Where is vin 001?

[NiftySVX]

This is all true and I agree that the prototype would not have a vin number and yes like I said it is likely hand built and probably cost a million or so to make, since all the parts were one-offs. However, there is a black one that exists that was spotted testing by a couple folks and it has the same grille as the red prototype but a different bumper that appears to be closer to the production unit. I am almost certain that this car existed and traveled death valley and the icy mountains, but it is highly likely after a few thousand miles it was torn apart to the bolts to measure everything and see if anything was wearing or anything like that. This car, which I bet was one of as many as five built in 1990 may still exist, or one of them might. I would assume that some were dissasembled as I mentioned earlier, but these cars would be pre pro and not suitable for press use. These may have a vin and they may not.

The whole thing i am getting at, is, if there is vin 002, and the earliest registered was 041, where are the (39 or however many) that are between those two numbers? I doubt they were like "okay the first car gets to be 002, and then we're skipping straight to the 40s" Some may be rhd, JDM, but it seems like the first run was LHD.

You know everyone wants to know. I know I do, I have always wanted to know....

And that is interesting about the prototype and the cost about the 20th and I hope that gets kept more in the open than the pace car deal did.

[Nevin]

Originally Posted by NiftySVX

This is all true and I agree that the prototype would not have a vin number and yes like I said it is likely hand built and probably cost a million or so to make, since all the parts were one-offs. However, there is a black one that exists that was spotted testing by a couple folks and it has the same grille as the red prototype but a different bumper that appears to be closer to the production unit. I am almost certain that this car existed and traveled death valley and the icy mountains, but it is highly likely after a few thousand miles it was torn apart to the bolts to measure everything and see if anything was wearing or anything like that. This car, which I bet was one of as many as five built in 1990 may still exist, or one of them might. I would assume that some were dissasembled as I mentioned earlier, but these cars would be pre pro and not suitable for press use. These may have a vin and they may not.

The whole thing i am getting at, is, if there is vin 002, and the earliest registered was 041, where are the (39 or however many) that are between those two numbers? I doubt they were like "okay the first car gets to be 002, and then we're skipping straight to the 40s" Some may be rhd, JDM, but it seems like the first run was LHD.

You know everyone wants to know. I know I do, I have always wanted to know....

And that is interesting about the prototype and the cost about the 20th and I hope that gets kept more in the open than the pace car deal did.

It's also likely that a few proud Subaru dealership owners were among the very first to actually own one of these cars. Imagine you sell cars and your company comes out with a halo car that is fun to drive, looks like nothing else, and drives like a million bucks. My money says that at least some of the few first SVX's were purchased right at the launch and have been in hiding ever since.

Also, just because we don't know about numbers earlier than 42 (or whatever number s'ko has) doesn't really say anything to me. There are plenty of car enthusiasts who would never have anything to do with an online forum. They could just care less. That, and assume that a few were in accidents, and I'd say that knowing where #42 is is still pretty cool.


AyeJaye: I have a 4ws Mazda MX-6 GT. Does that count for you? hahah

[svxcess]

Originally Posted by SURTEESS

where are the pictures of concept car with different color strut towers posted ???

.

Just click HERE




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[Nevin]

It also appears that the red car in question is missing a few "stock" items. Maybe it's just missing them, but maybe not.

The first thing I noticed was the plastic pieces on top of the strut towers. They seem to be absent. The "Boxer 6" cover is missing, and the SVX decal on that top panel thingy by the rear window is missing. The last item may not have been in every country anyway, I don't know about that one. Also, there's no emissions sticker on the underside of the hood although admittedly that could easily be explained away numerous ways. I'm just sayin...It seems to me though that these would be things that an experimental car would not have.

But like I said, it could easily be that this car just so happens to be missing those things, but also... maybe not. Who's to know...?

[svxcess]

This has become so complicated, it is hard to contemplate just what is and isn't accurate. We may never know the chronology of when and how this car was created, it's VIN, it's appearances, etc.


I don't know what the rationale was for repainting the prototype from silver to red int he first place. And we don't know when the repaint was done and when it was last seen in public as such.

For all we know, since the last time it was seen in red paint, it could have been restored once again to the original silver and preserved as such as a piece of Subaru history.


Too bad we did not get a chance to ask Mr. Harada and Mr. Seo about the concept car when we talked to them at Lafayette for the 10th Anniversary Meet. We were so excited that they were there we wanted to ask as many questions as we could, and the prototype car was not one of them.


,

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[dbarnblatt]

Originally Posted by Nevin

It also appears that the red car in question is missing a few "stock" items. Maybe it's just missing them, but maybe not.

The first thing I noticed was the plastic pieces on top of the strut towers. They seem to be absent. The "Boxer 6" cover is missing, and the SVX decal on that top panel thingy by the rear window is missing. The last item may not have been in every country anyway, I don't know about that one. Also, there's no emissions sticker on the underside of the hood although admittedly that could easily be explained away numerous ways. I'm just sayin...It seems to me though that these would be things that an experimental car would not have.

But like I said, it could easily be that this car just so happens to be missing those things, but also... maybe not. Who's to know...?

