Subaru 1000 - FF-1 1300G (1971-1972)

FF-1 1300G (1971-1972)

This article incorporates information from the equivalent article on the Japanese Wikipedia.

The (Japanese: Subaru FF-1 1300G) (also known as the 1100 and 1300) was a compact car and introduced in Japan July 10, 1970, replacing the FF-1 Star. It was a front wheel drive vehicle with a typical Subaru EA61 or EA62 flat-4 engine. A fully independent torsion bar suspension and rack and pinion steering were impressive for the time. The inboard front drum brakes were an oddity. Also strange were the dual radiators - the car used only a small radiator (which was also the heater core) on starting, hastening warmup. Even in 1972, Subaru boasted about the foul-weather handling of their cars, and they were quite successful. Priced at just over USD $2,000 and achieving 29 miles per US gallon (8.1 L/100 km; 35 mpg), the Subaru quickly became a strong selling import car in the United States.

In 1970, a Subaru dealership received a special order request from the Tohoku Electric Power Company for Subaru to build an all weather vehicle with 4WD, as the company was currently using jeeps that were open to the weather. The jeeps could not seal out the cold weather, and didn't have adequate heaters for winter use. A car with 4WD would be more comfortable. The jeeps did have an advantage with the 4WD traction and the roads being traveled were in poor condition. The jeeps being used were of a 30-year-old design and something more modern was desired. Tohoku Electric asked that the Subaru 1000 station wagon be converted from front wheel drive to 4WD. Because the drivetrain being used in Subarus of the time, it was considered relatively easy to simply attach a driveshaft to the back of the transmission and add a rear differential that powered the rear wheels. A transfer case was also installed so that the 4WD system could be disengaged with an additional gearshift lever installed next to the transmission gearshift.

In March 1971, two prototypes were used in testing a 4WD system using the station wagon bodystyle, and the tests conducted by Subaru were successful. On October 29, 1971, the Subaru 1300G was displayed next to a station wagon installed with 4WD, parked on top of a mirror so that visitors to the 18th Tokyo Motor Show could see the new drivetrain system. The station wagon also had a 20 mm (0.79 in) increased ground clearance over the standard model displayed. Subaru manufactured eight wagons with the 4WD installed, which Tohoku Electric purchased five and the remaining three were delivered to the Village of Hakuba for government use in Nagano Prefecture for agricultural use.

In 2008, Subaru located one of the original eight wagons, where it was completely restored to original condition and is displayed at various events in Japan.

This platform of sedans and wagons was discontinued by Subaru September 1, 1972 and replaced by the all new Subaru Leone.