Subaru of America First US Market Commercials

Subaru of America Commecials Japanese automaker Cheap and Ugly. WRX not yet

[@xavenellis]

This was my first car I owned 1969. I actually got a deal at dealer and paid $1100. I must admit my husband and I had a blast in this car. Mine was red. If you got stuck in snow both of us opened doors and pushed with our foot to get unstuck. I lived in Ohio then took it to Newburgh NY. I'd really well in mountains. Only regret being young I sold it after 3 yrs.

[@brettholomew21]

True story, my dad's friend had one of these, and while he was in class, my dad and a few other guys picked it up out of the parking lot and carried it into the cafeteria just before lunch.

[@backwardspizza3373]

much lightness

[@Jaket2000]

What do I like about its ad? The fact its actually honest.

[@camouflagecamaro99]

The subaru isn't ugly, It's cute. :D

[@drewgehringer7813]

"But what happens if Volkswagen sues? Ours does look really similar..." "Volkswagen can't sue; they stole the design from Tatra. We're fine."

[@jelanimclean6326]

Poe From Subaru?

[@PKMNFan4664]

To me there's some similarities in the looks to the Citroën 2CV...

[@kenmurphy6792]

Adolph Hitler was partly responsible for the design of the Volkswagen Beetle. The Beetle was commissioned in the 1930s by Adolf Hitler as the "People's Car" (or Volks Wagen in German). - Designed by Ferdinand Porsche, the curvy car was affordable, practical and reliable. - Three decades later, the "Bug" (as it was affectionately known) became a symbol of the 1960s and the "small is beautiful" ethos. ~

[@kenmurphy6792]

@@PKMNFan4664 Always loved the Citroen 2CV from the first time I saw and rode in one, while visiting Paris France with my high-school French Class. ~ Can The Classic Still Cut It ??? ~~~ Can the French people's car take on the challenges in 2017 it was designed for in the 1930s ??? ~~~ Carfection .. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYumi2OJlpKWfac

[@rhapsody710]

I don't think it's ugly at all, either. It's adorable! =D I'd have driven it.

[@benjaminabrahamse8246]

When did suBAru become SUbaRU?

[@toyengr]

suBAru is the way Japanese pronounce it and still do. It's Americans who changed it to Subaru. Growing up in Japan, 360cc cars were very popular. I was able to drive it with my motorcycle driver's license. Our family doctor had this Subaru and I wanted it.

[@whattheheck1000]

In the USA, pre-1974. I saw a Subaru ad from 1974 where they said "SUbaRU". These ads are from 1968 (the year my dad was born!) July 8, 2016 3:33 am

[@mightymeatmonsta]

Was your doctor a quack?

[@toyengr]

No, he was a great doctor who came to our house to treat us if needed. You have to remember that Japan in 60's was a third world country. Needles were reused after being sanitized in boiling water. Dentists worked on teeth without Novocain. At least my doctor owned a car. :-) BTW, it was a 2 cycle engine and smoked like crazy.

[@mightymeatmonsta]

Ahh, the GOOD OL' DAYS!

[@allclassics]

Everyone laughed st Honda and Subaru back then. Those little Micky mouse cars.

[@garinakbar1907]

But now, Honda and Subaru became big and very very successful....

[@MitsuhashiTakashi]

I would have loved to have driven one then

[@sudmuck]

I want to own one, maybe not as a daily driver but they don't seem to take much space lol.

[@KaedeAnimation]

@@garinakbar1907 Honda and Subaru getting huge with Accord and Legacy

[@youmongrel]

Goddamn, 66 MPG. I guess that didn't used to be unheard of before any safety features were required.

[@SwineBrothers]

they were um..liing

[@realazduffman]

This was before EPA ratings so they can claim almost anything

[@whattheheck1000]

Crash one of these into anything bigger than a watermelon and your name would end up in the obituaries section of the newspaper. September 17, 2017 9:02 pm

[@Diap842IV]

35-40 was realistic plus a quart of two cycle oil every 300 miles.

[@jamesslick4790]

@@whattheheck1000 I get that a Subaru 360 is NOT exactly the height of safety in automotive design, But is it any WORSE than riding a motorcycle? I ride a Honda 750 year round in the North East.

[@eurasian73]

Love seeing good ole Newport Beach, CA back in the 1960's!