Well the red car is clearly not a production model. So as you say all of the items that you list are production details. The "SVX" decal on the garnish below the rear side window is a US only port installed part.

Further the car has different front end. headlights, grill, fenders, tail... even the overall lines of the car are different from the production model. One feature that stands out for me is the split window molding, the molding lines are slightly different than the production version.

It seems that there is one prototype that started out silver metalic (as seen in the "Concept" promo and at the auto shows around the world in 1989 and 1990... then it was simply painted red. Maybe it was for a new media piece, or they wanted a photo of the concept that did not depict the car in silver... whatever it was... it was a probably a media/marketing decision.

The interior has never changed. Light cream with beige seat inserts... it looks the same to me in all the photos of the car... both silver and red. The interior was never white.

[Green1995SVX]

Originally Posted by svxcess

This has become so complicated, it is hard to contemplate just what is and isn't accurate. We may never know the chronology of when and how this car was created, it's VIN, it's appearances, etc.


I don't know what the rationale was for repainting the prototype from silver to red int he first place. And we don't know when the repaint was done and when it was last seen in public as such.

For all we know, since the last time it was seen in red paint, it could have been restored once again to the original silver and preserved as such as a piece of Subaru history.


Too bad we did not get a chance to ask Mr. Harada and Mr. Seo about the concept car when we talked to them at Lafayette for the 10th Anniversary Meet. We were so excited that they were there we wanted to ask as many questions as we could, and the prototype car was not one of them.


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John-

Your post reminded me of how wonderful Subaru was to us at the 10th Anniversary meet. That was such an amazing experience.

Mike

[subbieatnz]

Originally Posted by SilverSpear

And... any pictures?

I mite have? Ive taken so many pics of SVXs its not funny.

But I just remembered I ment to get in contact with the guy that brought a JDM painted purple. When that was for sale it was regged as a 1991.
He crashed it and needed a load of parts. I have to try get in contact with him. Take some pics etc.

[subbieatnz]

Originally Posted by SURTEESS

Concept car was also shown in Auckland in 1989 - I remember because as a teenager I thought the car looked hot - pity I did not have a camera with me back in those days....

Where abouts was it showed in Auckland? Mite have to try find some one that did take pics of it.

[SURTEESS]

The show in Auckland was at the Ellerslie Show Grounds.

The other thing about the concept car (red/silver photo) is that the engine cover was never fitted - check out the "Road & Track" magazine that was 100+ pages dedicated to the SVX.
It shows various prototype engines (including inlet variations) & various prototypes being tested (my favourite is the chassis / drivetrain being tested using 4 massive generators bolted onto where the wheels would be - straining the 4WD / diffs etc). Once of the other ones shows the exhaust manifold glowing cherry red!!!.

I have 3 copies of the mag -
one from the show here in Auckland (a bit dog eared - but no creases)
one is my reading/coffee table look at
one is mint in plastic bag

[SilverSpear]

Originally Posted by SURTEESS

It shows various prototype engines (including inlet variations) & various prototypes being tested (my favourite is the chassis / drivetrain being tested using 4 massive generators bolted onto where the wheels would be - straining the 4WD / diffs etc). Once of the other ones shows the exhaust manifold glowing cherry red!!!.

........ and what you said above materialized the MISSING Documentary about the SVX's R&D that I saw long time ago!

This is what I was talking about over and over through different occasions, they were testing the suspension/AWD system of the SVX on four shaped like poles or something...

Can you take some pics of this system and post it over here please?

[Green1995SVX]

[SilverSpear]

BINGO!!!!!!!!!

Now where is the movie...

[SURTEESS]

GREEN1995SVX - thanks for posting the pictures so quickly, it just shows how much testing the individual components went through...bet there is not that much testing done to cars now a days - due to turn around times required & lack of money

[MadMaxSvx]

Originally Posted by NeedForSpeed

Joe and I have were discussing red SVXes, and the prototype. We have all seen the red concept pics for years, but only recently I studied the open-hood picture, noticing for the first time the silver strut towers. The red car could be the repaint of the silver concept? Joe had the opinion that due to cost, only one concept would have been built. If the red concept IS the silver concept, that could answer that question.

As for Pearl concept, I've always considered the pictured car to be silver, the one on stage looking brighter or more pearl due to lighting, compared to the non-stage postcard photo.

I don't believe the concept would have a VIN, especially not a US VIN. The car is 'one-of-kind', with active suspension, VTD, 4WS, interior, external, etc., clearly, not a refabricated US VIN model. Just my opinion

The prototype is silver, but in the picture in the Tokio motor show it appears lighter, notice that the wheels looks almost white as well as the paint, but in this picture you can clearly see the color of the wheels and the silver body with another lighting.
This silver can be different from the one used in production SVX´s tough.

EDIT: In the lower image, you can see the reflection of the SVX in a semi-transparent mirror on the roof, reflecting the car and the tv floor, showing a mix between the SVX and the internals, from that angle the paint looks silver.
Also, that picture seems to be edited, to enhance the dark and clear colors.