Over the last few days, I’ve begun digging back into my old Subaru files on the hunt for a specific part I can now use on another project. In doing so, I remembered how much I loved these funky 4WD rigs, and how much character they had before becoming the company of Foresters and Outbacks. Subaru had such an opportunity to lean into niche products like the BRAT pickup shown here on craigslist, which may be one of the best in existence and will cost nearly $20,000 to buy if you’re hot for it. This era of Subaru is clearly in the rear view mirror, but if you can grab a survivor like this one, you can relive the glory days of flat 4s and wagon wheels.
Nostalgia is a powerful drug, and cars like the BRAT bring it back in waves for previous owners. I have to imagine that if you owned one of these as either a new or used car, you had a lifestyle that supported it. As a kid, it’s just plain silly and fun, with your buddies risking life and limb in the bed-mounted jump seats. You can jump it off mounds of dirt, take it on a ski weekend, rip around the woods, and just plain beat on it. Not this one, of course, it’s much too nice – but this is why survivors like our subject car are so remarkable. These machines practically begged for abuse, and even if they were looked after, rust was a formidable opponent.
Fun fact about the spare tire in the engine bay. That was actually a safety measure, designed to reduce the impact of a front-end crash. The EA-81 flat-four engine produced 73 horsepower and 94 lb-ft of torque, so it was not overly powerful. But when you drive a vehicle that is just plain fun to be in, the horsepower number ceases to matter. With a four-speed manual and dual range transfer case, the Subaru came with the goods to handle off-road excursions and certainly opened the door to upgrades that would make it even more formidable in the rough stuff. Again, you wouldn’t use this example in that way, so driving it to shows and possibly on the beach will likely be as wild as it gets.
And therein lies the paradox: if you can’t use a 4WD vehicle as intended, does it begin to lose some relevance? Online auction results seem to suggest enthusiasts have no issue paying big money for the best example they can find, with top tier models all selling for between $15,000 and $30,000. Of course, there are plenty of examples that sit solidly in the sub-$10,000 range, and those examples usually have torn up interiors, some rust, and high Miles. The Subarus of old are some of the quirkiest vehicles ever made, and we’re always happy to see BRATs like this one have somehow survived unscathed. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Barney for the find.
As with every gettogether, there’s always seems to be a couple BRAT’s that show up and here they are at the BF gathering..
Two BRAT’s of different ages in the same week, both on the West Coast. Have to say this one is much nicer and you’re paying for it accordingly but you don’t get the extra seats here (yes, I know, the fanny tax was done when this model was sold).
Very clean, considerably low mileage for this vintage and no rust!
If you’re active or retired military and decide to travel to go get this, Fort Lewis-McChord has SOME nice visitor quarters..
I’ll second what Nevadahalfrack said. This one looks fantastic. NO RUST is two words everyone on Barnfinds likes to heat with any vehicle we see. What a clean interior too, and under the hood too is simply amazing. This looks like it came right off a Subaru ised car lot in 1988. And seeing 2 Brats this close to each other time wise too is great. Of this were mine ( and I’m wishing it were) I’d keep it in a garage for sure and out of the salt and snow. Nice one here Jeff. Thanks!!!
Love it! Always liked these and the Rabbit model too, mini Rancharo’s :-) Why didn’t Ford get in on it?
Ranger was plenty popular, my guess?
If you like a small pickup truck, don’t forget the Mini… 1/4 ton rated.
https://www.reddit.com/r/classicminis/comments/74hlxk/father_and_son_my_1964_south_african_austin_mini/
Not sure why the idle is so high in the Craigslist pic. No explanation.
Very nice. Although I was way too young at the time to drive a car, I remember the Subaru BRAT.
Here is another one for about $17,000 less at current bid. Should allow plenty of room to fix whatever problems may exist.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/327024467359
We featured that one too.
Is it just me or does it look like Paint mismatch on the Passenger side door?
This is the cleanest Subaru Brat that I have ever seen. The bed looks like it has never had anything in it. Hope this one stays in this shape and goes to a good home.
I’ve often wondered about that spare getting so hot that it pops. Is that a real thing?
I don’t know if would actually pop but, with the temperature differences it may have trouble maintaining pressure.
I feel like we our talking to ourselves… AFAIR, I took my lithium this morning…
😂 LOL