Where did all the BRATs go? Did they finally grow up to be polite Outbacks?
It’s been a while since I’ve come across one, but here is one I found this August. Looking at this picture makes me pine for the long summer days and balmy evenings, but enough of that. In three weeks, the days will start getting longer; something to live for.
Back to the BRAT. Yes, they’re getting quite scarce, both the gen1 and gen2 versions. But if there’s one to be found, Oregon is as likely as anywhere, as it’s been Subaru country here for decades. And the Outback is the best selling passenger car in the state.
Sadly, this one is missing its rear-facing seats in the bed.
Why the seats out in the open? Simple: to get around the infamous chicken tax. Since the BRAT couldn’t exactly have its integral bed added in the US to get around the 25% tax, Subaru bolted in a couple of lawn chairs. Presto! The BRAT was no truck; it was an SUV! Are those helmets on the models in the back? Right…as if.
The BRAT (which ostensibly stands for Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter) made its presence first known for the MY 1978. And, yes, its arrival was duly noted; how could it not?
Actually, it’s creation wasn’t nearly as wacky as it might seem now. In fact, it was a rather clever move, and one that would pioneer a whole category: the ElCamino/Ranchero mini-me, but with a twist. By 1980, VW released its Rabbit-based pickup, and in 1982, Chrysler got into the crowded pool with the Dodge Rampage. Arriving in the depths of the second energy crises, these little utes seemed like a rather brilliant idea. That is, until gas prices started falling like a stone. By 1982, the VW’s tooling was shipped to Yugoslavia, and a year later or so, the Rampage just went off in a huff.
Under the hood thrums a 1.6L version of the ur-Subaru boxer: with overhead valves and no head gasket issues. These old Subaru engines developed quite rep for themselves, in a good way. A 1.8L version soon followed.
The little stick shift to activate the four wheel drive can be seen poking out from under the radio. This was of course the key difference between the BRAT and the other little utes like the VW and Rampage. The BRAT was surprisingly capable off-road.
And there’s the inevitable Forester photo-bombing. The Subaru story is a remarkable one, and the BRAT is one of the more surprising chapters along the way.
There is a Gen 1 Brat with a camper shell I see occasionally in Vernon TX and a Gen. 2 on I-20 in Tye TX. Someday I’ll get some pics.
And the first pic has an Outback in the background….And the second pic has a Corolla All-Trac, those are very thin on the ground too.
There are still a few BRAT’s around here as well, but mostly second generation ones. Very interesting little beasts.
Good catch and I like the angry face this swell looking BRAT has. I suspect it is a barn fine since the front plate expired in 2012, the BRAT is not covered in Moss, and it has a dealer plate.
One of the interesting features about the BRAT was that in two-wheel drive, it was front-wheel drive. When you engaged 4WD you engaged the rear wheels. I believe that was unique back then.
The Dodge Rampage and VW Rabbit Pickup were FWD only.
My brother-in-law in Pennsylvania had a Gen 1 BRAT, bought used. I don’t know whether he ever had the two seats in the bed but I never saw them.
It was finally done in by Rustbuggus Pennsylvanius. Pulling away from a toll booth on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, he had the distinct and alarming feel of the rear axle tearing loose from its mounts. Exit BRAT…the pick-your-pockets Pennsylvania vehicle inspection ripoff had failed to spot the problem a mere six weeks earlier.
Love these early Subaru’s. 3 weeks ago, in King City (a retirement community just outside of Tigard) I saw a 1984 4X4 GL Turbo wagon, in showroom condition. Caught me by surprise, no time for pics. But will be on the lookout for it. As I mentioned before, I had a ’83 GL 2WD wagon, and my brother had a ’84 GL 4×4 wagon he bought new. And I drove a 84 Turbo wagon when I worked at the lemon orchard, oops meant used car lot.
I live just across the state line north of you. I had an ’83 GL 2WD wagon in yellow.
I remember both generations of Subaru Brat. I was too young to drive, but I remember thinking “this is my idea of what a small truck should be.
Great article on an unusual vehicle. To me the rear seats with the handles along side always looked like they were ready to blast off out of the bed.
Sadly, some unfortunate souls did…They don’t call that a “rumble tumble” seat for nothing. 🙁
I haven’t seen a Brat in probably at least 15 years, but I did see a yellow early 80s wagon the other day on a trailer.
I fondly remember seeing one of these at the dealer for the first time and trying out the rear seats. I think even 11- or 12- year-old me knew it was a crazy idea, but fun. Wish I’d gotten to ride in one when it was moving, though.
I’m pretty sure that most BRATs had the rear seats removed fairly soon after delivery. No one with any sense would ever want to ride back there more than once; for one thing there was no safety equipment whatsoever. For another thing, weather protection was limited to what you were wearing. Plus, given the small size of the trucklet, removing the seats was the only way to have much usable space in the bed.
I’ve ridden in the rear seats of a BRAT – terrifying experience to say the least. A co-worker had a fairly good condition 1st generation BRAT back in the late 80s – she traded it in on a Mustang GT convertible. Guess she was jealous of the rear seat passengers in the BRAT getting all the fresh air to themselves!
I think the 2 reasons that there are not many BRATs left is because
1. they really were not popular here so there were not that many to begin with
and
2. Rust resistance was not something that Japanese car makers had perfected yet. The early Subaru, Mazda, Honda, Datsun/Nissan and Toyota cars/trucks could rust out in areas of the USA with next to no water/snow.
I used to see these in VGC in all the Los Angeles area Pick-A-Part Junk Yards, almost always with the rear seats still in them, decent paint and upholstery .
I too thought they were cute and sized ” Just Right ” but I also always had plenty of other vehicles and so never bought one, now they’re almost all gone even here in almost doesn’t rust So. Cal. =8-( .
-Nate
Grow up? Yes.
But they grew more obnoxious, with more doors, and became the Subaru BAJA. 😛
Now, this concept is more what the new BRAT should have turned out to be, instead of the BAJA.
I like it, sign me up.
Hey, in Israel it was legal to carry 8 people in the back on folding longitudinal benches, provided you had a canopy (which in the case of an accident provided no protection whatever).
There you go
I can’t remember when I last saw a first-gen Brumby (as these were called in Australia), but a family friend had one for probably 15 years, partly because as a 4wd it could get away without snow chains more often on ski trips.
On the home-made bumper side of things, my grandfather had one on a Suzuki pickup made from a piece of rail line! It was much lighter 19th-century type rail though, so not completely ridiculous just well and truly over the top. He would ruggedize his utes and motorbikes for use on the farm.
I’ve ridden in the back of his Brumby, not over 40-ish mph though. Mostly in the farm paddocks, but back then there wasn’t a specific law against doing so on the road.