The Shitty Cars of Englewood #18: 1982 Subaru Brat M12 LRV replica
Halo players will enjoy this Subaru Brat M12 LRV replica
In the days before safety was invented the Subaru Brat was the car every fun loving youngster desired. Introduced in 1978, the Brat (which stood for “Bi-drive, Recreational, All-terrain Transporter), was not only a spunky lightweight 4-wheel drive pickup truck that tore up trails, it was a party car. The two rearward-facing molded-plastic jump seats in the bed meant that friends could be hauled along despite the Brat’s cab being teeny-tiny.
The marketing campaigns that supported the Brat were focused entirely on the fun and versatility of the vehicle. Brats were shown splashing along sandy beaches and bouncing along mountain roads with twenty-somethings leaning out the windows, long hair flowing in the breeze, waving and smiling. Some ads even depicted bikini-clad gals sunbathing in the back as the Brat was piloted.
It’s difficult to imagine any manufacturer offering a vehicle like the Brat in this day and age – a pickup with seats in the back for which a roll bar and seat harnesses were available as accessories but not as standard equipment. The Brat was a bit of head-scratcher even in the early 1980’s before the Consumer Product Safety Commission had become as powerful as it is today. Not surprisingly, there were Brat-related fatalities, causing Subaru’s parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, to get its ass sued off on numerous occasions. By 1985 the Brat was no longer available with jump seats, although the model its self survived until 1993.
The owner of this 1982 model has clearly invested some time and energy into making reflect his unique character and personality.
In a tribute to the United Nations Space Command, the owner has spray painted this rusty ‘Roo olive drab and added self-adhesive lettering the right side of the tailgate reading “UNSC”. If you are unfamiliar with the UNSC (like I was until just moments ago), it serves as humanity’s military, exploratory and scientific agency of the Unified Earth Government – not in real life, of course, but in the popular video game “Halo”. In addition to the UNSC lettering, our gamer friend has added a decal that reads “M12 LRV”. This, in Halo lexicon, refers to the M12 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle. This Brat is our hero’s real-life road-going replica of the fictional M12.
Early Brats sported round headlamps and a slightly different overall shape that this 1982 model. By the time this Brat was built the 1980’s were in full swing and the trend was toward squarish light bars with turn signals and head lamps integrated into a single unit. Bullet-like sport mirrors give the Brat an aggressive look. Factory optional black plastic kick panels run the length of the Brat’s body on both sides.
This particular vehicle has been equipped with aftermarket, JC Whitney grade T-tops. Additionally, it has a bumper-mounted rear trailer hitch for pulling and a front-mounted winch for escaping sticky situations both real and imaginary. It’s mounted to an aftermarket front pusher bumper.
This Brat shows its age and a fair amount of body cancer has begun to eat away its exterior. Rusty or not, this Brat is clearly loved. As are most Shitty Cars of Englewood.
