This VW Bus Lookalike Is Actually Built by Subaru
The Volkswagen bus is an instantly recognizable cultural icon. What if I told you that you could buy one with Subaru reliability and AWD? Yup. Well, you kinda can. Several companies are converting the capable little Subaru Sambar van into a VW bus lookalike. There’s only one problem, Subaru never even sold the Sambar in the U.S., so you’ll have to import one if you want to cruise around North America.
The Subaru Sambar was a Japanese-market microvan
Subaru’s Sambar was a tiny body-on-frame minitruck and micro-bus chassis. The Japanese manufacturer built it from 1961 through 2012. A cab-over design allowed Subaru to offer this chassis with a relatively large bed or a roomy interior–for a vehicle with a 71-inch wheelbase.
Like other Japanese microvans and “Kei class” minitrucks, the Subaru Sambar van began with an I-2 engine, 10-inch wheels, and a manual transmission. By the end of its run, Subaru offered the Sambar with a supercharged I-2, automatic transmission, and 12-inch wheels. See Doug Demuro review a Subaru Sambar van in the video below:
I’ve spent my share of time driving Kei class minitrucks, and it’s difficult to describe just how “mini” they are. They barely have room for two adults side by side, and they ride very close to the ground. The engine would be considered small in a motorcycle here in the U.S., so shifting often isn’t optional. With the short wheelbase and cab-over layout, every bump in the road feels enormous.
It’s probably good that most Japanese-built minitrucks top out at 50 MPH. But 50 MPH in a Kei Class truck or van feels more like 100 MPH. Driving them is like no other modern vehicle, a very visceral and analog experience.
VW-lookalike Subaru Sambars
People do import Kei Class minitrucks and microbuses from Japan. You occasionally see them on auction sites such as Cars & Bids. Like any foreign market vehicle, you need to wait until they are 25 years old and pay an import fee, but then you may be able to register them in certain states and drive them on public roads. Registration laws vary by state.
As the number of Subaru Sambar vans on North American roads grew, some modifiers realized the front end looked like a tiny Volkswagen bus. So, enthusiasts developed kits that included chrome trim, retro bumpers, retro hubcaps, and a Volkswagen badge. Many Sambar van owners also do a two-tone paint job with the iconic “V” shape on the van’s front end.
There’s a vast range of Volkswagen bus “clone” Subaru Sambars. Some simply have two-tone paint and an aftermarket badge. Others have every detail retroed-back, from chrome hubcaps to VW van-like bumpers.
Vintage Subaru Sambars are pretty cool on their own
Driving a tiny VW bus clone is pretty cool. And with the prices of first-generation VW vans going sky-high, it might be an intelligent option. But I must say: vintage Subaru Sambars look pretty cool on their own–no VW bus clone kit is needed.
Considering that Subaru built the first Sambar in 1961, you can import a vintage Sambar van as old as early VW buses. Subaru even offered these early generations in a groovy two-tone paint job.
Next, learn what Subaru means in Japanese or see a retro 1970 Subaru microvan for yourself in the video below:
