TLV-76 Subaru 1000

The Subaru 1000 was the first front wheel drive produced by Fuji Heavy Industries. It is sometimes claimed to be Japan's first mass produced front wheel drive car since the early Subaru 360 and Sambar were rear engined and rear wheeled drive cars.

The Subaru 360 was selling at the time but Subaru wanted a car that could comfortably carry four passengers without a cramped compartment, that would appear to be an alternative to the Corolla and the Sunny. Subaru also wanted to reduce engine noise by placing the engine up front and improve interior space by implementing front wheel drive, thereby eliminating a centrally mounted drive shaft powering the rear wheels, and utilizing an independent suspension at all four wheels.

The Subaru 1000 was formally introduced on October 21 1965 at the Hilton Hotel Tokyo, now known as the Hotel Tokyu Capitol. It was shown at the 12th Tokyo Motor Show Sunday October 29 later that year. It was available for purchase May 14 1966 with a national release in Japan in October 1966. Its model code was A522. The 2-door sedan, model A512 was introduced February 15 1967, with a 4-door van released September 14 1967. By March 1969, Subaru had produced over 4,000 units as an alternative to the Toyota Corolla series KE10 and the Nissan Sunny series B10.
*taken and summarized from Wikipedia.

LV-76 Subaru 1000