1980 Subaru BRAT GL

Developed at the request of the president of Subaru of America, the BRAT (Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter) followed the trend set by the Chevy El Camino and Ford Ranchero as half-truck, half-car. On paper, and due to the rear-facing bed-mounted jumpseats, the BRAT was technically a car, which got Subaru out of an excessive light truck tariff versus that of passenger cars imported from Japan. Underneath its coupe-utility body is the heart of the Subaru Leone station wagon. Under the hood is the Subaru EA flat-four and in the GL model represented here, a dual-range four-wheel drive system. Although humble in power output, the BRAT, like any Subaru, is meant to go places the average car wouldn’t dare.