Subaru BRAT was launched in 1978 as an attempt to target the growing pickup truck market, and while it never became as popular as the El Camino or the Ranchero, it rapidly became an icon that’s still surprisingly popular in some circles.
The BRAT was based on Subaru’s passenger cars but sported the typical truck bed, sporting a 4WD powertrain and a 1600cc engine with only 67 horsepower.
It wasn’t the most powerful truck on the market, but Subaru buyers weren’t necessarily interested in performance, as this isn’t what made the BRAT special. Its off-road capabilities were impressive, and Subaru installed a four-speed manual transmission fitted with a transfer case.
The BRAT also comes with an unusual two rear-facing seats in the bed area. Subaru installed handlebars to make them more secure for passengers using these seats, albeit the purpose was twofold. First, the company wanted to sidestep the import tax, which for pickup trucks was 25%; the two additional seats allowed Subaru to position the BRAT as a passenger car, paying a significantly lower 2.5% tax. Second, it increased the BRAT’s off-road appetite, allowing more people to travel in the truck even on bumpy terrain.
A first-year BRAT landed on eBay thanks to seller outlawjosies, who says he discovered the truck in a barn. The car still sports the original paint and comes with air conditioning, a new carburetor, and an electric fuel pump.
Its condition is obvious from the pics, but I can’t help but mention that the rust has already invaded the typical metal parts. This means you should inspect the BRAT thoroughly before making an offer, and you should put it on a lift to check the undersides. We don’t know how long the truck spent in storage, but it’s safe to assume we’re talking more than a decade, considering the rust invasion.
The engine department brings good news. The BRAT still has a working engine, and the owner explains that it runs and drives perfectly around his yard. The truck shouldn’t be considered roadworthy yet, but a working shape is fantastic news for anyone interested in giving a second chance to this otherwise iconic model.
I doubt that this Subaru will remain available for long, but the selling price could be a problem. The owner posted it on eBay with a reserve, and we don’t know how high the bidding must go to unlock it. For now, the only offer is $500, and it obviously didn’t trigger the reserve, so fingers crossed that more people discover it and join the battle.
Meanwhile, if you want to see this first-year BRAT live, you can find it in Freeport, Florida. You’ll need to move fast, as the auction site claims close to 60 people added the vehicle to their watchlists.