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White 1970 Subaru 360, front three-quarter view on a show stand.

Manufacturers / SUBARU

Subaru

スバル株式会社SUBARU（スバル）

360 — This picture has been taken by Oleg Yunakov. Contact e-mail: yunakovgmail.com. Image can be used in accordance with the terms of the СС-BY-SA license. Other photos can be seen here. / CC BY-SA 4.0

01 — History

Founded
1953
English Wikipedia gives 15 July 1953 (formation of Fuji Heavy Industries from Nakajima successor companies, 1953–1955). Japanese Wikipedia gives the corporate establishment as 27 December 1945 (as Toho Chemical). Renamed Subaru Corporation on 1 April 2017. Roots: Aircraft Research Laboratory, 1915.
Headquarters
Ebisu, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
Founder
Chikuhei Nakajima; Kenji Kita

Flat engines and four-wheel drive, from the 360 kei car to the World Rally Championship.

  1. 1958

    Subaru launched the air-cooled 360 kei car.

    Source: Subaru — Wikipedia (English)
  2. 1965

    The Subaru 1000 introduced the Subaru boxer engine.

    Source: Subaru — Wikipedia (English)
  3. 1972

    Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive layout was introduced.

    Source: Subaru — Wikipedia (English)
  4. 1989

    The Legacy was introduced.

    Source: Subaru — Wikipedia (English)
  5. 2017

    Fuji Heavy Industries changed its name to Subaru Corporation.

    Source: SUBARU — ウィキペディア日本語版

02 — Timeline

Timeline.

  1. 1958Subaru launched the air-cooled 360 kei car.
  2. 1958Subaru 360 Subaru 360 (1958–1971)
  3. 1965The Subaru 1000 introduced the Subaru boxer engine.
  4. 1972Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive layout was introduced.
  5. 1989The Legacy was introduced.
  6. 1989Subaru Legacy (first generation) BC
  7. 1992Subaru Impreza WRX (first generation) GC8
  8. 2017Fuji Heavy Industries changed its name to Subaru Corporation.

03 — Machines in the archive

Iconiccars.

04 — Technology

05 — Motorsport

  1. Colin McRae scored Subaru's first overall WRC win in a Group A Legacy at the 1993 Rally New Zealand.

    Source: Subaru Impreza — Wikipedia (English)

  2. Carlos Sainz gave the Impreza its first WRC win at the 1994 Acropolis Rally.

    Source: Subaru Impreza — Wikipedia (English)

  3. The Impreza won Subaru three consecutive WRC constructors' titles (1995–1997) and the 1995 drivers' title for Colin McRae.

    Source: Subaru Impreza — Wikipedia (English)

06 — Design & gallery

White 1970 Subaru 360, front three-quarter view on a show stand.
This picture has been taken by Oleg Yunakov. Contact e-mail: yunakovgmail.com. Image can be used in accordance with the terms of the СС-BY-SA license. Other photos can be seen here. / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Red 1989 Subaru Legacy (first generation, BC) sedan, front three-quarter view.
Calreyn88 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Blue 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B STi (GC8-based coupe), front three-quarter view.
MrWalkr / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

07 — Sources

  1. 01Subaru – WikipediaWikipedia · reference · accessed 2026-09-26
  2. 02SUBARU – Wikipedia (ja)Wikipedia · reference · accessed 2026-09-26

08 — Photo credits

  • White 1970 Subaru 360, front three-quarter view on a show stand.

    Subaru 360

    White 1970 Subaru 360, front three-quarter view on a show stand.

    ByThis picture has been taken by Oleg Yunakov. Contact e-mail: yunakovgmail.com. Image can be used in accordance with the terms of the СС-BY-SA license. Other photos can be seen here.

    CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

  • Red 1989 Subaru Legacy (first generation, BC) sedan, front three-quarter view.

    Subaru Legacy (first generation)

    Red 1989 Subaru Legacy (first generation, BC) sedan, front three-quarter view.

    ByCalreyn88

    CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

  • Blue 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B STi (GC8-based coupe), front three-quarter view.

    Subaru Impreza WRX (first generation)

    Blue 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B STi (GC8-based coupe), front three-quarter view.

    ByMrWalkr

    CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons