It’s hard to believe that 1985 was almost four decades ago, it seems like yesterday to me. This 1985 Subaru XT GL-10 Turbo was pretty futuristic for 1985, back when the top-selling car in the U.S. was the boxy Chevy Cavalier. The seller has this red rocket (not in speed, but looks?) listed here on eBay in San Diego, California, and the suggested opening bid price is $7,500, which nobody has clicked on yet.
I had to do a double-take when I ran across this listing, as we saw a very similar-looking car here on Barn Finds back in November of 2021 – but that one had AWD. Yes, this car is front-wheel-drive only. The odd part is, I think that other non-running, not-as-nice car sold for $10,500. Subaru made the XT from 1985 to 1991 as a two-door four-passenger vehicle only, but as far as engines and drive system configurations, there were a few options. The seller says that this has been a one-family-owned car since it was new and there are no issues with it.
These unusual wedge-shaped cars came with either 4WD with a button on the top of the shift knob to activate the 4WD system or front-wheel-drive. They all came with Subaru’s boxer engine, in either four-cylinder or six-cylinder sizes, and a turbo model was available with the four-cylinder. They were known as the Alcyone in Japan and the Vortex in New Zealand and Australia, and I’m assuming in Tasmania, where our own Mr. Adam Clarke hails from. This car has 108,900 miles, according to the seller.
This example looks fantastic overall, but you can see some fading, wear, and very thin spots on the front fabric seats. We will see the day when politicians actually do reach across the aisle before you’d find replacement fabric for these seats, unfortunately. Or fortunately – depending on if a person follows politics or not. Give me a quirky Subaru over politics any day. The back seat looks perfect in its heavy-duty vinyl material.
The engine in this XT is Subaru’s EA-82, a 1.8-liter boxer-four, which with the turbo had between 111 and 115 horsepower, and 134 lb-ft of torque. It’s the same engine that I had in my painfully rare 1988 Subaru RX Turbo AWD five-speed sedan, which I never should have sold. Hagerty is at $4,000 for a #3 good car and $7,800 for a #2 excellent front-wheel-drive example. This car appears to be between those two values/conditions to me, what do you think?
Perfect car to add to your ’77 Datsun 200SX,.Pontiac Aztek,
& Nissan Juke collection.
I would give my left “walnut” to own one of these. You have to feel the Love.
I have never been fond of the Subaru XT. However this one with front wheel drive does not have the failure prone air suspension and adjustable damping struts. I actually see similarities to a period Citroen with the control pods and out there styling. It even has the Subaru version of the Porsche pasha interior. That fabric is reproduced and would look good in that car.
Thanks for the seat fabric info, alphasud! I did a quick search and didn’t come up with anything.
That interior makes me miss my childhood. Anytime I saw one of these driving down the road I’d stop and say “wow look at that thing!” I guess I still do actually, not very often anymore though.
I remember seeing one around here recently,but
I can’t remember exactly where.
Another one of those cars you don’t mistake for
any other.
Love it. Always wanted to own one but never did pull the trigger on one. I remember in the mid-80’s one of the magazines…R&T or C&D had a list of the top 10 cars and the XT6 was one of them. I think the Turbo 4 is a perfect option
I never liked many Subarus, the BRZ is OK, though this is probably the least ugly of the bunch. But the steering wheel alone is enough to push me away.
This car looks like the next evolution of the TR7 design ethos…
Bookends, at least on my tablet today. Initial Subaru offering, the 360(?), and then this.
And yet Subaru survived, yea flourishes.
Well I would be concerned about if the timing belt and water pump was replaced before driving it home but otherwise nice car
Is it an interference engine?
I drive a Fuel injection 1.8 every day and have the turbo as well. The turbo version is definitely more fun.
Seems all my turbo 1.8 needed the head gasket at 90k. So i would guess this thing had its belts and head gasket unless someone really old ladied it.
I think this is a lot of money, but if its really that nice , its worth it.
Oh wow you sold the RX! I e only seem One, it was white. I missed on the 83 turbo Wagon blue with blue gut, dig dash
I loved this era, how about the starrion/conquest, velour interiors, and other cheesy things, i loved the dig dashes , they looked like they were made by Atari
This car was designed back when Subaru was trying the be the Japanese Citroen. They were trying to appeal to your inner weirdo.
This is an improvement over the earlier version that had weirdly shaped windows.
I think you’re thinking of the later SVX.
NO SUBARU IS UGLY ! EVER ! END OF STORY !
what’s wrong with you people ?! feel some LOVE.
Auction update: the opening bid price has been lowered to $5,500.
Auction update, and it’s a head-scratcher. This one ended at $5,600 and no sale, after the seller appeared to lower the opening bid price to $5,500.
Remember when these came out, a work buddy & I were seriously talking about buying one. But since we used our cars for work, they were not very practical for that kind of thing. Or at least we thought !
‘Looks like one of them there spaceships.’ Can’t find that Subaru tv commercial.