The Subaru BRAT

Thanks to Ed for the photos!

In 2018 I became a proud Subaru owner, am getting interested in the history of the brand.  Certainly one of the most interesting off all Subaru models is the Subaru BRAT. The BRAT can only be classified as a cheat, as it was marketed as a car to satisfy U.S. government regulators but in actuality was far more a truck. BRAT, a contorted acronym for Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter. Introduced in 1979, Subaru of America's president Harvey Lamb stated "We spent with almost nine months coming up with the name." In Australia they called this vehicle the Brumby, an Aussie moniker for a wild horse, also a bi-directional re rational all-terrain transporter.

The vehicle was a cheat because it avoided a 1963 tariff on European trucks of 25%. LBJ imposed that tax  after a controversy ensured over American chicken sent to Europe, where their farmers politically pushed back.  The BRAT looked like a truck, but if two plastic seats were shoe-horned in the back along with a carpet, you could call it a car! The seats were welded in, but who was to stop on owner from using sawzall to free up the cargo bed. Essentially the company said "we are a car, according to us."

1984 Subaru BRAT
Engine- Flat 4, 1782 cc, 72 hp, top speed 84 mph.
Price when new -- $5599.