Fuji Rabbit

The Fuji Rabbit was a motor scooter produced in Japan

by Fuji Heavy Industries from 1946 through 1968. The
Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan (Japanese)
rates the Fuji Rabbit S-1 model introduced in 1946 as one
of their 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology.[2]

Production

Fuji Rabbit Junior in Chile

The Fuji Rabbit scooters were the rst Japanese made

scooters capable of reaching speeds in excess of 60 miles
per hour (97 km/h). The Rabbits primary competitor
was the Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon, which also started production around the same time as the Rabbit. Motor scooters were so important to the post-war vehicle industry that
In May 1948 both a Silver Pigeon and a Rabbit were presented to the Emperor of Japan.[1] Starting in 1954 the
Rabbit also faced competition from the Honda Juno.
As the Japanese economy expanded, the demand for
scooters decreased in favor of more comfortable four
Fuji Rabbit 150, showing a Shoshinsha beginners mark
wheel transport, and Fuji diversied into automobiles in
1958 with the introduction of the Subaru 360. The last
Production of the initial model, the S-1 began in 1946, Fuji scooter rolled o the production line in June 1968.
some six months before the Vespa went into production[3]
and was largely inspired by scooters used by American servicemen during and after World War II. As the
rst motor scooter manufactured in Japan, it was enor- 2 Featured in lms
mously successful and revolutionized the post-war vehicle industry.[2] Eventually the Fuji Rabbit scooters Although not very well known outside Japan, the Fuji
evolved into some of the most technologically sophisti- Rabbit has earned itself a place in Japanese pop culture
cated scooters of their era, featuring electric starters, au- as a symbol of nostalgia. Fuji Rabbits have been featured
tomatic transmissions and pneumatic suspension systems. in Japanese animated series such as FLCL and Paranoia
1

Agent and are a favourite amongst collectors of scooters

and motorcycles in Japan.

North America

In North America, the Fuji Rabbit is best known for starting Malcolm Bricklins 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.

References

[1] Silver Pigeon (Motor Scooter)". 240 Landmarks of

Japanese Automotive Technology. Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
The Silver Pigeon and the Rabbit motor scooter manufactured by Fuji-Sangyo (now Fuji Heavy Industries Inc.)
dominated the vehicle industry, and both became convenient means of transportation for ordinary people, who
had lacked adequate transportation.
[2] Rabbit Motor Scooter. 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology. Society of Automotive Engineers
of Japan, Inc. Retrieved 11 August 2013. This scooter
was manufactured right after World War II, using the U.S.
Army airborne troops Powell motor scooter as its model.
[3] Fuji Rabbit Scooters History. Fujirabbit.com. Retrieved 2008-11-22.

REFERENCES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

5.1

Text

Fuji Rabbit Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuji_Rabbit?oldid=700337582 Contributors: Choster, Davidcannon, Canterbury Tail,

Brim, Dennis Bratland, Kallemax, Viva Chile, YurikBot, Gaius Cornelius, Willirennen, Bluebot, K-111, SamBlob, CmdrObot, Scooteristi,
Thijs!bot, Chris Ssk, JaGa, Dispenser, Andy Dingley, Regushee, Quatro Valvole~enwiki, DumZiBoT, Addbot, The Sage of Stamford,
Yobot, , Mcoupal, WhiteBook and Anonymous: 8

5.2

Images

File:Commons-logo.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 Contributors: ? Original artist: ?

File:Fuji_Rabbit_Junior_Parque_Arauco_2009_(3).jpg Source:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Fuji_
Rabbit_Junior_Parque_Arauco_2009_%283%29.jpg License: GFDL Contributors: Own work Original artist: Viva Chile
File:Fuji_Touring_150_01.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Fuji_Touring_150_01.jpg License: CC
BY 2.0 Contributors: originally posted to Flickr as Fuji Touring 150 - This bike make it through the whole ride. (Fuji fans will know this
is signicant). Original artist: Eric

5.3

Content license

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0