What is the Subaru BRAT in the US?

The Subaru BRAT in the US
The Subaru BRAT, which stands for “Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter,” was a small pickup trucklet produced by Subaru. It was sold in the United States from 1978 to 1987. The BRAT was designed to circumvent the “chicken tax,” a 25-percent import tariff on pickup trucks not built in the USA. Subaru added rear-facing jump seats in the bed of the BRAT, allowing it to be classified as a passenger car and qualify for a lower 2.5 percent tariff .
The BRAT was based on the Subaru Leone platform and featured all-wheel drive, making it suitable for off-road use. It had a unique design with a small cargo bed and rear-facing jump seats in the bed area. The jump seats were discontinued in the last few years of production, so finding a BRAT with intact jump seats is considered special.
Records indicate that approximately 100,000 Subaru BRAT pickup trucklets were sold in the US. However, due to their age and limited production, finding a well-preserved example can be challenging. The average retail price for a new BRAT was around $2,500, but today, prices for a used BRAT can range from $4,000 to $30,000.
The Subaru Baja eventually replaced the BRAT in Subaru’s lineup as a similar small pickup truck, but it had a different design and was produced in smaller numbers.
The BRAT has also made appearances in various media, including television shows like “My Name Is Earl” and movies like “Napoleon Dynamite”.
Overall, the Subaru BRAT holds a unique place in automotive history as a small, quirky pickup truck that was popular during its production years in the US.

How much is a Subaru BRAT worth?

A: The lowest recorded sale price was $4,000 for a 1986 Subaru Brat GL on Dec 22 2022. Q: What is the average sale price of a Subaru BRAT? A: The average price of a Subaru BRAT is $16,164.

Where was the Subaru BRAT sold?

The Subaru BRAT lived a short life in the United States, spanning the years of 1978-1987. Overseas markets in Europe, Latin America, New Zealand, and Australia imported it until 1994. Outside of the U.S., it was known as the 284, Brumby, Shifter, MV, and Targa.

What is another name for the Subaru BRAT?

The BRAT is also known as a Brumby, MV Pickup or Shifter depending on where it was sold. The vehicle was sold from 1978 until 1994.

How many Subaru BRATs are in the US?

How many Subaru BRATs were made? Records indicate that there were about 100k Subaru BRAT pickup trucklets sold in the US. Most of them became work trucks and, unfortunately, have since been left to waste away in junkyards or backyards.

Can you legally sit in the back of a Subaru BRAT?

In California, people can only legally ride in the cargo body of a pickup truck if there are seats and approved restraint systems. So basically, it’s illegal to ride in the body of a pickup truck because it violates the California seatbelt law.

What does BRAT stand for in Subaru?

The BRAT name was an acronym for Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter.

What vehicle replaced the Subaru BRAT?

The Subaru Baja
What replaced the Subaru BRAT? The Subaru Baja replaced the Subaru BRAT pickup. The Baja was also a pickup but had many comfort and capability enhancements over the BRAT.

What is a Scooby Subaru?

Our European neighbors like to identify their Subaru as “Scoobarus” and this was noted by a Subaru Forums user as a nod to Scooby-Doo: “It is an English thing, with roots in Cockney rhyming slang. The Impreza is considered a scrappy little car — scruffy in character.

When was the last Subaru BRAT made?

The Subaru BRAT, short for “Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter”, known outside Canada and the United States as the 284 in the United Kingdom, Brumby in Australia, and Shifter, MV, or Targa in other markets, was a pickup truck that was made by Subaru from 1978 until 1994.

What is the nickname for a Subaru driver?

Subie is the proper spelling according to the zillion enthusiasts and Subaru owners of Instagram and all the various hashtags.