[@danilko1]

Sue-Bahr-oo Wow! Now we just say Su-Ba-Ru, what a change? Seriously this is a great car... I want one.

[@briansmith8361]

If you are trying to sell a product, calling it CHEAP and UGLY probably won't help your cause! Anyway, I actually adore these!

[@Griffin_63]

Worked for Volkswagen

[@chief1972]

You know this girl is about 70 now.

[@jamesslick4790]

That's OK, I'm in my mid 50's.

[@Noname-ki9mu]

James Slick ok.........

[@rascal211]

I have a feeling she is dead.

[@jamesslick4790]

@@rascal211 Why would she be? Because of driving a 360? I've been riding a motorcycle for over 40 years and I'm still alive.

[@jamesslick4790]

@@Noname-ki9mu I meant that she's STILL in my "lane", If you will. LOL.

[@johneddy908]

The car featured was the very first Subaru, the 360 (a.k.a. the "Ladybird"). It didn't fare very well, but when the Subaru 1100 (Star), with the first version of the famous Subaru Boxer four-cylinder engine, was introduced, the brand really took off.

[@Buelligan88]

Wow, we had one of these when I was an army brat living in Okinawa. I had no idea they were ever imported to the United States.

[@600miles]

Subaru 360's were the slowest vehicles I ever owned besides my BMW Isetta ! I had a Van, a Pick Up and a Car Subaru 360. 21 HP, 360cc, 2 stroke rear engine, 4 speed trans, very lightweight and fun to drive.

[@whattheheck1000]

@MalWolf01 This car was sold from 1968-1969. 1969 + 40 = 2009. Subaru was not just reintroduced in 2009, they were never banned and they were reintroduced circa 1970 with higher quality cars. Since then their quality and lineup has increased even much more.

[@LearnAboutFlow]

Once SuBARu got its act together it became Subaru and had the killer tagline "It's a Japanese Beetle". The company almost left America in the 1990s until it switched to be an AWD company. Now it has record sales year after year.

[@scottye1925]

It’s still a jap mobile

[@atranas6018]

i think it's really cute

[@DoomiteAsh]

Are these old Su-BAR-u commercials where they got the idea for Ben Stein to say "Wow!" in the Clear Eyes commercials? *laughs*

[@atari26003]

that car is adorable!

[@mamoruchiba3301]

From cute and adorable car to a powerful car

[@rickkarl7961]

Drove mine from San Diego to Concord, New Hampshire in 1972. It was great! Of course I was 19 then.

[@ixat00]

Wow, those were the days... I don't think that in a modern, high-end commercial, you will hear the words "is our product really cheap and ugly?"

[@1tubehead]

Now I know were they got the idea for the bugeye headlights °_°

[@Smoblikatt]

Bugs are the best!! (2002 WRX owner)

[@rhondohslade]

Wrong! The Bugeye Sprite was around before the 360.

[@pintosnfiats]

Malcolm Bricklen will always bey hero.

[@600miles]

I wonder if the sales chick is watching these old commercials? I've had my share of these 360's, 2 vans, 2 cars, 1 pickup, but never a 360 Young.

[@mundotaku_org]

The engine is 2 has onyl two cylinders and 19hp. If you don't know a lot about car, ill put it this way, the less powerfull car in the US market has 4 cylinders and 105 hp.

[@rveruqvdohv3799]

66 mpg I ain’t complaining, hell I don’t drive over 50 most of the time

[@Petermaster_TON]

This car makes the beetle look like a land yacht!

[@jpamusher]

66 mpg! Better than my current Outback!

[@thomasarmbruster1743]

Saw my first one near the Grat Lakes Naval Air Station 1970-ishl. Half the size of a VW bug, chugging down the street. spitting smoke. I loved it. Because of their size and weight they could be licensed as motorcycles. There's a mint one at my local Subaru dealer.

[@datsunmadman]

I love Japanese cars from that era

[@albear972]

Talk about self deprecating.

[@76carmel]

Listen to how Subaru was pronounced back then.

[@hvrtguys]

Saw one of these in the early 80's (driving around) but have not seen one since.

[@OlegKostoglatov]

Hmm, Malcolm Bricklin's first venture into the automotive business was importing those cars, then Subaru bought him out because they found out what a hustler he was. He then too that money and developed the "Bricklin" car around 1974-75, then in the early 80s started importing the "Yugo", now I heard he wants to sell some crap Chinese car. Cheap and ugly seems to go hand in hand with the man.

