699 and uses the Boxer engine design still used by Subaru.
1972-1973  GL, DL models introduced. While the models changed over the years, the names were used until 1989.
1974  4x4 introduced as a 1975 model, just pull the lever for 4x4. The 4x4 is a success and the first mass produced Japanese 4x4 car.
1976 Subaru 4x4 is the car of choice for the US Ski team!  They runs TV ads showing how well a Subaru does in in the snow, and advertise 'Inexpensive and built to stay that way'.  Subaru is  the 6th largest import car in the US.
1977 Subaru is now the 5th largest import in the US. The Brat is introduced (discontinued in 1987) and re-born in 2003 as the Baja. Brat is 'Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter'.
1980-84 Subaru advertises as the Ski Car. These models made 1980-1984 as Subaru starts a 5 year product cycle. The 'hill holder' introduced (previously on Studebaker etc) so cars with a manual transmission won't roll backwards. All Subarus now available with 4x4, turbo introduced, 4x4 Hi/Lo available starting in 1981?
1983 Subaru sells it's 1,000,000th car in the US.
1985-1989 New GL/DL, RS, and XT models introduced, Hi/Lo dual range 4x4 is optional. These models are discontinued in 1989. The XT defines aerodynamic styling and available for a short time in a 6cylinder.
1986 full time All Wheel Drive offered on certain models, the part time system available through 1989.
1987  Subaru offers All-Wheel-Drive (awd) automatically varying the power delivered to wheels (Audi's Quattro system introduced in 1980). Subaru makes both AWD and On-Demand 4WD until 1994 when the last model with on-demand, the Loyale, was discontinued. Justy introduced, 3 cylinder, available in 1988 with the 1st ECVT (electronic continuously variable transmission) in the US.
1990 5 year re-design. Subaru renames the GL/DL as the Loyale (with on-demand 4wd, made until 1994) and introduces the new all-wheel-drive and front wheel drive Legacy and the 2.2L engine. There are a number of Legacy models. Many Legacys are made in Lafayette, Indiana, all are made there by 1994.
1991 The quirky SVX luxury sport coupe 3.3L 6cylinder available as a 1992 model. Discontinued in 1997, the SVX retains cult popularity years later. Right-hand-drive Legacy postal wagon available for rural mail carriers (discontinued in 1999 though aftermarket conversions are available).
1993 25 years selling in the US. Subaru introduces the smaller Impreza. Impreza continues with minor changes until it's re-designed in 2002. Special 25th Anniversary models SVX and Legacy available.
1994 Last year for the 1st generation Legacy and there are a number of Legacy versions available that year.
1995 5 year re-design, major changes for the Legacy including an all new body, interior, new standard dual front airbags (no more passive 'automatic' seatbelts). Outback is introduced as a trim package on the Legacy L. Subaru makes a few front wheel drive Legacy L models: Traction Control using the ABS system, a Convenience pkg with factory sunroof etc. All Legacys are now made in Lafayette, Indiana.
1996 New 2.5L DOHC engine introduced in the Legacy Outback and Legacy LSi models, automatic transmission only. The first real Legacy Outback is introduced, not just a trim package on the 1995 L. The Outback is a rugged road version of the Legacy wagon with more ground clearance, 2 tone with grey lower body molding, the new 2.5L engine etc. It's a huge hit. The Impreza Outback Sport version of the Impreza wagon is also introduced. The SVX is being phased out. Subaru makes 5000th right-hand-drive postal Legacy wagon. Subaru.com introduced.
1997 Outback Limited with leather introduced. All Subarus are now all wheel drive, which most were anyway. Legacy LS, LSi, and SVX models discontinued with only app 700 SVXs sold that year.
1998 Forester small SUV introduced, based on the Impreza platform. It's smaller than the Outback but bigger than the Impreza.  Impreza 2.5L RS coupe with gold wheels introduced. The Outback Limited is available with optional dual sunroofs.
1999 Special '30th Anniversary' Legacy and Outbacks available (1969-1999 = 30 years)
2000 5 year re-design. Subaru completely re-does Legacy and Outback, finally offering power driver's seat, better cupholders, driver focused dashboard, a quieter ride among other improvements. ST-X concept truck, made as 2003 Baja (remember the Brat).
2001 First 6 cylinder 4door sedan and wagon offered in all new models: LL Bean wagon, VDC wagon, VDC sedan. (The 6cyl SVX and XT were 2door coupes).
2002 Impreza re-designed for the 1st time since it's 1993 introduction, and new World Rally winning turbo Impreza WRX sedan and wagon introduced after being available overseas for years. The WRX is a very popular and firmly Subaru in the perfomance car world. Outback now standard with All Weather pkg (heated seats etc), center console re-designed with 2 cupholders.
2003 Forester re-designed (front side airbags now standard) and Baja 4door truck introduced in an attempt to find a younger, warm climate, non-wagon buyer. Legacy available in a SE (special edition) package, Outback Audio Edition available mid-year with upgraded stereo system but no All Weather pkg.
2004 first year for 2.5L turbocharged Forester XT, Baja and the super high performance, limited production Impreza WRX-STi sedan with 300hp. Legacy L and Outback H6 available in a 35th Anniversary package.
2005 Major 5 year re-design for the Legacy and Outback, with all new performance turbo and higher-horsepower 6 cylinder models and other improvements as they strive for a high-end and performance market. New 2.5L turbo models include Legacy GT and Outback XT, joining the Forester XT, Impreza WRX, WRX STi, and Baja turbos. The Impreza line gets minor upgrades including improved front cupholders, gray headlight lens, new alloy wheels, STi gets a stereo, wider rear wheels etc, limited production Outback Sport SE and RS sedan Sport packages offered. Baja turbo with leather (late availability) includes new standard 2piece hard tonneau cover.
2006 New model: B9 Tribeca SUV with optional 7 passenger arrived May 2005. Subaru's first 7 passenger (optional), 250hp 3.0L 6 cylinder. Legacy and Outback model lines refined with slow selling manual transmission models dropped, a new 6 cylinder cloth Outback and new Legacy 2.5i SE models added. Limited production Legacy GT SpecB available late in the year, only 500 to be produced, each with a numbered plate, all are GT Limited sedans, 5spd manual transmission, Titanium silver with brick red leather interior, 18" alloys, Bilstein suspension, Navigation system (only way to get Navigation with a manual) etc.
All Imprezas get a new front grill similar to the Tribeca, Advanced Front Airbag system, new tail-lights, aluminum hood and other upgrades.
WRX gets new 2.5L turbo replacing 2.0L, also gets standard 17" alloys, slightly decontented TR (tuner ready) sedan, and new Limited models with leather, sunroof, all weather pkg etc available for the first time (new for wagon, replaces WRX Premium sedan). STi gets new rear roof spoiler and other minor performance upgrades. Impreza RS renamed 2.5i. Impreza 2.5i sedan and  wagon and Outback Sport now have new side airbags (they've been on the WRX and STi already).
Baja comintues with few changes, only 3 colors available for 2006.
Forester gets new names, loses the cloth XT and base XS models, all models get new front end and tailights, slight horsepower increase with active valves, (Xs now 172, XTs 230hp), Advanced Airbags and other minor refinements.
2007 Many models get stereo auxilliary input (iPod) plug except on base versions.  Satellite radio available for the first time. Tribeca gets a new grill, optional SE package with chromed wheels, satellite radio, mesh grill; Navigation includes back-up camera, optional back-up beeper, fewer color combinations and models. Impreza remains much the same with few changes. New STI Limited available, only 800 made, 400 gray and 400 white, all with leather, small rear spoiler, sunroof and sells out quickly. New mid-year Impreza 2.5i SE sedan model has sunroof and auxilliary stereo plug. Forester remains much the same. All models except X gets aux plug. 2 mid year models available December: X Sports with new grill and aux stereo plug and XT Sports with new grill, cloth interior and VDC AWD, a first for the Forester. Legacy remains much the same with VDC AWD standard on the GT sedan with navigation model. Limited production Legacy GT spec.B to 3000, with a new 6 speed transmission and VDC. The Outback VDC model dropped, and VDC AWD is now standard on LL Bean and XT models. This is the first time VDC has been available in a non 'VDC' model. $1000 price drop on Outback 2.5i. New Outback 2.5i 'Basic' is less expensive than the 2.5i model and deletes All Weather package, 17" alloy wheels, power seat, tire pressure monitoring, roofrack cross bars, cargo cover and tray etc. 2 new mid-year LL Bean 4cylinder models with Navigation, a cloth 2.5i LL Bean and leather 2.5i Limited LL Bean. This is the first time the LL Bean name has been used on a 4 cylinder Outback, previously it was only for 6 cylinder Outbacks (and 4 cylinder Foresters of course).
 

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There are 630 dealers across the USA and over 90% of  Subaru all-wheel-drive cars sold the past 10 years are still on the road (in 2000).

I have tried to provide the initial information so you can determine your interest in Subarus from the comfort of your home or work. If you're interested in a new or used Subaru or other used vehicle please contact me.

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