1988 SUBARU JUSTY DIMENSIONS AND SPECIFICATIONS
| EXTERIOR | STOCK | #440 |
| Wheelbase (in): | 90.0 | 90.0 |
| Overall length (in): | 139.2 | 139.2 |
| Width (in): | 60.4 | 60.4 |
| Height (in): | 53.7 | na |
| Ground clearance (in): | 6.1 | na |
| Curb weight (lb): |
1,655 (DL model) |
na |
| Fuel capacity (gal): | 9.2 | 9.2 |
| ENGINE | STOCK | #440 |
| Location: | front | front |
| Alignment: | transverse | transverse |
| Configuration: |
inline
OHC, |
inline
|
| Displacement (cc): | 1,189 | destroked to 1,000 |
| Fuel system: | carburetor | carburetor |
|
PERFOR- MANCE |
STOCK | #440 |
| Horsepower: |
66 @ 5,200 rpm |
99 (1988), 119 (1989) @ 9,000 rpm |
| Torque: | 70 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm | na |
| Top speed (mph): | na | 123.224 (two-way average – 1989) |
| DRIVETRAIN | STOCK | #440 |
| Configuration: | front-wheel drive | front-wheel drive |
| Transmission: |
5-speed manual |
5-speed manual |
| CHASSIS | STOCK | #440 |
| Brakes (front/rear): |
power- assisted, ventilated disc/drum |
power- assisted, ventilated disc/drum |
| Steering: |
rack-and- pinion |
rack-and- pinion |
| na = not available. | ||
A PEEK IN THE PERFORMANCE ATTIC - PART TWO
THE JUSTY WORLD SPEED RECORD-HOLDER IS HOUSED IN THE SUBARU “ATTIC” ALONG WITH OTHER SUBARU PERFORMANCE CARS.
Subaru of America, Inc. warehouses production, concept, and performance vehicles important to Subaru history near its headquarters in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The vehicles are stored as they would be in a typical attic, and the warehouse feels a lot like a museum.
#440 JUSTY
The #440 Justy rests quietly in a corner, easily overlooked because of the notoriety that some of the other performance vehicles have achieved. Yet this Justy currently holds the land speed record for its class. In fact, the car first set the record in 1988 and then returned in 1989 to break it again. The record runs took place at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats, where they were sanctioned by the Southern California Timing Association and Bonneville Nationals, Inc.
Subaru Drive magazine (Spring 1989) carried this account of the first record, established in late August 1988: “The modified production car, competing in Class I Production, attained a two-way ‘flying-mile’ average speed of 117.5 mph. The previous speed record was 115 mph…The two individual speeds for Justy in its record-setting run were 120.607 mph going out; 114.5 mph coming back.”
From a Subaru press release issued September 1, 1988: “While the sanctioning body allows some modifications to Production Class cars, the Subaru Justy was required to use a stock body and a carbureted stock-block engine running on gasoline.
“The world record Justy was prepared by a dedicated team of nine Subaru Technical Center employees, working after hours. Explains Team Spokesman Roger Banowetz, Manager – Parts & Accessories Development, ‘It really was a team effort, with each person bringing a different area of expertise to the group.’”
BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS
Few places on earth lend themselves to driving vehicles at high speeds like the Salt Flats. Vehicles attempting record runs require time and space to reach their highest speed, sustain it for a measured mile, brake to a safe stop, then turn around and attempt the run in the opposite direction.
The Salt Flats provide an excellent space for such runs. Courses are prepared on the bed of salt that covers more than 30,000 acres near the border between Utah and Nevada along Interstate 80. The salt surface is white, and drivers follow a long, black line that extends beyond the horizon.
According to Roger Banowetz, “Bonneville is not a very hospitable place in the summer. The event is a week long. It’s mostly hot, with no shade, and likely to be windy in the afternoon. It’s subject to day-ending or event-ending flooding thunderstorms. Most teams get up predawn to arrive at the ‘salt’ (the dry lake surface is salt) when the air is cool. Generally, cool air is considered a performance-enhancing characteristic.
“At the beginning of the week, competitor enthusiasm is high and waiting lines for a run are long. As the week progresses, cars set records and go home, cars break and go home, patience runs thin and cars go home, records are out of reach and cars go home. Finally, wait time is much less for those that hang in.”
MODIFICATIONS
Subaru introduced the Justy mini-car in America in 1987. The stock two-door hatchback models had front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Eventually, Justy was best known for its available electronically controlled variable transmission (ECVT). Weighing less than 2,000 pounds, Justy achieved great mileage with its 1.2-liter, 66-horsepower, three-cylinder engine (with three valves per cylinder).
Roger Banowetz recently reminisced about modifications made to the #440 Justy in preparation for the 1989 run at Bonneville. “Overall we tried to do the maximum allowed by the rules to improve performance. The class selected was a Production Class, meaning the car was allowed minimal modifications.”
 The 1989 Subaru team set a Bonneville Nationals land speed record in I Production that remains to this day. (Team members, from left: Dennis Nusser, Roger Banowetz, Tim Worletz, and Dean Fazioli.) |
The modifications included those to the:
Engine
- The Class I Production limit is 1.0 liter, and the production U.S. Justy was 1.2 liters. So the crankshaft and rods were replaced by those from a 1.0-liter Japanese domestic engine.
- Regulations required intake and exhaust ports to remain in production locations. However, porting was allowed and done.
- High-compression pistons and custom-made camshaft were installed.
- A special intake manifold was fabricated to hold three Mikuni motorcycle carburetors – one for each cylinder.
- A special tube exhaust header was made.
- A fuel heat exchanger was added. When filled with ice and water, it cooled the fuel that went into the carburetors.
- Ram and cowl cold-air intake ducts were added – one beside the radiator and one at the base of the windshield. Cowl induction was fabricated at Bonneville using cardboard boxes and duct tape.
Transmission
- The stock manual transmission was used, with automatic transmission fluid in place of conventional gear oil to help reduce friction losses.
Chassis
- Wheel bearings – the lube was changed to automatic transmission fluid and grease seal tension springs were removed to reduce friction.
- Wheels – aluminum Moon discs were installed to help reduce aerodynamic drag.
- Tires – narrow tires were selected, and tire inflation pressure was raised to 60 psi to help reduce aerodynamic drag.
Exterior
With the goal of reducing aerodynamic drag:
- Outside rearview mirrors and windshield wipers were removed.
- A Japanese domestic front chin spoiler and rear spoiler were installed.
- Ride height was lowered by removing springs and using only shock rubber jounce bumpers.
- All unused holes in the radiator support were covered.
- The front fender mounting holes were enlarged and fenders were moved in toward the hood to close body-panel gaps.
Interior
- Safety equipment was added – roll cage, safety harness, and halon fire suppression system.
- Much of the factory interior was left in place.
A LASTING SPEED RECORD
 At the 1989 Bonneville Nationals, #440 recorded speeds of 123.938 and 122.510 mph for the two-way run – a record-setting average of 123.224 mph. |
The #440 Subaru Justy has held the I Production land speed record for almost 18 years. That’s a long time for any motorsports hallmark to stand. It’s a testament to those who took #440 to Bonneville and to Subaru. |