Although late to the “making a truck out of a car” – or in most cases, out of a station wagon – game, Subaru’s BRAT is certainly a unique compact pickup alternative. This 1979 Subaru BRAT was sent to us by a Barn Finds reader who found it here on eBay in Portland, Oregon. After 32 bids the current high bid is $3,000 on this no reserve auction.
BRAT is an acronym for “Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter.” If you were confused as to its utility, hopefully that clarifies it. It was developed in response to the success of other small Japanese trucks in the US but had many unique features, including: bed-mounted rear jump seats, optional T-tops, and all were 4×4 equipped.
The bright red paint looks like it still has life left in it. The seller describes the exterior as being in “original and good solid shape.” There’s no mention of rust and without high-resolution photos it’s difficult to tell if there are any corrosion issues that will need to be addressed. There are numerous – and rather large – dents on several panels, noticeably on the driver fender, passenger door, top of the tailgate, and passenger bed side. It’s hard to miss that camper shell and it’s an interesting one – high-top and rests partially on the cab. I’d prefer the bed-mounted rear-facing jump seats, but that shell makes a unique-looking vehicle even more unique.
The interior looks as 1979-y as any interior could – high-back black vinyl bucket seats with red plaid inserts and woodgrain accents on the dash. Overall the interior is acceptable. There’s some minor wear on the carpet and more concerning wear on the driver seat bolsters, but nothing that wouldn’t allow this BRAT to be ready for driver duty.
Under the hood is a 1.6L flat-four engine…and the spare tire. I assume that spare tire mounting was merely a function of using available space. The four-speed manual transmission is shifted via a floor-mounted shifter. The seller says this BRAT is “mechanically stock” and “runs and drives good.”
A former co-worker and I joked about me buying a BRAT for daily-driver use, but I really believe the BRAT would be a perfect vehicle if you didn’t have the need to carry passengers. That, combined with it’s unique looks, would make a fun car to use everyday or save for cruise nights. Do you think the BRAT covers enough bases to make it both fun and practical?
I’ve never owned a BRAT but did once own a 1978 Subaru DL sedan with the same 1600cc engine, 5-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive, AM radio, and dealer-installed air conditioning.
This is a pushrod engine with a gear-driven camshaft, so no belts or even chains to worry about, and the design predates Subaru’s head gasket problems by a good many years. Not much power, but bulletproof. These are equipped with breaker-point ignition and did not have a catalytic converter. At the time, Subaru used an emission system called “SEEC-T” which used exhaust pulses to pull fresh air into a thermal reactor to reduce emissions, so there’s not much in the way of 1970s type addon emission gadgetry.
Biggest problem with these, like most 1970s Japanese cars, is rust, but this one sure looks clean aside from some dents!
Ahh memories. Had a 79 GL coupe that I bought new. Same engine, five speed, and spare tire under the hood! Fun car to drive. As AMC Guy stated no catalytic converter so the car could used leaded gas that was still available then.
Looks like someone may have gotten a decent vehicle with the sale price just under $4k.
Looks like fun! Appropriate name where the parent’s of some of my contemporaries bought these for their Brat kids.
cover is a plus for bed survival. An ugly one (I like the lower style). Asa ‘wagon guy’ (40, 50 yrs) I hada beige model in the ’90s (an 80s model). That color was ubiquitous for the subie round here, same A/C housing (shape/color) & under-hood spare. Isn’t that a maintenance item? Change it out every 50K mi as they get baked there?
I would daily the heck outa this one (but they don’t sell em for 3, 5K $). Get rid of the weird frnt bumper, a step’n tow on the rear, insert the lill side step they had & source the cyclops light? Find the lower bed cover or make up a tonneau? Might even put an ATV sno plow on it for the flat 1 lane 1/4 mi paved drive here?
8^0
Another BRAT bit of trivia is that it was designed by Alex Tremulis, the man best known for the Tucker ’48.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/people/alex-tremulis-tucker-design-tip-mad-genius-iceberg/
Tremulis was a consultant to Subaru and also designed the 100 mpg Subaru X100 Gyronaut.
http://www.rongineer.com/x100.html
I had a 1978 model Brat. Loved it only got stuck in a snowstorm once and we picked up the back by hand and got out. One of my favourite cars!!
had and 81 wagon and 82 brat,, loved them,, go wheel in with the hi/ low range it would go about anywhere you dared to take them..the best part 2 people could get it unstuck also,,heyhey
In Australia the same model was known as the Subaru Brumby.
Best day of my life was when I SOLD my Subaru. Money pit, money pit. Sure, it would climb a grade like a Puma cat, haul four people in the mud, and get you there.
But, it just cost too much. It all started with the head gasket$…and never stopped, until I sold.
Remember: “Cars go up in value every day, until the day you buy one!”
i just bought an 84 brat. t tops. 1.8 liter. runs and drives. im just going into high school and it is awesome. it is the second generation and looks slightly less cool but still pretty great. its a four speed and has 2wd high, 4wd high, and 4wd low. does anybody know if the first generations like this onne had 4 low?
Dr. Seals, Huxley Environmental College came up with the cheap rear seats (cut the legs off some fiberglass school chairs) idea in order for them to be imported as a passenger vehicle rather than a truck and so avoid the high import tax on trucks. The seats were usually the first modification (pulled out) for the new buyer.
I have a 1979 subaru brat 84,000 miles with the chairs in the back and the topper . I’m going to sell it because of health issues. It can be 30 below zero here in montana and this car will start.
@Greg Wood – Please consider listing your Brat here on Barn Finds!
Did you sell this car? I’d be interested if it’s still available.