In February 1954, FHI announced its prototype passenger car called the P-1. The P-1, named the Subaru 1500 the following year, used the first Japanese-manufactured monocoque body. This passenger car provided excellent riding comfort and driving stability with its front-wheel wishbone-type independent suspension; a coil spring and double-action oil damper combination, and rear-wheel rigid axle suspension with a three-leaf spring and double-action oil damper combination. Unfortunately, sales had to be suspended because of difficulties in funding the factory equipment and sales network. Nevertheless, this vehicle proved to be of great value in the later developments of the Subaru 360 and Subaru 1000.
Overall (length x width x height) : 4,235mm x 1,670mm x 1,520mm
Vehicle weight : 1,178kg
Type : Water-cooled, 4-cycle OHV, 4-cylinder
Bore x stroke : 79.4mm x 75.0mm
Engine displacement : 1,485cc
Compression ratio : 7.2
Max. output (ps/rpm) : 55/4,400
Max. torque (kg-m/rpm) : 11/2,700
Front : Wishbone-type independent suspension
Rear : Rigid axle suspension
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