We celebrate all things speed here at BangShift, but there is more to the automotive world than just hauling ass in it’s many forms. There’s over a century of vehicles that you can look back on and appreciate their purpose, their design, or their simple existence. Take this little micro machine, the 1970 Subaru Sambar. If you have never seen one of these things in person, you have to understand that you’re looking at what feels like a half-scale VW bus. Look at the license plate on the back and see how big it is compared to the rest of the vehicle. This is a kei vehicle from Japan, one that fit the dimensions and engine size restrictions that Japan uses in taxing vehicles. The engine is a 356cc two-stroke water-cooled unit that made an absolutely dashing 25 horsepower on a good day. Even with it’s light 1,179 pound curb weight, the Sambar is no hot rod. It’s an itty-bitty little package of a van that somehow looks dramatically out of place in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. As it cruises along the downtown streets, watch as it passes what we would normally consider a small car, a first-generation Ford Focus. That’ll put the dimensions of the Sambar into perspective.

As someone who has driven Phoenix streets time and time again, I have to give credit to owner Scott Coletti for having the bravery to drive the little thing in traffic, but man…no way would I ever.