Subaru powered, mid engined, old school open wheel race car

dmg1979 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 16, 2010 6:37 pm

Stumbled upon this car while at my friends store. He has had it for about 20 years collecting dust. He doesn't know the history of this car. I was thinking of buying it off from him.

Looks to be a serious bespoke racing car with tubular frame and some old Subaru engine powering it. Funniest thing is that is has some old school Jap wheels on it. SSR MK2 13 inch wheels at the back I think. I don't know how it ended up in Malaysia.

Anyone have any information on this car? It has the words Manatee at the rear. Would appreciate any info. Thanks.

Kostamojen · **Posted:** Fri Apr 16, 2010 6:44 pm

I've seen photos of old race cars with 80's EA motors in them, but this one looks like a custom job.

Got any pics of the rear/engine area?

dmg1979 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 16, 2010 6:52 pm

Sorry dude. i just got these pics forrom the friend. I can't get anymore until I meet up with him. The car is stored in a very isolated place. Will post up more pics when I get the chance to visit his store again with a camera.

bajasoobnut · **Posted:** Sat Apr 17, 2010 12:51 am

that will be interesting to see more pics of

boxer3main · **Posted:** Sat Apr 17, 2010 2:32 am

that is something...
I gotta share this with a local subaru group.

the only flat fours I knew of that went racing out loud in that design was citroen in the 1960s...

the ea81 was around at a time when making stuff like this was not uncommon...as the ea82 days unfolded, well, it was like everybody hated everything and even beat those cars to death...absolutely bizarre twist in history. The ea82 blows it away even with oe 7k coils and lopsided plug wires.. there are some to this day, that would go for an ej18 before an ea series engine...the hoax has long gone been buried for me , but the rest of the world is in a volcanic ash cloud. :roll:

dmg1979 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 17, 2010 9:35 am

I can think of Formula Vee racing cars from the 60s and 70s which were using VW engines in high states of tune.

I will definitely bring a camera the next time I get a chance to go over there.

I just found the website to the manufacturer,

http://homepage2.nifty.com/manatee/machine/machine2.htm

It seems it was made for the Formula Junior 1600 racing series in Japan which is still being held. The one I saw is a Manatee Mk-2. The current one is Mk-11. I guess the one I saw was from the 80s.

My friend just sent me a video. My brother posted it up,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXtPAnD0gpY

Kostamojen · **Posted:** Sat Apr 17, 2010 9:55 am

Ya, that is one of the EA71 race cars. Pretty cool.

old skool subaru · **Posted:** Sun May 23, 2010 1:58 am

I saw a one of those still in tidy condision for sale a few years ago.
It was diffently one of those with the EA71.
He brought it back from Japan.

Jimmy Pink · **Joined:** Wed Aug 03, 2011 6:09 pm **Posts:** 1

Is this a Subaru make racing car? Cool find. Maybe you need a little changes for this car. Like for the color, maybe changes from other Subaru parts and accessories. Voila! I know this will look good as long as the engine is still okay and performs well, This could really be a good car! Since Subaru does really have good and powerful engine.

Camshaft · **Posted:** Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:30 am

That's a really cool find! I love vintage race cars. I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say I'd love any more information/pictures you can provide!

ylwgtr2 · **Posted:** Sun Sep 04, 2011 6:33 pm

hi there...i know these cars....that car is a manatee eithier a mk2, mk3,mk4 or mk5

Subaru powered, mid engined, old school open wheel race car

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