Here's The Skinny
The Subaru Sambar kei truck is the The only 4-cylinder, producing 40-54 horse power and 40-55 pounds of torque.
The engine is the furthest back of any other mini truck, sitting directly behind the rear axle. As its the only engine to have a rear hatch access, this makes for a quieter ride.
The engines that were 660cc’s came as 5 speed with an extra low gear.
Air condition was a fairly common option.
Dumps were extremely rare due to the heavy loaded rear weight. These are not to be used for sand/dirt load.
The Sambar OEM ground clearance is tied for the highest at at 7.5 inches, yet lifting this style truck is not as common. This is due to the suspension style, limiting owners to a standard 2 inch lift.
The bolt patten they share are similar to the Acty's, 4 by 100.
The Subaru Sambar had 3 body style configurations during this period.
Two of the engines were carbureted engines in while one upgrades to a 1 supercharged EFI model, which were commonly known for oil issues.
For these supercharged engines, fresh gaskets and an oil cooler are highly recommended. Unfortunately these engines tend to run hot, causing the ECU to dump fuel into the motor to prevent detonation resulting in terrible fuel economy
Four Wheel drive is activated by a push button, while only some have differential lock as an option.
While the 5 speed transmission offer a higher top speed, due to the oil concerns, its not recommended to drive for long periods above 70mph.
Trailing arm rear suspension with spring and coil, coil-over strut front suspension.
Without proper maintenance Subaru’s tend to be considered the least reliable, yet parts are still very common.