What Happened to the Infamous Subaru BRAT?

The Subaru BRAT was never a bestseller, but it still had quite a following in the ‘70s and 80’s. Despite its discontinuation, the BRAT is a beloved favorite of many gearheads to this day.
Written by Hannah DeWitt
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Nowadays,
Subaru
makes a lot of great SUVs that are popular for outdoorsy people, but not that long ago, Subaru actually was building trucks. The Subaru BRAT was a small and infamous truck that Subaru started building in the ‘70s. However, it never rose to popularity in that era
Despite that, the Subaru BRAT has become an infamous and notable car in Subaru's history, and here's a look at what happened to it.

The origins of the Subaru BRAT and what its name means

Back in the ‘70s, smaller cars were what people wanted, and Subaru saw an opportunity. According to
MotorTrend
, back in those days, there was a lot of demand for smaller trucks. That's why Subaru decided it was a good idea to build the BRAT in the first place.
The BRAT, which stood for Bi-Drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter, was based on the Leone, a compact car that was eventually replaced by the Impreza. Subaru was also building this car in Japan, and then exporting the BRAT to the countries that it was sold in.
This little Subaru became a cult hit, but not exactly for the reasons truck fans may expect.
Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
No spam · No long forms · No fees
Find insurance savings

A look at the specs and details of the Subaru BRAT

MORE: Subaru Recalls Ascent, Legacy, and Outback Models Over Potential Transmission Failure
The BRAT debuted in 1978 with a 1.6-liter H-4, and a few years later, Subaru gave it a 1.8-liter H-4 engine instead. The original BRAT's 1.6-liter only got 67 horsepower and 81 lb-ft of torque, and the 1.8-liter engine only got 73 horsepower and 94 lb-ft of torque. In the ‘80s, Subaru offered a turbocharged version of the engine which made 95 horsepower and 123 lb-ft of torque.
These low horsepower numbers were not that impressive, but that didn't stop the BRAT from having some famous customers. For example, Ronald Reagan owned a 1978 BRAT, and he owned it until 1998 when he donated it.
The most interesting thing about the BRAT, however, has to do with its classification. It's a truck, and the U.S. government said it was a truck. But since Subaru was importing the BRAT into the U.S., this meant that there was a huge 25% tariff on the truck.
This was due to the so-called "chicken tax," and it's the same reason why people can't buy a Toyota Hilux in America. Subaru got around the chicken tax by simply installing two rear-facing seats on the truck bed. That allowed the BRAT to legally be a sedan, and thus, there was only a 2.5% tariff on it.

Why was the Subaru BRAT killed off?

MORE: The 2022 Ford Maverick Offers Better Fuel Economy Than Some Sedans
Just like most other cars that get discontinued, the BRAT simply never sold that well. Subaru sold the BRAT between 1978 and 1987, and in those nine years, Subaru only sold about 100,000 units. Americans wanted bigger trucks like the
ever-popular Ford F-150
, and smaller trucks like the BRAT simply weren't competitive. 
The BRAT may have died many decades ago, but its cult status lives on. There are quite a few BRAT fans, and BRATs that are in good condition can still sell for tens of thousands of dollars. 

Compact trucks need insurance

If you're thinking about buying a Subaru BRAT for yourself, you should also be thinking about how you're going to insure it.
Jerry
has an experienced and friendly team of agents who can help you save money on your car insurance without sacrificing coverage. 
And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price. 
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
Try Jerry

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings