21 replies to this topic

[SUBARU]

I thought that it would be nice to have a reference of all of the Subaru models since the company was conceived. I have not gone into too much detail relating to model differentiation or variants. Let me know if you would like anything else added to the list and I’ll update it.

A brief history of FHI

Subaru, or Fuji Heavy Industries, actually started out as The Aircraft Research Laboratory in 1917 headed by Chikuhei Nakajima.
In 1932, they became known as Nakajima Aircraft Company, Ltd and soon became the primary manufacturer of aircraft for Japan during World War II. At the end of the Second World War Nakajima Aircraft was again reorganized, this time as Fuji Sangyo Co, Ltd. In 1946, the company created the Fuji Rabbit motor scooter with spare aircraft parts from the war.

In 1950, Fuji Sangyo was divided into 12 smaller corporations, but between 1953-1955, four of these corporations and a newly formed corporation Fuji Kogyo, a scooter manufacturer; coachbuilders Fuji Jidosha; engine manufacturers Omiya Fuji Kogyo; chassis builders Utsunomiya Sharyo and the Tokyo Fuji Dangyo trading company decided to merge together to form the Fuji Heavy Industries known today.

Kenji Kita, the CEO of Fuji Heavy Industries at the time, wanted the new company to be involved in car manufacturing and soon began plans for building a car with the development code-name P-1. Mr. Kita canvassed the Company for suggestions about naming the P1, but none of the proposals were appealing enough.
In the end, he gave the car a Japanese name that had been his personal favourite from childhood: Subaru. The first Subaru car was named the Subaru 1500. Only twenty P1s were manufactured due to multiple supply issues.

From 1954 to 2008, the company designed and manufactured dozens of vehicles including the 1500 (1954), the tiny air-cooled 360 (1958), the Sambar (1961), the 1000 (which saw the introduction of the Subaru boxer engine in 1965), the R-2 (1969), the Rex and the Leone (1971), the BRAT (1978), Alcyone (1985), the Legacy (1989), the Impreza (1993), the Forester (1997), the Tribeca (2005), and the Exiga (2008).

*referenced from Wikipedia

Subaru Model History

1954 – P1 (Later known as the 1500)


1958 – 360 (Also known as the Ladybird)


1961 – Sambar (A light truck, which was followed shortly by a the Sambar Light Van)


1965 – 1000 (The first Subaru to introduce the Boxer engine)


1969 – R-2


1971 – Leone (Also known as the GL, DL, L-Series & Loyale in the US)








1971 – Rex (Also known as Ace, Viki, Sherpa and 600)




1972 – 1400RX & GSR coupe


1978 – BRAT (an acronym for Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter. Also known as the Brumby)


1984 – Justy (Also known as the Trendy or J-Series and the Tutto sedan in Taiwan)




1985 – Alcyone (Also known as the Vortex, XT & XT6. The XT6 was the first 6cyl Subaru)


1989 – Legacy Gen1 (Also known as Liberty)


1991 – SVX


1993 – Legacy Gen2


1993 – Impreza Gen1, GC, GF, GM


1995 – Outback Gen 1 (Also known as Lancaster in Japan)
(There is a difference in the “Gen” run for the Outback due to it being launched during the model run we know as “Gen2”)


1997 – Forester Gen1, SF


1998 – Legacy Gen3


1998 – Outback Gen2


2001 – Impreza Gen2, GD, GG


2003 – Legacy Gen4


2003 – Forester Gen2, SG


2003 – Outback Gen3


2003 - Legacy Baja (US)


2003 - Outback Limited Sedan (US)


2005 – Tribeca


2008 – Tribeca Facelift


2008 – Impreza Gen3 GE, GH, GR


2008 – Forester Gen3, SH


2008 – Exigia


2009 – Outback Gen4


2009 – Legacy Gen5

[RX25SE]

Nice Chris. Never knew there was such a thing as the four door outback ute!! Go the 360!!

[SUBARU]

Nice Chris.

Never knew there was such a thing as the four door outback ute!!

Go the 360!!

I'd love a 360!!
Yeah, the *cough* Baja. Just goes to show that the Americans not only have the inabilty to generally build a good car, but have the ability to take a good car and turn it into poo.

Yank 1: "Hey Dwight!! I've done gone and got me a great idea gosh dang it!"
Yank 2: "That right Cleetus? What's yer idea there boi?"
Yank 1: "Take that there Outback and cut the back off it, jack it up a bit and turn it into a swine carryin' mobile."
Yank 2: "I do believe you should run for congress my friend."

[Delete This Account]

Good pics, I love some of the early ones, Especially the one with the first Boxer engine

[RX25SE]

I'd love a 360!!
Yeah, the *cough* Baja. Just goes to show that the Americans not only have the inabilty to generally build a good car, but have the ability to take a good car and turn it into poo.

Yank 1: "Hey Dwight!! I've done gone and got me a great idea gosh dang it!"
Yank 2: "That right Cleetus? What's yer idea there boi?"
Yank 1: "Take that there Outback and cut the back off it, jack it up a bit and turn it into a swine carryin' mobile."
Yank 2: "I do believe you should run for congress my friend."

Yank 3: Sure gotta purdey mouth 'aint he.

[skillionaire]

Hi, Love the 70's Wagon - love it. Shame I can't fit inside mine! Beware the 70's Jap cars for anyone over 6 foot! Cheers, Nik

[Cam.]

I want a Baja!!!!

[aekOne]

sexy b***h!!

[Delete This Account]

1965 – 1000 (The first Subaru to introduce the Boxer engine)

Doooo Want!

sexy b***h!!

Are your mirrors like that Aek?

[aekOne]

nah those are the jdm mirror i believe

[skillionaire]

Hi, Subaru.com has a great history section as well. Encompassing the earliest two wheeled varieties. Cheers, Nik

[CodeBurn3r]

missed these much love for this model.


if i could restore a early jap car i think the 1600 GS-R L series would be very high on the list (then i would drop a V4 in it just to be like those datto's with RB20s)

[Morgan]

Some awesome looking vehicles in that selection! Feels like we're missing some Foresters in there? Or were there just series 1 & 2's, etc??

Can see where the arse end of the gen2 came from!!!

[SUBARU]

There's only been 3 fozzy models. Anything else in between is just a cosmetic upgrade afaik.

[Morgan]

Ah yes. That makes sense.

Ie

SF5
From this:


To this:


SG5
From this:


To this:

[robt]

May I ask why you are missing the beautiful bugeye?

[buzzda]

98 outback should be:

[SUBARU]

Bit picky there buzz. Either way it's a second generation outback. Bugeye isn't missing. It's model code will be up there somewhere.

[Alex]

if i could restore a early jap car i think the 1600 GS-R L series would be very high on the list (then i would drop a V4 in it just to be like those datto's with RB20s)

That is not an L series.

It may be a leone, but definitely not an L series.

The L series was the boxy shaped wagons.

Obligatory SOO081 mk 1 shot.



And EJ20 turbo motors won't fit in between the rails of the "uglies".

And if you do manage to hack the rails, they'll twist on you in no time.

Been there, seen that!

Early subarus were rather shitty in build quality.

I guess they never anticipated in having the monocoque bodies back in the 70's and 80's being able to handle over 200hp at all four wheels!

[alexGT]

May I ask why you are missing the beautiful bugeye?

coz its too damn ugly.

comes under GD.