Well-Optioned 4×4: 1982 Subaru BRAT
It’s sometimes challenging to focus on the car in question versus being distracted by what else the seller has in the background. The seller of this survivor-grade Subaru BRAT has both an enviable collection and garage space, in addition to a very respectable version of the Subaru El Camino. This is a well-optioned car with many of the hard-to-find parts still attached, and the seller notes a few rust spots to contend with. The BRAT runs and drives and seems like the type of vehicle you can enjoy as-is or make some improvements and flip later on. Find it here on craigslist near Seattle for $9,500.
The BRAT has been enjoying some new-found appreciation from the collector community over the last few years owing to its popularity at shows like RADWOOD. The seats in the truck bed, the decals, and four-wheel-drive make it a package that almost every enthusiast can appreciate. The fact that this one hails from the Pacific Northwest makes it right at home in its surroundings, as there are few places more suited for BRAT ownership than the Washington and Oregon countrysides. This one sports original paint (obviously) which is weathered in places, but I wouldn’t bother making it pretty.
The seller notes he has put $1,500 into the BRAT to make it road-worthy including new axles but doesn’t detail what else he improved. It sounds like the Subaru came into his possession in pretty decent shape, with working crank windows and good glass all around; the rare and still functional spotlight hidden behind the emblem in the center of the grill; both T-tops intact; the headliner still staying up, and other signs of careful ownership over the years. Looking at the truck further, the rust really does appear to be surface-level only, and the seller’s disclosure is typical for areas that don’t see a lot of rot. Here in New England, surface rust is standard equipment – we don’t mention it in our ads! He does note the dash has a crack, which you can see here.
The standard-issue Subaru rally wheels are present and accounted for, and would look even better with a fresh coat of white paint (don’t cover up the chrome trim rings, though.) The “4WD” badges are still present on the lower quarters but the one on the rear tailgate looks to have gone missing. Incredibly, the jump seats in the truck bed still have Subaru-branded headrests still attached, a nice find as those go missing a lot. The tires sound good but old, with the seller noting strong tread but certainly not new. Overall, this looks like an easy way into classic ownership, but I feel the seller’s ask is a touch high for a BRAT with some rough edges. He’s not far off, but hopefully, a good offer will bring this 80s oddball home.
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Comments
Being that this in a state boardering Canada, could this have originally been sold there? I ask because of the
light in the center grille. I know that is where Subaru added a DRL for meeting the requirements for the Canadian market…
Our old Suby of the same vintage had it too, and it was from Washington.
DRLs weren’t required in Canada until circa 1989-90.
I think the repairs just exceeded the value. For a spell, I had considered a BART[sic], but when I saw what the upper midwest winters did to them, I stayed away. Many I saw had rust within just a few years, and not some surface rust, major structural rust and very few survived. This was a great concept, as previously 4 wheel drives were big gas hogs, when this was all that was really needed. They weren’t for rock crawling or drift busting, just added traction to get you home. Living in snowy Wisconsin, I had considered( and owned) many types of 4x4s, but ultimately stayed with American. Subaru wasn’t stupid, and I believe was the 1st Asian company to offer 4 wheel drive standard, and still does today. For many, it was this car that made folks buy Subarus for life. Our resident Asian car expert, Scotty G could shed “light” on the center headlight, and the rear jump seats qualified it as a car, for import tax, I think. Most seats went missing as they took up most of the cargo space. A rear camper top for these greatly increases their usefulness, but rare as hand signals today, I bet. It is a neat find, but a tad optimistic on the price, as usual.
I owned several over the years here in Alaska and wished I still did. They were really an incredible winter vehicle which I’ve had in the snow hood deep
I tried to buy a new one in the 80s but my credit wasn’t good enough. I was only 18 and not enough years of credit. Oh well. It was still cool.
You were lucky.
Assume the 356 in the background is part of the November rollover craze.
The top tailgate trim appears to be missing, as well as the driver’s side door mirror. Could be a good buy for the right person! GLWTS!! :-)
Rear view mirror is sitting in the glove box, hopefully they have the other missing items. Mileage is 190k with no mention of any work or rebuild.
Daytime lights became law in 89 in Canada, I have never seen one here with this light- or a pile of rust
Just do not FLIP it. Passengers in the bed will die for sure, driver and front seat passenger might just break necks and be paralized. Not a lot of strength in the roof structure.
Neat little 4X4.
It has been many years since i have seen one, high miles on this.
As a sube guy,this is nice-but high on the price.I have had many subes of this year and one had the cyklop light in the middle of grill. That was so neat that i almost keep it before i sold it. What I myself like is the next gen GL, Loyals wagons with 4wd.As a testement to how strong the are-this past august I missed a turn fo the highway and flew of a berm at 55mph the car came down on its nose that it pushed the motor into the fire wall,I finished with a double roll, landed on its wheels. I did the get out in seconds-thinking shit-now i got another project to fix. II shoved the door open and a walkaround quickly turned into a big time total. It was a 86 wagon and they are as square of a body as they get-Turned it into a barrel,only smashed the windshield rest of glass made it. A guy that was behind me say it all and said i was 20 ft in the air and was amazed was standing. People kept telling me to sit down-my answer words i cant say here but i was just pissed at what i did. Trust me,they are strong.
Lovely looking car. I remember when the Subaru Brat was on the market in the USA. I would’ve removed the jump seats in the bed and put a canopy, and use it as a pickup truck. Given its condition and rarity, I’d pay around the asking price of $9500. That would’ve left enough on hand for safety inspection and maintenance.
The center mount spotlight lamp was a cool feature that was put on Subarus during a certain time period, and had nothing to do with daytime running lights. If memory serves me correctly there is a switch on the dash in which a flap door opens up to allow that light to illuminate. It’s neat cool features such as this that makes these old Subarus cool.
Also when new, the owner would receive a neat vinyl case that held the extra key and a subaru branded keychain. I’m sure many got lost but they were always in a little pocket in the dash when i looked at then new at the dealership. Subarus also had a unique new car smell different from Honda, Toyota, or the domestics. Only the Mitsubishi captive imports for Chrysler had a unique new car smell.
You are correct, it’s the “Third Eye” or “Cyclops”. And honestly it’s cool as hell.
https://japanesenostalgiccar.com/subaru-third-eye-passing-lamp/
I worked in a Subaru delarship in the 80’s, and one like this came in with a burnt up trans and oil foaming in engine. The owner changed his oil and drained gear lube out of trans and then proceeded to add oil to engine. After stating that the issues started after oil change we figured out real quick what was wrong. These had 1.6 and 1.8 engines and after 78 they came with the cylinders cast in the block, cast iron sleeve aluminum block, this greatly improved the problems they had when they had removeable cylinders that you had to shim to make them seal to head
Without researching and IIRC the center light comes on with the headlights and steers around corners with the steering wheel.