[@meatybeatybignbouncy]

I thought the Bricklin was cool looking. Did not know that about the Yugo....now THAT was a POS!

[@RJARRRPCGP]

I don't recall getting word about Yugos being imported to U.S.A. before the late-1980s. SMH... (maybe the mid-1980s)

[@rhondohslade]

At one time I almost bought the deluxe model of the Yugo. You know the one...it was called the Yugo ToHell model.

[@BeetleBerlin]

Thank you Malcolm Bricklin

[@slippery396]

I miss mine ... it was fun to drive !

[@Fifthcell]

Man, Subaru was self aware back then huh?

[@firstmusic00]

"Soo-bar-oo"...I love it! Ugly or not...at least it had some style!

[@ABCDEFGHdumbo]

Perfect intersection of the Fiat 500 and the Beetle with that 2-cyl Japanese touch. Love it!

[@LeguimOla]

So this is the Impreza WRX Sti great great great grandfather. They've sure have come a long way.

[@scottye1925]

WRX ugly AF

[@Emppu_T.]

i think it is cute and beautiful

[@Skoda130]

@shogo2040 Because of the heavy batteries, and the fact that the modern hybrids are a bit larger than this Japanese Fiat 500/beetle hybrid.

[@PeterNXavier]

The Legacy with CRT transmission beats the Accord, Mailbu, and Camry in efficiency. They also have full time AWD so they use a little more gas.

[@UfoDan100]

Back when I loved Japan more ! Today like the first Honda car , it is a collectable and worth $9000. Old early Datsuns and Mazdas are worth medium bucks today. Pre-government control and EPA bullshit make these cars sooooooo much nicer. Ask Jay Leno !

[@meatybeatybignbouncy]

Try to find a Datsun that is not rusted in half, however.

[@benthompson5538]

I remember reading the Consumer Reports review of it...conclusion was "It's a Death Trap"

[@tastyorange]

@gerry1976 this car weighed just under 1000 lbs. Today, a Smart car weighs about 1700 lbs a 2011 Ford Fiesta weighs 2500 lbs a 2011 Subaru Impreza weighs 3100 lbs a Nissan Murano weighs about 4000 lbs most people don't want to drive around in a 1000 lbs car when the average vehicle on the road is 3000 lbs. they would rather feel more secure and spend more on fuel.

[@rhondohslade]

Those featherweight cars are also hell in a crosswind.

[@subaru360sd]

Great video, thank you for uploading it.

[@John.Mini-Clubman]

After the last (world) war, Japan's 'industrial revolution' gained great momentum, particularly as seen here, in it's automotive industry..Though, 'copying may be the greatest form of flattery,' the wisdom in the statement from one of Japan's automotive manufactures;' ''We don't invent,,, we improve,' has proven to be 'wisdom personified.'

[@BadBoy93143]

Maybe at first they copied but after that they became and still are a technological powerhouse, in fact South Korea at first copied them but then the student teached the master but with China is another story.

[@18_rabbit]

@@BadBoy93143 & ironically to me is that the two koreans have not even come close to japanese engine durability, but the chinese seem to have a very good chance of doing so. Amazing quality recently from china.

[@jamesslick4790]

@@18_rabbit Quality from China is spotty, But IS improving. My Baofeng "ham" transceiver has a build quality that rivals the Japanese radios I also own. The "specs" are not quite up to those, but at the price point, DOLLAR for DOLLAR...A Wayyy better bargain!

[@hanafuda]

So they’ve been making them with love from the very start.

[@MilouTintin]

Next to the Subaru 360, my mom's Honda 600 was sexy, sporty, and fast! 🤣

[@MWorsa]

It’s adorable The little Sue bar roo Wow 😃

[@artdrectr9822]

38 seconds to reach 50mph. Cheap 'n deadly. Wow!

[@jamesslick4790]

It's NOT a "highway" car, But rather a "city commuter" car. Think of it this way: A Subaru 360 or a scooter or a moped? Yeah.... Even NOW, I'd rather have the 360. And I drive a Buick Lucerne!

[@colinsmith1742]

Looks like a mix between a VW Beetle and a Yugo

[@jtwu8931]

70 some years later the little car is still a 'wow" but the girls.....

