The Guy Doesn't Just Write Stories About Old Cars

Jack Baruth
by Jack Baruth

Famed TTACer “Crabspirits” is known here for his “Last Rides” series, which culminated in this hugely imaginative and enjoyable tale. But did you know that he also builds minicars with LMP2-style power-to-weight ratios, thirty forward gears, and parts from actual fighter jets?


There’s more information on Hooniverse and the original build thread, and I’m sure we’ll hear from the man himself below, but this Subaru 360 is motivated by a Honda 954RR engine through a combination of the Honda six-speed sequential box and a Geo Metro five-speed transmission, for a total of thirty possible combinations. The bike tranny is shifted using a converted throttle assembly from a Grumman A-6.

As with many other classic feats of motorsports engineering, this car’s been banned from competition in its intended home series (the 24 Hours of LeMons), mostly because the Subaru 360 is eleven inches short of the requisite 82″ minimum wheelbase. Shame, really, because it would no doubt make a lot of money down even the shortest straights. If the series decides to relax that rule and Crabspirits decides to sell seats in the car, they can consider one slot sold!

Jack Baruth
Jack Baruth

More by Jack Baruth

Comments
Join the conversation
5 of 17 comments
  • David C. Holzman David C. Holzman on Oct 15, 2013

    One of my neighbors actually has one of these, along with a Deux Chevaux www.thetruthaboutcars.com/review-1975-citroen-2cv/

  • Juicy sushi Juicy sushi on Oct 15, 2013

    That thing is absolutely brilliant. Some over fenders and a coat of paint and you're good to go. Also, this reminds me of the time someone wrote in to R&T in the mid-90s with photos of their adventures stuffing Allison V12's from Airacobras into BMW Isettas and Fiat 500s...

  • Rentonben Rentonben on Oct 15, 2013

    Hang an furniture castor wheel on the front bumper.... BAM! More wheelbase!

    • George Herbert George Herbert on Oct 15, 2013

      or extend the safety cage out the back, to a fifth wheel out there somewhere. also will help prevent it from flipping up on burnout...

  • W Christian Mental Ward W Christian Mental Ward on Oct 16, 2013

    "If the series decides to relax that rule and Crabspirits decides to sell seats in the car, they can consider one slot sold!" Two

Next