2,000 tough miles; Subaru fans set for first Liege rally in 50 years

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), May 23, 2008

Byline: BY DAVID WHINYATES

AQ UA RT E T of British Subaru fans are to put the manufacturer's original model, the 360cc microcar, to the ultimate test on a 2,000- mile rally through some of Europe's toughest terrain which will include Italy's Stelvio and Gavia Passes.

They will be taking part in the Liege-Brescia-Liege rally - the world's only international rally for sub-500cc cars.

It is 50 years since the rally was first held and, coincidentally, it's also half a century since the Subaru company built its first passenger car.

Launched in 1958, the Subaru 360 enjoyed a 12-year production run and around 250,000 of them were sold, although it was never expoted to the UK or Europe. But classic car restorer and seasoned historic rally driver James Ewing has unearthed two 1967 and 1968 examples in Japan and, with a little work, has brought them back to pristine condition. Both cars are powered by two-cylinder, aircooled two-stroke engines mounted in the rear and producing a dizzying 20 PS each - less than some sit-on petrol lawnmowers.

The newer car has a four-speed gearbox and the older a three-speed - both without synchromesh on first gear. Cruising speed is about 50mph - on the flat.

James, from Haslemere in Surrey, will be joined in next month's trans-European trek by his partner Jane Puttock while driving the second car will be Victor Sayer, who comes from Finchampstead near Reading, and Craig Lawson, from Farnborough in Hampshire

CAPTION(S):

PRISTINE CONDITION - the team with the two restored cars