36 replies to this topic

[Harry P.]

Got a lot of you!

It's REAL! It's a 1998 Subaru Samba, a tiny VW lookalike that belongs in a Japanese class of tiny cars known as "kei" cars. These Sambas are often disguised to look like baby VW vans by adding a VW logo to the front. A few more examples:











Next ROM coming Monday!

[MrObsessive]

Hey I got that one right!

I wonder if they had this website in mind when they did this car. Or maybe it's the other way around if the website came later?

[Fleetside]

I figured it was real since I had seen this article on how they are making mini Ford, Chevy, and Dodge vans too.

Here's the article.

http://carscoop.blog...ting-1970s.html

[Harry P.]

The article you linked to is about custom made little vans. The van I posted isn't a custom or aftermarket van, it's from the Subaru factory. In Japan they have a whole class of these tiny cars, they're called "kei" cars. They got their start after WWII, when people in post-war Japan couldn't afford "real" cars, yet needed transportation. The kei cars were more than a motorcycle, but less than a "real" car, and the Japanese automakers promoted them as a means to grow the Japanese car industry after the war.

Regulations limit the size, displacement (less than 660cc) and power of these little cars, but they're still popular in Japan because of small, narrow roads and limited parking space in urban areas.

[Zoom Zoom]

Harry, are you sure they come from Subaru that way? I can't imagine VW letting their licensing arm allow Subaru to build pseudo-VW's like that, especially w/a VW logo.. The Japanese do a lot of customizing.

Edit: Found the website of the company that makes them. Definitely not coming from Subaru.

VW Bus Replica on Kei Car

I found a few listings for them for sale, and they're listed as aftermarket.

Only the Kei Car website (where I guess you got the image) seems to say they were factory, but that website doesn't convince me just because they claim it. Automakers are very protective of their trademarks, especially VW.

Edited by Zoom Zoom, 05 September 2008 - 11:27 AM.

[Harry P.]

From everything I've read, they came from Subaru that way. The VW logos are added after the fact by the owners.

They do look a LOT like a VW van. I'm going to check some more and try to find out a little more info.

[Harry P.]

I found this bit of info (bold and italics inserted by me):

"The Subaru Sambar is an automobile built by automaker Subaru for the Japanese market. It is available in microvan and pickup truck body styles and adheres to kei car guidelines. Still flourishing in the Japanese automotive industry, the Sambar continues to be produced in Japan, China, Korea, as well as in Finland with a joint venture with Elcat Automotive. With a few modifications the Subaru can be mistaken for the 60's classic VW 'Samba'. All variations & models are available to order through Subaru Sambar..."

The way I understand it, the "Sambar" came from Subaru, but they also offered a "custom" version that looks like a VW "Samba".

At least that's how I understand it.

Why VW's lawyers aren't all over this is the part I don't understand...

[Ronster]

Here's one like I mentioned:



from here:

Jalopnik.com

I really like it, of course...

[Harry P.]

That's cool!

[Harry P.]

I just found this... a "stock" model???



I'm confused!

[Nick F40]

POOR Subaru!

[Zoom Zoom]

Here's one like I mentioned:



from here:

Jalopnik.com

I really like it, of course...

That's about the only one of those vans I really like. The Dodge styling works, the VW styling looks too contrived.

[sdrodder]

wow he got me. Looked like a model. Good job harry. Cant wait for the next one. Any clues???

[62SS]

I finally got one right. Im on a roll now, Thats one in a row.haha!

Ed

[Zoom Zoom]

I just found this... a "stock" model???



I'm confused!

I think it is too!

I think they called that one the "classic".

At least it's not a Mitsuoka

[Joe Handley]

Gotta admit, I love those little kustom vanlettes

[Willy Survive]

You got me again Harry. Great job on the ROM this week. BTW I love the old VW's, Dodges, Econolines, and even the Corvair vans. But I saw this one and...BLEH. -WILL