Along with the word patina, using the word “iconic” usually draws out a few groans, but there is probably no more ironic… I mean.. well, you know what I mean.. vehicle from Subaru than a 1986 Subaru BRAT. Or any Subaru BRAT. Or, Brumby, if you’re from Australia. This good-looking project is located in Canby, California and it can be found on eBay with a current bid price of $1,500. Some of you may know that former President Ronald Reagan had a 1978 Subaru BRAT at his California ranch. As far as testimonials go, I don’t know if it gets much better than that.
The BRAT, or “Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter” was imported to the US until 1987 but other markets got them until 1994. The seller says that this one also comes with the original wheels, that’s good news. A famous feature of the 1980-1982 BRAT models was an available third-eye passing light, known as the cyclops light. This car, of course, doesn’t have that, bummer. I can’t believe that as a decades-long Subaru fanatic I haven’t owned a BRAT yet. I prefer the previous generation cars but this 1986 model, one year before they stopped importing them to the US, is a much nicer car than the older ones are. The later BRAT models are actually somewhat normal to drive if you can even remotely consider a cut-off Subaru wagon-turned-into-a-pickup as being normal.
That’s basically what these cars were, a Leone wagon, in this case, a GL with quad square headlights, but the rear portion was turned into a pickup bed. Subaru wanted to compete in the light truck market and designing a small pickup wasn’t in the cards for such a small car maker. Also the “chicken tax” imposed a 25% tax on imported pickups so Subaru added two jump seats and carpet to the back of the BRAT and it somehow was accepted as being a four-seater and not a pickup. How that worked is beyond me, but it did. The jump seats went away after 1985 so this example doesn’t have them but it does have a nice topper/cap on the back, I’d much rather have that myself. The jump seats are basically only for show anyway, most insurance companies make owners sign an affidavit that they won’t let anyone ride in the rear jump seats.
The interior looks a little scary but upholstery can be fixed, it’s the dash top that I’m worried about. And any miscellaneous little pieces, switches, knobs, etc. A junkyard is your new favorite place if you own a decades-old Subaru. There are a few underside photos and it looks relatively solid, at least for a Subaru. In fact, the seller says that it is a “2nd owner California Car No Rust”. It sure looks good but the rear portion of the driver’s side appears to be a different shade so I don’t know if that’s a former repaint or why that side would have faded differently.
Yes, the air cleaner was specifically formed about the spare tire which is supposed to be under the hood. Crazy stuff, that’s why I love Subarus. The seller mentions that this car was last “started 2 weeks ago has been used intermittently over the last 10 years for 6 mile round trips to Post Office.” This car has AC which will pull a few hp from the mix when you hit the go-fast pedal. Or, I should say, the go-medium pedal. With an EA-81 1.8L boxer-four and 73 hp it’s definitely more medium than fast. The seller says that it’s a 1,600 engine but I believe that this is a 1.8L/1,800cc engine. The EA-71 1.6L was used until 1980 on the BRAT. This looks like a great, hopefully, light project for a Subaru fanatic. Are there any of those out there? We know that Ronald Reagan was one.
I’m thinking where’s the bolted down bucket seats with grab bars in the truck bed!
You apparenly didn’t read the write-up. Scotty said, “The jump seats went away after 1985 so this example doesn’t have them…”. Just sayin’.
You mean the “death seats? Done away with in ’85.
If it was good enough for the Ol’ Gipper”, be good enough for me. ( took a lot of guts for a president of the United States, to openly admit he had a foreign car in the 80’s) These pop up from time to time out here in 4×4 country( Colorado) and I’ve been tempted. One of the few Asian cars I liked. Same thing, parts would make me nervous. And clearly, Asian seats were not designed for our American lard butts.
Great for dump runs on saturdays at the camp. 15 mile fun runs.
I had bought a 1981 new back then. I used it for my winter go skiing car and a parts hauler for the Triumphs & RX7s I raced back then. Fun little car. Never did get alot of use out of the bed bucket seats…
What! No friends wanted to ride on those plastic bed seats all the way to the ski resort?
Sweet looking Subaru Brat. I’ve always liked old-school Subarus. I hope this goes to a good owner.
Nice one with two hot chicks in the back as it it is getting tapped over and over again in the rear bumper in a beer drinking on the highway scene in the movie Hooper.
I had the pleasure of owning one of these – it was my daily driver for about 10 years. I had no shell on the back, so by opening the sliding rear window and flipping the outer edge of the T-top to the open position, the airflow was really nice – I had good A/C, but rarely used it. The issue with the paint may have been caused by being parked where one section of the body got more direct sunlight, as in a carport or next to a building. Red cars tend to fare worst in this regard. Being able to shift into 4wd worked out well in the winter, or if I wanted to do a bit of exploring. For anyone looking for a replacement engine, there were several companies bringing in Japanese take-out engines. Japan’s smog laws required the removal and replacement of the engine at what many of us would consider “just broken in” miles- if I recall correctly, it was at about 25,000 kilometers, which works out to just over 15,540 miles….. One quick trick for spotting these engines is if there is a sticker on the rocker cover instructing NOT to adjust the valves. US market engines had solid lifters, but the Japanese market engines had hydraulic lifters. The first thing to look at after the oil and coolant is the air filter – if there is oil in the bottom of the filter housing, that is a sign of a worn engine.
These little buggers can be a lot of fun, and they have more legroom than the earlier body style.
yeah, gone – for $1500 musta gone to a flipper?
where’s Canby? Oh, up near Lassen & Klamath, almost to Nevada.
I found a complete set up of the third-eye passing light at a junk yard.
I could probably find it if somebody is interested. I does work.