[@mozartjpn137]

$1297 was not really cheap for the Japanese in the late 50's and 60's, but it was truely tiny for us, too.

[@rveruqvdohv3799]

About 11k now which is 2x as cheap as a brand new anything now

[@Threetails]

Hard to believe these ads launched the brand. The car wasn't bad, but the ads violate one of the number 1 rules about advertising: don't talk bad about the product.

[@randykrauch8954]

I'd love to find the ad I saw back then where they attempted the rhyme, "SUbaRU, Car of Tomorrow"

[@granskare]

the Peel made on the Isle of Man is smaller...there is a jokey video on the net, top gear I t hink :)

[@juanzingarello4005]

Subaaaaru? I thought it was pronounced "Subaru?"

[@Crazyerics]

2nd commercial - Nearly thought the woman was pouring pee into her car :P

[@meatybeatybignbouncy]

It's apple juice! ;)

[@18_rabbit]

erm, supposed to make u think it's cognac or sherry, obviously. Perhaps u & the donald have things in common..

[@vPerformance]

Such wow. Many MPG. Much buy.

[@DJBoyToy]

omg... THE MPGS ARE AMAZING

[@justinfleenor3022]

I can lift the front of mine till the rear bumper touches the ground lol. less than 1k lbs.

[@guerrilladigger]

If you want one now, they are very expensive.

[@TomoyukiWatanabe]

ボディーの後ろ側を開けて入れているのは、ウィスキーでもブランディーでも無い。エンジン・オイルである。スバル・マチックになる前のモデルですね。２ストローク・エンジンだったので、ガソリン１リッターに対して、オイルを50ｃｃ混合しないと、エンジンが焼きついてしまう。スバル・マチックが出るまで、こういう事をしてあげなければいけなかった・・・

[@tfkco]

いやいやガソリンです。燃費がいいよ！というCMですｗ　その後のオイルショック時にダットサンセントラ（日本名サニー）のＣＭでも同じようなＣＭが制作されました。このスバルはワイングラス、ダットサンはデカンタにガソリンが入ってますw このCMはオイルショック前の為アメリカ人に刺さりませんでしたがオイルショック後のダットサンは全米低燃費1位を獲得したこともありダットサンセントラは大ヒットしました

[@Mr.cladmaniac]

Doesn't look cheap and ugly, sure it has a own aesthetic.

[@popcultureaddict733]

"Cheap and Ugly". A few of my blind dates fit that description.

[@pcno2832]

The maximum speed was a little over 50; imagine trying to survive on today's highways in a car like that.

[@jamesslick4790]

It would STILL work as a city commuter car, and easier to fix than a "Smart". Think of it as a "moped" with a roof.

[@LaVerne37]

Many Many thanks for posting!!! WOW!!! how do these commercials survive??? Happy in my '08 Yaris!!! putt putt putt Wayne in Texas......

[@MrSGL21]

at 66 mpg I don't care if it looks like a bag of smashed assholes.

[@SwineBrothers]

it only got 25-35 mpg. top spped of 60 mph, which it would take 37 seconds to reach

[@DoubleMonoLR]

@@SwineBrothers I guess it's possible it achieved higher mpg at low speeds, as may have been common in Japanese urban areas.

[@SwineBrothers]

@@DoubleMonoLR True. And I'm sure it worked great in those areas. But America's freeways? Talk about brown pants time!

[@Jesant13]

I had no idea that is how "Subaru" used to be pronounced. As for the car, I like it. I'd prefer the color black though.

[@rhondohslade]

I remember them being marketed under the original pronunciation back in the mid-60s. The father of a girl I went to school with was one of the first Subaru dealers in the area I was raised in.

[@lawrencerasmus]

I bought the van and while waiting for it they gave me this as a loner

[@thirstingknowledge]

Hilarious! But enjoyable! So retro!

[@robertackerman633]

I can remember when the first Honda cars came to America, they had 300cc motorcycle engines. Much mileage, no pickup, and REALLY tiny. Fours guys could lift one of these up and move it out of the street onto someone's lawn as a prank.

[@jayphilbin2871]

I believe they also had a motorcycle transmission with a throw lever mounted below the dash...

[@rhondohslade]

@@jayphilbin2871 Yes they did have the shifter mounted there. Always struck me as a bit odd.

