Imagine naming a vehicle a BRAT. I’ve had quite a few pejoratives that I’ve used to describe cars that I’ve owned but none would be suitable as a marketing moniker, or likely fit for consumption here. Actually, Subaru’s BRAT acronym stood for Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter. I wonder how long it took some jingle-meister at Subaru to think that one up. What I like about these small utility vehicles is their El Camino/Ranchero bearing – and these even had cargo bed seats for two – that’s probably frowned upon today! Anyway, this 1982 subject car/truck/Ute, however you care to define it, is located in Fort Gaines, Georgia and is available here on eBay for a current bid of $4,650 with two bids tendered so far.

Unbeknownst to me, the BRAT was in production from ’78 until ’81 with round two, the version that is probably better known here, between ’82 and ’94. And those usually found cargo bed seats? That was to get the BRAT classified as a passenger car and not a light truck, thereby avoiding the 25% “Chicken Tax”. An interesting factoid is that the BRAT was never produced for the Japanese market, it was an export-only vehicle.

The seller states, “Vehicle to be sold as-is. Original paint and decals. No attempt was made to wax, polish, or shine any finish. What you see can only look better with TLC. No rear seats or camper shell included…rust behind front L.H. mud flap at the lower corner of the fender. Surface rust on the roof where camper shell once made contact. Surface rust around L.H. wiper shaft. A few dents: L.H. front fender, tailgate next to GL emblem, R.H. lower rear panel below fuel filler door, and L.H. Lower rear panel“.  That’s a pretty thorough assessment but this Ute has a pretty fair presentation just as it sits. The tan finish is faded, but as suggested, it may respond positively to some TLC. Also of note, the tax avoidance seats are not present or included. One neat feature of this generation of Subaru is the “passing light” a very Tuckeresque feature where the driver “flashes to pass” and the center grill emblem drops open and a light illuminates behind it. It’s goofy but unique. As for the cargo bed, it checks out as solid. Oh, and not mentioned in the listing are the flip-up roof panels!

The pull of four-wheel drive occurs thanks to a 99 HP, 1.8 liter, flat four-cylinder engine working through a four-speed manual transaxle. In this case, the seller claims, “The vehicle runs great and is mainly used for weekend drives” further adding that the engine was rebuilt about 7K miles ago and is now sporting a newer Weber carburetor. Of note, we’re told that the half shaft boots are torn – all four of them. Just a thought but I wonder if that spare tire’s life gets shortened after absorbing all of that underhood heat?

The interior is a typical ’80s Japanese, blocky, hard surface affair. It shows pretty well with only a cracked dash pad noted as a takeaway. The seats, carpet, and door panels show as one would expect for a car with 83K miles. Actually, the seats, with their fabric and vinyl upholstery, show better than that.

This may not be the vehicle you would want for an everyday driver but its functionality for loading up the rear to facilitate those home, ranch, farm, etc, chores would be hard to beat. Find some rear seats and maybe a cooler, or two, and now you have a neat ride for a night out at the drive-in, right?