The Subaru BRAT is one of those cars that everybody loves, even if they have no idea what it is and assumes its some kind of baby El Camino, which I guess it technically is. BRATs are on my list of cars that I don’t need, but I definitely want. Unfortunately, BRATs seem to always be located in areas where Subarus have always been popular, such as the mid-west. Thus, many of the BRATs I’ve come across that I thought were affordable are typically Swiss cheese. This first generation BRAT looks to be rusty, but definitely repairable with a little bit of time and money, and can be found here on craigslist in Wichita for $1,000.
The interior of this Subaru has seen some use, however compared to the last BRAT I looked at, this should be a piece of cake to repair. Although rough, it looks to be very complete and restorable. The plastics appear to be showing wear from years of use and being in the Kansas sun. To me, this looks like a great starting point for a factory correct interior restoration! There is certainly enough left to be able to recreate the seats and doors the way they should be.
The amount of dust on the dash, cluster, and steering wheel is indicative of two things: this Subaru has been sitting for a while, and that while has been spent in Kansas! The seller mentions that this car had spent the decade prior to his purchase with an off-road title, which means that the person who owned it previously likely had no plans of driving it on the street any time soon. The title status has not changed, so whoever purchases it next will have to go through the process of getting a normal title. The seller also states that although this car has a broken window and some rust, this car has the “original tool kit, service manual, jack kit, and one of the original bucket seats,” and notes that all of the interior electronics work.
This photo helps show just how weathered this BRAT really is. It is hard to tell in this picture, but it is clear in some of the others that the original boxer 1.6 engine should have a spare tire mounted above it! For whatever reason, almost every used car or project car I have purchased has been missing the spare tire and the owner’s manual, and I always wonder where those items get off to. An important part of this listing is that a camper topper is included in the sale, which is a super cool accessory for a vehicle like this. If I were in the market, I would be all over this BRAT. I think this is the best deal I have seen on one in a long time. Would you restore it original, drive it as is, or make something cool out of it?
Like the song says: Beat on the Brat with a baseball bat!
I’m glad someone picked up on the Ramones reference!
Not enough Duct tape and Bondo in the world for this one
You’d have to pay me $100 to come haul that piece of crap away. $1000 Sheesh, you are dreaming.
I test-drove a new 1978 Subaru Brat with my mother in September of ’78-that was in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. (The start of my senior year of high school.) It was yellow with racing stripes. Came with two plastic “jump seats” against the back of the cab in the bed and had steel white-spoke wheels. I think it was 2250 dollars brand-new. Those things were the rage back then, but I was used to V-8 Chevys and Fords. Being in my teenage youth, I was sorely disappointed the little 4-cylinder underneath the hood was such a “dog” when I floored it-was thinking initially it would have reacted like a sports car…As a result, I didn’t buy it….Ended up buying a 1958 Ford pickup instead, plus a 1973 Chevy 3/4 ton pickup…Those two pickups got me through my senior year of high school until college, when I bought a 1971 Chevy Impala convertible…😉👍 I will say this: Saw a lot of Subaru Brats used in the oilfields around Bartlesville as “pumper’s trucks” for many years afterward…
Like it. I think the Subaru baja will be as collectible as a Brat some day.
Could be done up as a beer and brat mobile for Johnsonville sausage.
Baja’s are great, I have a 2006 with 187k
Baja’s are already highly sought after. If you see one & you like it, jump on it immediately, especially the turbo manuals. They don’t stay for sale for very long.
Wish I grabbed the mint one I found when I was 17 in 1988 for $1500 always loved these….
These things are really really cool, I have always had a soft spot for these slow little Japanese imports…….then the WRX comes around and WOW takes the gloves off. I have often wondered if a modern Scooby Doo drivetrain would go into one of the classic models without being a fabrication nightmare? I just dont know enough about these really great little cars
Camper top is awesome, if you’re interested in these. But what about the jump seats?
Im no Subaru expert by any means but I do know they were only around for a couple of years, and that they are rarer than hens teeth.
Thanks, now I will have that song in my head all day….Oh Yeah!
Came here for the Ramones reference. If this site starts combining punk rock with junky old cars, I’ll never leave.
Duly noted!
Had one in high school turned right one day and the rear end kept going straight. These fall into the neat category so my wife would say. The juice just isn’t worth the squeeze.