Manufacturer | Fuji-Sangyo now Subaru Corporation [1] |
---|---|
Also called | Fuji Rabbit scooter |
Production | 1946—1968 |
Assembly | Otakita Plant, Ōta, Gunma, Japan |
Predecessor | Powell Streamliner [2] |
Class | Scooter |
Engine | 135 cm3 (8.2 cu in) 4-stroke, SV air-cooled, vertical single-cylinder [2] |
Bore / stroke | 55 mm × 57 mm (2.2 in × 2.2 in) [2] |
Power | 2 PS (1.5 kW; 2.0 hp) at 3000 rpm [2] |
Frame type | Ladder tube [2] |
Wheelbase | 1,115 mm (43.9 in) [2] |
Dimensions | L: 1,547 mm (60.9 in) W: 545 mm (21.5 in) H: 940 mm (37 in) [2] |
Weight | 75 kg (165 lb) [2] (dry) |
Fuel capacity | 5.6 L (1.2 imp gal; 1.5 US gal) [2] |
Fuel consumption | 35 km/L (99 mpg‑imp; 82 mpg‑US) [2] |
The Fuji Rabbit is a motor scooter produced in Japan by Fuji Heavy Industries (now Subaru Corporation) from 1946 through 1968. The Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan (in Japanese) rates the Fuji Rabbit S-1 model introduced in 1946 as one of their 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology. [2]
Production of the initial model, the S-1, began in 1946, some six months before the Vespa went into production. [3] It was largely inspired by scooters used by American servicemen during and after World War II, benefiting from engineering efforts from the scooter built by the Powell Manufacturing Company. [4] [5] [2] As the first motor scooter manufactured in Japan, it was enormously successful and revolutionized the post-war vehicle industry. [2] Eventually the Fuji Rabbit scooters evolved into some of the most technologically sophisticated scooters of their era, featuring electric starters, automatic transmissions and pneumatic suspension systems. The Fuji Rabbit scooters were the first Japanese made scooters capable of reaching speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h). The Rabbit's primary competitor was the Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon, which started production around the same time. Motor scooters were so important to the post-war vehicle industry that In May 1948 both a Silver Pigeon and a Rabbit were presented to the Emperor of Japan. [1] Starting in 1954 the Rabbit also faced competition from the Honda Juno.
As the Japanese economy expanded, the demand for scooters decreased in favor of more comfortable four wheel transport, called kei cars , and Fuji followed suit and diversified into automobiles in 1958 with the introduction of the Subaru 360. The last Fuji scooter rolled off the production line in June 1968.
Although not very well known outside Japan, the Fuji Rabbit has earned itself a place in Japanese pop culture as a symbol of nostalgia. Fuji Rabbits have been featured in Japanese animated series such as Paranoia Agent , and are a favourite amongst collectors of scooters and motorcycles in Japan.
In North America, the Fuji Rabbit is best known for starting Malcolm Bricklin's motor vehicle career. (Bricklin was later responsible for importing the Subaru 360 and the Yugo hatchback, as well as producing his own car, among other things.)
The main importer for North America was the American Rabbit Corporation.
Soichiro Honda was a Japanese engineer and industrialist. In 1948, he established Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and oversaw its expansion from a wooden shack manufacturing bicycle motors to a multinational automobile and motorcycle manufacturer.
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The Subaru 360 is a rear-engined, two-door city car manufactured and marketed from 1958 to 1971 by Subaru. As the company's first automobile, production reached 392,000 over its 12-year model run.
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Powell Manufacturing Company (PMC) was a company based in southern California, widely known for its line of motor scooters that peaked in popularity in the late 1940s. From September 1954 to March 1957, Powell manufactured "Sport Wagon" pickup trucks and station wagons.
The Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon is a series of scooters made in Japan by Mitsubishi between 1946 and 1963. The first was the C-10, based on a scooter imported from the United States by Koujiro Maruyama, which began production at the Nagoya Machinery Works of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Along with the Mizushima three-wheeler pickup truck it represented Mitsubishi's first contributions to the Japanese post-war personal transport boom. The Silver Pigeon's primary competitor was the Fuji Rabbit. Motor scooters were so important to the post-war vehicle industry that In May 1948 both a Silver Pigeon and a Rabbit were presented to the Emperor of Japan. The Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan(in Japanese) lists the Silver Pigeon C-10 model introduced in 1946 as one of their 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology.
The Yamaha DT is a series of motorcycles and mopeds produced by the Yamaha Motor Corporation. Models in the DT series feature an engine displacement of 50 to 400 cc. The first DT model, the DT-1, was released in 1968 and quickly sold through its initial 12,000 production run.
The first vehicle built by the automotive division of Fuji Heavy Industries was called the Subaru 1500, with the development code-name of P1. The prototype used a monocoque body structure and adopting the "ponton" style appearance, with an independent front wishbone suspension and a rear leaf spring suspension with three plates and a live rear axle.
A scooter or motor scooter is a motorcycle with a step-through frame and a platform for the rider's feet. Elements of scooter design were present in some of the earliest motorcycles, and scooters have been made since at least 1914. Scooter development continued in Europe and the United States between the World Wars.
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The Yamaha YA-1 is the first motorcycle produced by the Yamaha Motor Company. It was made from 1955 to 1958. This was also the first vehicle in Japan to have a primary kick start system. The Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan(in Japanese), includes the 1955 Yamaha 125YA-1 as one of their 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology.
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The Silver Pigeon and the Rabbit motor scooter manufactured by Fuji-Sangyo (now Fuji Heavy Industries Inc.) dominated the vehicle industry, and both became convenient means of transportation for ordinary people, who had lacked adequate transportation.
This scooter was manufactured right after World War II, using the U.S. Army airborne troops' Powell motor scooter as its model.
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