Long before there were turbocharged boxers and AWD rally monsters coming out of Subaru, there was the Fuji Rabbit. Built from 1946-68, Japan’s first mass-produced scooter helped motorize the post-war citizenry. The sculpted body was made with the know-how of Nakajima Aircraft’s (Fuji Heavy Industries’ predecessor) airplane designers, and the wheels were taken straight from the tail of a Nakajima bomber. The Rabbit continued to develop during its lifespan on the market, adding features like electric starters and polyethylene body panels. After giving the populace mobility and the economic boom that followed, sales began to slow in the late 60s as scooters were replaced by cars. Happy Lunar New Year from JNC.
I suppose you couldn’t just mark the Year of the Rabbit with a US-spec German car…
You won’t believe this, but the City of Detroit police department museum has a Fuji Rabbit on display. Only one I’ve ever seen.