I really am not very good at this...

[wuvvum]

...fleet reduction malarkey.  I'll get rid of a car, then something will crop up on eBay that's on my bucket list and I'll end up buying it.

 

Well it's happened again, except this time my purchase wasn't on my bucket list - in fact I wasn't even looking for one - largely because I never knew such a vehicle existed.  I happened across it whilst idly browsing through the Bay, and ended up as the only bidder.  So this morning saw me getting up at the crack of sparrow to go and hire a trailer (something I haven't done for at least 6 years) and head down to sunny Suffolk (just outside Newmarket) to pick up this beauty.

 

 

It's a Subaru 700 van.  It looks a bit like a Sumo, except it's slightly smaller (Kei-sized in fact).  For the UK market, it's powered by a 665cc water-cooled twin laid on its side behind the rear bumper - a slightly bizarre size as it's 5cc too big to be a Kei engine, but then I suppose in 1987 Keis were still limited to 550cc anyway.  Gearbox is a 4-speed manual.

 

 

It's as basic inside as you'd expect, and it has that old Japanese commercial smell that my Acty had.  It does however have a Wharfedale bluetooth CD player stereo, which is probably worth more than the van.

 

 

I didn't really know what to expect when I turned up, as the ad wasn't particularly informative - it had one slightly blurry photo and basically just said "runner, no tax or MOT".  I was half expecting something that had been used as a farm runaround for years and would test my future MIG welding skillz to the limit.

 

It has actually failed an MOT, but the last one only ran out about five weeks ago.  It's failed on two bits of welding on the front (one of which is a little bit on the cab step, the other I haven't found yet), a driveshaft gaiter and a binding brake (not sure which one, the failure helpfully states "offside front rear brake binding").  The rest of the underside looks pretty solid, albeit with surface rust and some previous weldage repairs.  The other surprise is that, before the trader I bought it off, it had only had one owner from new.

 

The poor Carina didn't particularly enjoy lugging it home across the rolling Suffolk countryside - the ensemble probably weighed about a tonne, so 300kg less than the car's maximum towing weight, but I wouldn't want to tow anything heavier.  The whole lean burn fuel economy thing went out of the window too.  Still, it made it with no issues, and I unloaded the van onto the car park, where it hopefully won't stay for too long before I get around to MOTing it...

 

I took it for a spin round the block this evening.  It's an interesting drive...  The little twin thrumming away under the floor sounds amusing, and it actually seems quite lively, although I think much of that is down to ridiculously low gearing (max in third is 37mph - a lot of cars can nearly do that in first).  The steering is rather stiff and with very little feedback, and the lock isn't as good as I expected - turning circle is still tight though thanks to the tiny wheelbase.  The throttle is quite stiff with a very short travel; the brakes are adequate, if not particularly progressive.  It's going to be an amusing thing to run around in locally, but I'm glad I didn't attempt to drive it home from Newmarket...

[Shep Shepherd]

Looks like a fun thing to have around

 

IIRC, the Sumo was bodily the same as the 700, but had a massive front bumper and a bull bar. Oh, and 4WD.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Looks great, I'm fascinated with the engine too. I just assumed it would be the same layout as a Bedford rascal with an engine under the front seats. Also twin cylinder win. Is it a flat 2 or inline twin?

[They_all_do_that_sir]

By flat 2 I mean boxer....

[hairnet]

hi my name is dave - and i belong to tataholics anonymous

[wuvvum]

It's an inline twin.  I thought it'd be under the floor at the back à la Acty - I like the fact that it's just behind the bumper, makes it a lot easier to work on.  There's also a lift-up hatch in the load floor to give access to the rest of it.

[mat_the_cat]

I have absolutely no idea *why* I like this, but I do!

[KruJoe]

Brilliantly, superbly, fantastically miserable, and therefore joyously Autoshite. Well done Dave!

[rml2345]

Excellent! It's like a little stone baked loaf you can drive about in.

Top purchase!

[mouseflakes]

I read the thread title, saw the poster was you Wuvz, and had a little lol to myself since I guessed the first two words of the first post before they appeared on my screen.

[DS20]

Cool purchase, and 5* for fleet-reduction efforts

[vulgalour]

That's adorable!  I bet if you throw a driveshaft it chases after it and brings it back for you.

[Cavcraft]

You just need a tin of Dulux for the side, and hey, Presto!

 

Shite Arrow Logistics Ltd.

[rml2345]

I now have a superb mental image of an Arrow Logistics LWB Transit loading one of these at speed like a shite logistics version of Knight Rider.

[Cavcraft]

[dollywobbler]

Wow. That's it. Shitefest '15 really does need to be at your house. Will your neighbours mind?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Not very good at it? Wuvz man you are at boardroom level already. I have seen a couple of Subaru 600's for sale on CustoJusto, these look like a Justy but have a twin-pot engine, must be the same as this.

[nigel bickle]

Ace Wuz, just ace. Love it to bits.

 

Now allyou have to do is find a use for it? Become a florist, perhaps?

[Jim Bell]

Ace Wuz, just ace. Love it to bits.

 

Now allyou have to do is find a use for it? Become a florist, perhaps?

 

Or a Bonsai Tree Surgeon.

[HillmanImp]

Might be worth going on Twitter to see if Warwick Davies is moving house or owt?

[Jim Bell]

*insert Jeremy Beadle Glove delivery joke*

[Owain71]

Only just stumbled across this!

 

As resident old-skool Subaru fan, how are you getting on with it?

[purplebargeken]

Reassuring to note that others are as shit at fleet reduction as I am. Great van.

[wuvvum]

Funnily enough, it passed its MoT last week.  I'm now enjoying being able to legally hold up traffic.

[barmatt]

I don't recall seeing this last time I was over Dave. Looks like a fun little thing to burn about in.

 

I think you and Skattrd have the same problem when it comes to fleet reduction.

[Lord Sterling]

Nice! I like how dead-on at the front it looks brand new but at the side it looks a bit ropey.

 

I reckon you should stick some Shite Arrow Express graphics at the side as per:

 

[Pillock]

"National Delivery for things no bigger than a 24-pack of Costco toilet roll, or perhaps a microwave oven if it's not a heavy one".

Ironically my new slogan is too big to fit on the van.

[Volksy]

White arrow. The exciting delivery of another Marsall Ward Catalogue product!

Maybe a Tomos Moped?