Today’s Nice Price or No Dice Subaru affords the chance to play hide-and-seek with its spare tire as it’s cheekily carried beneath the hood. Let’s see if its price ticket makes the entire automotive an equally stunning discover.
Any used automotive advert that implies the value demanded will rise as work is accomplished — as was the case with the advert for yesterday’s 1974 Chevy Camaro — is often rapidly dismissed by potential consumers. After all, the asking worth is meant to be the place to begin from which negotiations inevitably go down. In the case of the Camaro, that start line was $16,650, and with the automotive needing apparent consideration in additional than only one place, that was deemed too excessive by the overwhelming majority of you. In the top, the Camaro was crushed beneath the load of an 88 p.c No Dice loss.
It was the double whammy of tightening emissions controls and a pair of gas crises within the Nineteen Seventies that brought about vehicles just like the Camaro to fall from favor. The gasoline shortages had been perpetuated by interruptions in crude oil provides as a result of political upheavals and outright wars within the Middle East. That set gross sales of huge, thirsty V8s right into a tailspin, opening the door to smaller, extra fuel-efficient automotive choices.
One such instance of the smaller, extra fuel-efficient vehicles that got here from this period of spiraling costs and restricted gas availability was Subaru’s line of sub-compact AWD vehicles and sort-of vans. These supplied safe part-time AWD functionality however in a smaller bundle than a conventional 4X4 truck and with sometimes thrice higher gas effectivity.
This 1979 Subaru 1600 Wagon is simply such a automotive, representing Subaru’s first foray into that four-wheel drive market. Sold because the Leone in Japan and a few export markets, Subaru properly selected to easily model the vehicles as Subarus right here within the States, thus reinforcing its then lesser-known model. A sequence of badges, resembling DL and GL, denoted the trim ranges.
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This one lacks any kind of such mannequin descriptor, and whereas it does appear to be a reasonably lowly-spec’d version, it does have the corporate’s iconic AWD and seems to have each A/C and an AM radio. It additionally has its spare tire beneath the hood, sharing area with the 1.6-liter EA71 flat-four engine. In U.S. spec, that engine made a factory-rated 67 horsepower and 81 lb-ft of torque. Those ponies are routed by way of a four-speed transaxle and may be set to energy both the entrance axles alone or all 4 through a second shift lever on the tunnel.
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Unfortunately, the supplier providing the wagon provides us completely no details about it in any way, save for the mileage ( 98,745 miles) and a sequence of images exhibiting a clear, if age-worn presentation. No plates are proven within the photos, however, being supplier supplied, we will most likely assume the title to be clear.
Looking on the photos doesn’t set off any alarm bells. The automotive’s paint is OK. It suffers some floor rust right here and there, however nothing too horrible. The jaunty aspect stripes add a little bit of aptitude, as do the comically small wheels, which had been customary on the Subaru on the time however at present look extra applicable for a small backyard trailer. The fender-top aspect views are a pleasant contact however would require a good friend to regulate correctly, so that is most likely a automotive that loners and hermits may wish to keep away from.
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The brown vinyl inside appears stable however well-worn, exhibiting cracks in each the sprint and the skinny plastic rim of the steering wheel. A “Jesus Loves Skate” sticker on the glovebox door affords some perplexing messaging, and it seems that the driving force and entrance seat passenger must share window cranks because the one on the driving force’s door is lacking. The again seat space and cargo flooring seem unremarkable, which is an efficient factor since there’s not a lot occurring there to start with. The hatch appears to remain open on its single, massive strut, which can also be a plus.
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What are we to make of this previous Subaru? It’s too previous and much too good to throw into every day driver obligation, and it’s not your conventional collector automotive both. At $7,499, we’ll now must determine what’s to return of this AWD wagon. Or if it’s even price attempting to take action.
Where do you are available in on this old-school Subaru and that $7,499 worth? Does that appear truthful, given the automotive’s presentation? Or is that an excessive amount of to ask with so little description?
You determine!
Facebook Marketplace out of Moses Lake, Washington, or go right here if the advert disappears.
H/T to Bill Lyons for the hookup!
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Source: jalopnik.com