Santa Monica, CA
Photographed December 2017
Subaru
2003 Subaru Outback sedan
Mar Vista, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed August 2016
1987 Subaru GL-10 Turbo
These turbo wagons are very few and far between. This one looks to be an original California car, as evidenced by its sunburst plate (the rarest modern California plate, even if this one’s a bit dirty). There’s not a whole lot of information to be had about this car (Wikipedia doesn’t even mention it), but it’s certainly a rare beast. The only thing that would make it even more Subaru would be the optional 4WD system that this one doesn’t have.
It’s these types of cars that I find the most interesting. The average person probably wouldn’t stop and look twice at it, but I find it fascinating, much more so than, say, a new Mercedes.
I mean, I must have seen dozens of Mercedes today, but this is the only GL-10 that I recall seeing in a very long while.
Mar Vista, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed May 2013
1992 Subaru SVX
The SVX never really caught on, partly because it looked so odd and partly because it was so expensive. Just look at those side windows…They may look cool, but are very impractical in everyday driving. The only other car I can recall that had windows like that was the DeLorean.
It was also only available with a 4-speed automatic, stunting the performance from its boxer-six engine; not only that, but the slushboxes were notoriously unreliable. Just 14,257 were sold in the US and it’s rumored that Subaru lost up to $3,000 on every one sold.
Portland, OR
Photographed August 2011
1983 Subaru BRAT
Eugene, OR
Photographed August 2011