With the Halo Twin Roof feature and infamous jump seats (Subaru refers to them as “twin fun seats“), often everyone’s favorite feature of a BRAT, this 1984 Subaru BRAT GL looks like a winner. That doesn’t even take into account how solid and nice the rest of this car appears to be. The seller has it listed here on eBay in Fredericksburg, Texas, and they’re asking $19,500, or you can make an offer.
Before you chuckle too loudly and point out that this is a $3,000 car all day long and it didn’t cost $19,500 new, Hagerty, a company that knows a thing or two about vehicle values, puts a #2 excellent-condition BRAT at $24,600 and a #3 good-condition BRAT at $14,400. Coincidentally enough, $19,500 is exactly between those two values. This car seems expensive, and it is, but they always say to buy the nicest example you can find, and this may be it.
Being a 1984 model, this BRAT (Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter) doesn’t have the very cool “Cyclops” center passing light, which would have been on 1982 GL models. The second-generation BRAT was offered from the 1982 through 1994 model years, but only until 1987 in the U.S. market. Subarus of this era are well-known for rust issues, but this BRAT looks solid, and the seller includes many underside photos and great photos overall.
There’s nothing wrong with an automatic transmission, but in a car with fewer than 75 horsepower, you want a manual if you can use a clutch pedal. The other handle behind the shifter is a dual-range on-demand hi/low shifter. As is almost always the case on old Subarus, some interior plastics are faded, and there are a lot of YouTube videos showing how to either fix that or repaint them. The pop-up roof panels are a nice feature if they’re leak-free, which I’m assuming they are.
The clean engine is Subaru’s EA81, a 1.8-liter OHV boxer-four with 73 horsepower and 94 lb-ft of torque. The seller gives more of a general view of the BRAT, in general, than specifically giving details on how this one runs and drives, but it sounds like it works as it should, and I can’t remember when I’ve seen a nicer one. Given Hagerty’s values, any thoughts on the seller’s asking price?
Good in the snow these Subaru’s ❄️⛷️
Salt is their Kryptonite though.
I’m thankful this one wasn’t driven in the snow or salt. They’re great winter cars though, believe me I know, I have a Forester and would definitely get another if need be. This is one very solid Brat. Love the pop up sunroofs too, very unique. Almost like they were imitating a T Top in a way. This was a popular color too, I remember a lot of Subie wagons and sedans this color blue. I don’t think there’s many left that are in this good original condition. Really nice find Scotty and write up too. I enjoyed it.
Thanks, Driveinstile! I agree, driving this one in the snow and slush, and it would be toast. There aren’t many left in this condition, even with the high miles, as Howie points out.
Scottie I had no idea this had high miles when I made my comment. I would pike to add that, I find it very hard to believe due to the condition of this thing. Its just way to clean. Whoever had this took seriously good care of it. And apparently enjoyed it a lot over the years ( absolutely nothing wrong with that.) Even if it needed an engine rebuild, trans rebuild, or a clutch down the line, given the excellent condition its in, I wouldn’t think twice about it.
Sweet!! $19,500 with over 214,000 miles.
It might be the only one left. These were prolific rusters.
These have always appealed to me, as a toy. This one is in fine shape. I’ve often been curious though, if that spare tire can actually be removed by a mere mortal. It looks like a fine “out of the box” packaging solution, but it also looks like I’d tear apart a bunch of engine components while I dragged it out.
Danno, I can attest to the fact that you can get the spare tire out of there (or a similar Subaru engine compartment) without ripping out a bunch of impossible-to-find parts. Here’s my old ’88 RX Turbo 5-speed sedan engine compartment.
1/4 million miles and they still think it’s worth $20k? I’m definitely going to get back into flipping cars for profit if this can bring that kind of money
“Nicest one left”
Can we throw that on the same pile as “survivor”, “time capsule” for journalistic crutches…
There’s a boat load of these in the PNW, and Norcal without rust.
Added feature: remove the two rear seats and the mounting frame accommodates a 1/4-barrel of beer.
With tariffs a big deal these days, don’t forget this BRAT is a result of the LBJ’s 1964 “chicken tax” which imposed a 25% tariff on (among other things) light trucks. So Subaru put those two plastic seats in the back, which changed the classification from light truck to passenger car. Tariff Engineering!
This one is really nice! But it needs an American Flag paint job so Joy can drive it around with Darnell, Dodge and Earl, Jr.
Lovely looking Subaru. Although I was too young at the time to drive a car, I remember when these were offered. I don’t get why these tariffs even existed for certain cars.