Was perusing my local CL for parts when i came across this:

https://buffalo.craigslist.org/bop/5987330959.html

Panasonic Villager Frame, Red
Late 70s/Early 80s

Seat tube measures 22.5 inches from center of top tube to center of bottom bracket.
Top tube measures 22 inches from center of seat tube to center of head tube.

Includes bottom bracket and crank installed. The crankset is a unique "Front Freewheel" system. Instead of the cassette/freewheel on the rear wheel containing a ratcheting pawl system, allowing one to coast, this is achieved in the front. The result is a chain that moves as long as the rear wheel is spinning. This allows one to shift so long as they are moving, but not necessarily pedaling. This is a unique technology that was only manufactured for a few years.
1982 Shimano Catalogue Page 35

I have the frameset and crank only. To build up this bike, you will need to build/acquire a rear wheel with a compatible gear cluster for the FF system.

The frame is in a rough cosmetic shape, lots of scratches, scuffs, missing paint. In addition, the headset is missing the locknut. You may want to install a new headset, but if you have the right size locknut available, that will work too. The bottom bracket could use a cleaning, but it spins fine and the front freewheel spins fine as well.

I have never heard of a front freewheel system. Google isn't much help.

Anyone remember these? Did they work? What kind of rear gear cluster would you use with this? I'm intrigued.

Thanks,

Mike