Why is the Subaru Legacy called the Liberty in Australia? Here's why

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
0
This was recently posted on LegacyGT.com and I found it rather interesting. I know there are some Subie fans here and thought I would share:

A few years back an American friend of mine wanted to know why the Subaru sedan/station wagon is marketed as a 'Liberty' in Australia, and as a 'Legacy' throughout the rest of the world.

After World War II, Australia set up a charity called simply "Legacy", to look after the interests of the wives and children of the soldiers who died during the war. As you can imagine, the majority of our dead were in the Asian campaign, keeping the Japanese from our door. many of these soldiers died in terrible circumstances at the hands of the Japanese, as did American soldiers.

The word 'legacy' is sacrosanct here in Australia, and always relates to the great work done by the charity, which now also looks after those affected by the Korean and Vietnam wars. So you can imagine the Australian populous reaction when a Japanese motor company announces that it was about to produce a model called the Legacy and were going to sell it in Australia.
Thankfully Subaru Australia were quick to point out the sensitivity of the name to Subaru Japan, who quickly changed the name from Legacy to Liberty for the Australian market.

So, in Europe, Asia and the Americas, the car is a Legacy. In the Australian market it is badged as a Liberty. Same car different name.

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/just-subaru-libertyi-p2956004.html
 

mpo

Senior member
Jan 8, 2010
458
51
91
How about the Datsun 240Z in the US and the Fairlady Z in Japan.
 

Alienwho

Diamond Member
Apr 22, 2001
6,766
0
76
No Va

Also the Pinto in brazil... I believe Pinto was term for a small... you know.
You're absolutely right. In Brazil, "pinto" is literally the same as "Dick" here in US. I know brazilians with the last name of "Pinto" just like we know people here with the first name of "Dick". But both words can be used in a derogatory fashion as well. Interestingly enough they don't use the word pinto when referring to pinto beans either, they just call them beans(feijao).

The more you know.
 

joutlaw

Golden Member
Feb 18, 2008
1,108
2
81
You're absolutely right. In Brazil, "pinto" is literally the same as "Dick" here in US. I know brazilians with the last name of "Pinto" just like we know people here with the first name of "Dick". But both words can be used in a derogatory fashion as well. Interestingly enough they don't use the word pinto when referring to pinto beans either, they just call them beans(feijao).

The more you know.

Nice
the_more_you_know2.jpg
 

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
6,197
126
"Legacy" is a horrible name in the age of technology, when the word pretty much means "obsolete," as in "Windows supports legacy MS-DOS programs."
 

EightySix Four

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2004
5,122
52
91
"Legacy" is a horrible name in the age of technology, when the word pretty much means "obsolete," as in "Windows supports legacy MS-DOS programs."

Eh, it has many meanings IMO. For example, "what legacy will you leave behind?"
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
98,732
17,215
126
"Legacy" is a horrible name in the age of technology, when the word pretty much means "obsolete," as in "Windows supports legacy MS-DOS programs."

That's because computer geeks generally suck at English.
 

Pariah

Elite Member
Apr 16, 2000
7,357
20
81
Why did the Chevy Nova fail so miserably in Spanish speaking countries? Huh? Huh?

It didn't. The car sold very well in Central America. The whole Nova in Spanish joke is a myth. No Spanish speaker would confuse the word "Nova" with the two word spanish statement "No va" which are pronounced differently.