Subaru’s Iconic Boxer Engine Just Turned 50

It's time to blow out some candles, as Subaru's burbly boxer is celebrating its 50th anniversary
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’s Iconic Boxer Engine Just Turned 50

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Sure, it’s maybe looking a little outdated and is not as efficient as its competitors, but we’ll always be fond of the burbly old so-and-so.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.

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Comments

Anonymous

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.

05/13/2016 - 16:30 |
0 | 0
H5SKB4RU (Returned to CT)

50 years of blown head gaskets 8D!

(No offense, just jk)

05/13/2016 - 16:48 |
1 | 1