[@SubaruB4RSK]

Subaru Stamford, CT has a Red 360 too I happen to drive to go pick up a water pump gasket and noticed it inside by one of the tables.. It's really tiny hah

[@Finesse460]

Try that with a BMW 1 series. :D

[@philjohnson221]

Such Subaru. Wow.

[@bassbob42]

These were two cycle engines. Subaru spelled backwards is U-R-A-Bus

[@alpzepta]

What an honest commercial! They claim that their car is ugly lol! I think it’s cute like my gf!

[@user-gd8is7uw5e]

アメリカの人たちにも、スバル３６０は受け入れられていたのですね。５０万円以下は相当安い金額だったと思います。それでいて必要十分な性能を備えていたこの車はまさに、コストパフォーマンスの高い商品だと思われたことでしょう。

[@achy]

"Manimal347 (3 months ago) Yes. Americans have bastardized Mr Fuji's intended pronunciation. The marque's a Japanese name, bestowed in honor of his grandfather. " Subaru means the constellation Paliedes, not Fuji's grandfather. For the record: Sue-bah-roo is how its pronounced.

[@oldfashionedwrx3574]

straight after WWII,the japanese image became positive again

[@eskieman3948]

This car could never be sold in this country today, especially in California. Emissions (2 cycle engine) & safety reg would kill this puppy from the start.

[@tombouu]

New engine

[@lamarr912]

Hunnay! How I'd kill for a car that get's 66 miles to the gallon. I don't even care if it's a soo-ba-rew.

[@displayfireworks1]

I was just reading about this car in the book about the Yugo The Rise and Fall of the Worse Car This Subaru was imported by Bricklin the same guy that imported the Yugo. They got around safety laws with the 360 because it weighed less than 1000 lbs and the USA Safety laws only applied to vehicles more than 1000 lbs. Technically it was a motorcycle. I believe the original 360 was 1500 lbs but they reduced the weight to get under the wire

[@DoubleMonoLR]

It was always under 1000lb. They were built to meet Japanese 'Kei' car standards - which make ownership cheaper(tax & insurance benefits). The '360' in the name is in regards to the engine, which was the maximum size for a Kei car at the time. I'd imagine it'd be near impossible to shed 500lb of weight from a car anyway.

[@endrizo]

I´m starting to love this little cute....all among v8 polluting monsters...it makes sense.

[@whattheheck1000]

@bettydaw1970 Inflation Calculator says it's $7504.82 in 2009 dollars. Consider that the cheapest 2009 new cars are about $10000, so this is VERY cheap.

[@gerardoawd]

OMG!!! This was just awsome!!! Hahahaha. Hillarious!

[@NitroGadvRules]

@ter1960 its probably would not get 66mpg on the epa ratings they use today. In fact the prius's rating is being revised because most of them were not getting the epa ratings. This is an old fashion carbed engine without all the new fuel saving techology available today.

[@rhondohslade]

But no weight trumps everything else.

[@TurboVW2004]

I bet they filmed these all in the same afternoon .

[@MrSloika]

@cdilmore Can't happen. The car got 66 mph because it weighed only 900 pounds, and used a 360cc two stroke engine. A car like that can not meet modern safety/emissions standards.

[@alSation81]

what idiots claiming its cheap and ugly ... it looks cute to me. by constantly saying cheap and ugly you look at it with more scrutiny and whats with the "sue-bar-oo"??

[@mozartjpn137]

Wow! How did you get this video? My neighbor had this Subaru 360 back in the mid 60's.

[@bettydaw1970]

@RamblinRose53 with the cost of living index/inflation that would be like 4.5 times that today or 1299.00x4.5=$5,850 bucks these cars were very cheap though werent they only 360cc engine? i mean thats a top speed of maybe 55 mph..

[@PUREAAMERICAN]

The girl looks like more of a fun ride.

[@sooverit5529]

$1297 is about $10,500 today.

[@scottye1925]

No, I think $1297 is still $1297

[@rveruqvdohv3799]

Still 2x cheaper than any new car sold today at least

[@BadBoy93143]

It's not "cheap and ugly" it's "cheap and cute" and the woman's phrase would be mine after seeing it on the road.

[@evanmink1]

This car is on Gran-Turismo 4 along with the Honda 600 Z-Auct and the Dehatshu 950-T