This 1979 Subaru BRAT GL was sold new in Texas and remained with its original owner for a total of 43 years. In 2004, it was placed in storage until it was purchased in 2022 by the seller, who carried out a refurbishment that was completed in 2024. The work involved machining the cylinder heads for the 1.6-liter flat-four, replacing the clutch for the four-speed manual transaxle, performing a repaint in blue with white graphics, and refreshing the cabin with blue vinyl upholstery and plaid accents. The seller kept it in New Mexico for the majority of their ownership and listed it on BaT in April 2025, and they recently relocated it to North Carolina. Other details include a single-range transfer case, a front brush guard, a roll bar, 13″ steel wheels, and bed-mounted jump seats. This BRAT is now offered again with a North Carolina title.

In 2024, the body was disassembled and stripped and the engine and transaxle were removed before it was repainted in blue with white graphics. Other exterior equipment includes a white-painted front bumper that holds a brush guard as well as a bed-mounted roll bar, mud flaps, and a sliding rear window.

The bed retains the rear-facing seats fitted to class the BRAT as a passenger car, which allowed Subaru to circumvent high import taxes on utility vehicles.

The white-finished 13″ steel wheels wear Subaru-branded center caps and are mounted with 165/80 Forceum tires that were installed under current ownership. Braking is handled by power-assisted front discs and rear drums.

The bucket seats were reupholstered in blue vinyl with plaid inserts in 2022, and insulation material has been applied to the floor. The door panels are color-coordinated, Subaru-branded mats line the footwells, and the interior is further appointed with a push-button AM/FM radio, a rear window defogger, and manually operated locks and windows. A carpeted mat covers the cracked dash.

The blue-finished two-spoke steering wheel frames a replacement gauge cluster that contains a 120-mph speedometer, a tachometer, auxiliary gauges, and a cluster of warning lights. The replacement five-digit odometer shows 61k miles, while the removed cluster displayed in the prior gallery shows 45k miles. Approximately 500 miles have been added under current ownership. Total mileage is unknown.

The 1.6-liter EA-71 flat-four was factory equipped with a two-barrel carburetor, and it produced 67 horsepower and 81 lb-ft of torque when new. It has been fitted with a Crane Cams Fireball XR3000 electronic ignition module. The cylinder heads were machined in 2022, at which time a valve job was carried out and the water pump, head gaskets, and multiple seals were changed. The fuel tank was refreshed by Moyer’s Gas Tank Renu in 2023, and other work then comprised replacing the fuel pump and fuel lines.

Power is sent to the front or all four wheels through a four-speed manual transaxle and a single-range transfer case. The clutch and pressure plate were replaced in 2022, and the transaxle seal was replaced the following year. A leak from the latter is noted.