Subaru 360 Deluxe
Subaru’s tiny American newcomer packed four seats into a car less than ten feet long.
1970 Subaru 360 Deluxe — representative year · Jim Heaphy (Cullen328) · CC BY-SA 3.0
What did this one sell for?
Make a guess, then reveal one identity-matched completed auction result. It is a comparison point, not a price promise.
Reveal the auction result
Based on a completed sale at Bring a Trailer, an estimated value for this vehicle is $12,750.
Why this sale: Exact 1969 U.S.-market left-hand-drive Subaru 360 Deluxe sedan with rear-mounted 356 cc two-stroke twin and four-speed manual transaxle; not the Japanese Super Deluxe or Young sports version. 25k miles shown with total mileage unknown. The selling dealer acquired the car in September 2023 and reported adjusting the carburetor and cleaning the fuel system; white paint, red vinyl, pop-out rear windows and mud flaps were documented.
Winning bid; Bring a Trailer's buyer service fee, taxes, dealer charges, registration and transport are excluded. The listing reported $0 in additional dealer charges. One auction result is a reference, not an appraisal; condition, history, options, location and market timing can change value. Accepted as the newest exact-Deluxe completed sale located in this bounded review. A September 2025 Super Deluxe sale was newer but excluded because the trim differs; a 2021 exact Deluxe had a custom paint/interior treatment and three-speed transmission.
More than a set of wheels.
The Subaru 360 began as a Japanese light car and later crossed the Pacific. By 1969, U.S. buyers could discover a little sedan with its engine at the back and doors hinged at the rear. The Deluxe shown by Tucson Auto Museum belongs to that American chapter of a much longer Japanese story.
Look a little closer.
Its rounded shape earned the Subaru 360 the nickname “ladybug” in Japan.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Small shell, four places
The U.S. brochure advertised room for four people. A compact rear engine helped leave room for passengers, while a fiberglass roof panel was part of the light body design.
Source: Subaru · U.S. 360 specifications brochure (1968 archive) ↗A Japanese idea travels
Japan’s small-car rules shaped the 360’s dimensions and engine capacity. The museum explains that the American imports were one part of a model family that also included a wagon and other versions.
Source: Tucson Auto Museum · 1969 Subaru 360 Deluxe ↗Where these facts come from
- Subaru · 1969 U.S. 360 brochure, late version (archived scan)
- Tucson Auto Museum · 1969 Subaru 360 Deluxe
- Subaru · U.S. 360 specifications brochure (1968 archive)
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.