Fuji Rabbit
Encyclopedia
The Fuji Rabbit was a motor scooter produced in Japan
by Fuji Heavy Industries
from 1946 through 1968.
Production of the initial model, the S-1 began in 1946, some six months before the Vespa
went into production and was largely inspired by scooters used by American servicemen during and after World War II. Eventually the Fuji Rabbit scooters evolved into some of the most technologically sophisticated scooters of their era, featuring electric starters, automatic transmissions and pneumatic suspension systems. The Fuji Rabbit scooters were the first Japanese made scooters capable of reaching speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour (26.8 m/s). The Rabbit's primary competitor was the Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon
, which also started production around the same time as the Rabbit, and later in 1954 the Honda Juno
.
As the Japanese economy expanded, the demand for scooters decreased in favor of more comfortable four wheel transport, and Fuji diversified into automobiles in 1958 with the introduction of the Subaru 360
. The last Fuji scooter rolled off the production line in June 1968.
Although not very well known outside of Japan, the Fuji Rabbit has earned itself a place in Japanese pop culture as a symbol of nostalgia. Fuji Rabbits have been featured in Japanese animated series such as FLCL
and Paranoia Agent
and are a favourite amongst collectors of scooters and motorcycles in Japan.
In North America, the Fuji Rabbit is best known for starting Malcolm Bricklin's
motor vehicle career. (Bricklin was later responsible for importing the Subaru 360
and the Yugo
hatchback, as well as producing his own car, among other things).
The main importer for North America was the American Rabbit Corporation.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
by Fuji Heavy Industries
Fuji Heavy Industries
, or FHI, is a Japanese transportation conglomerate most known for being the manufacturer of Subaru automobiles. It traces its roots to the Nakajima Aircraft Company, a leading supplier of airplanes to the Japanese government during World War II...
from 1946 through 1968.
Production of the initial model, the S-1 began in 1946, some six months before the Vespa
Vespa
Vespa is an Italian brand of scooter manufactured by Piaggio. The name means wasp in Italian.The Vespa has evolved from a single model motor scooter manufactured in 1946 by Piaggio & Co. S.p.A...
went into production and was largely inspired by scooters used by American servicemen during and after World War II. Eventually the Fuji Rabbit scooters evolved into some of the most technologically sophisticated scooters of their era, featuring electric starters, automatic transmissions and pneumatic suspension systems. The Fuji Rabbit scooters were the first Japanese made scooters capable of reaching speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour (26.8 m/s). The Rabbit's primary competitor was the Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon
Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon
The Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon is a series of scooters made in Japan by Mitsubishi between 1946 and 1963. The first was the C-10, based on a scooter imported from the United States by Koujiro Maruyama, which began production at the Nagoya Machinery Works of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries...
, which also started production around the same time as the Rabbit, and later in 1954 the Honda Juno
Honda Juno
The Honda Juno is a scooter. Two versions were produced, the K-series of 1954 , and the M-series of 1962 .- Juno K :The Juno K was a deliberately elaborate bike in 1954. It was Honda's first scooter and would be competing with the well established Fuji Rabbit and Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon...
.
As the Japanese economy expanded, the demand for scooters decreased in favor of more comfortable four wheel transport, and Fuji diversified into automobiles in 1958 with the introduction of the Subaru 360
Subaru 360
The Subaru 360 was the first automobile mass-produced by Fuji Heavy Industries' Subaru division. A number of innovative features were used to design a very small and inexpensive car to address government plans to produce a small "people's car" with an engine no larger than 360 cc when most in...
. The last Fuji scooter rolled off the production line in June 1968.
Although not very well known outside of Japan, the Fuji Rabbit has earned itself a place in Japanese pop culture as a symbol of nostalgia. Fuji Rabbits have been featured in Japanese animated series such as FLCL
FLCL
is an original video animation series written by Yōji Enokido, directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki and produced by the FLCL Production Committee, which included Gainax, Production I.G, and Starchild Records....
and Paranoia Agent
Paranoia Agent
is a Japanese anime television series created by director Satoshi Kon and produced by Madhouse about a social phenomenon in Musashino, Tokyo caused by a juvenile serial assailant named Lil' Slugger...
and are a favourite amongst collectors of scooters and motorcycles in Japan.
In North America, the Fuji Rabbit is best known for starting Malcolm Bricklin's
Malcolm Bricklin
Malcolm Bricklin born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is an automotive entrepreneur. He is best known for his self-named automobile company, and for being one of the few Americans who has successfully introduced foreign cars in bulk to the American public from firms such as Subaru, Fiat and...
motor vehicle career. (Bricklin was later responsible for importing the Subaru 360
Subaru 360
The Subaru 360 was the first automobile mass-produced by Fuji Heavy Industries' Subaru division. A number of innovative features were used to design a very small and inexpensive car to address government plans to produce a small "people's car" with an engine no larger than 360 cc when most in...
and the Yugo
Yugo
Yugo may refer to:Automobiles* Yugo or Zastava Koral, a subcompact vehicle built by Zastava corporationPlaces* Yugo, Baltistan, a small village in the disputed Jammu and Kashmir regionEntertainment...
hatchback, as well as producing his own car, among other things).
The main importer for North America was the American Rabbit Corporation.