Bizarre Car of the Week: 1978 Subaru BRAT - New York Daily News
All the way back in 1963, Germany was under the impression that the U. S. was dumping excess chicken on the poultry-starved European nation, so the Germans taxed it. In response, President Lyndon B. Johnson (if you need someone to blame) placed a... Meet the Subaru BRAT, or Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter, a 70s-tastic Baja pickup with plastic jump seats welded to the inside of the bed. Subaru released the BRAT in 1977 for the '78 model year per the request of Subaru of America. It was, however, a light pickup by design, so to skirt the tariff, Subaru welded rear-facing jump seats with jetpack-like handles to the bed, therefore classifying it as a passenger vehicle. While many BRAT owners simply removed the jump seats upon taking delivery, it remains one of the most unique automotive quirks, and the only time (that we know of) that a pickup has been legally fitted with rear-facing seats in the bed. While it only made about 70-horsepower stock, later models were available with a turbocharged engine that made closer to 100-hp. Despite its lack of power, the BRAT was a useful work truck, perfect for large property owners such as farmers or... Source: www.nydailynews.com
