Subaru’s Iconic Boxer Engine Just Turned 50
See that unassuming little saloon car above? It’s a Subaru 1000, and it went on sale on 14 May 1966. The reason why this is important? It was the first car from Fuji Heavy Industries to ever be powered by a horizontally-opposed engine, meaning the mighty Subaru boxer engine turns 50 this week.
Subaru itself jumped the gun by a few days by releasing a celebratory press release about the big birthday, but hey, we’d be keen to celebrate, too. Subaru says it’s sold 16 million cars with boxer engines over the last 50 years, during which time it’s gone from the humble 54bhp 1.0-litre in the 1000 to the 323bhp 2.5-litre version in the bonkers S207.
Sure, it’s maybe looking a little outdated and is not as efficient as its competitors, but we’ll always be fond of the burbly old so-and-so. Many happy returns, Subaru boxer.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Maybe now that they are 50, Subaru can look back at their older Imprezas and reminisce on just how good their cars used to look and release a new one that doesn’t look like a Civic or a Corolla.
50 years of blown head gaskets 8D!
(No offense, just jk)