When I was just a kid, my dad bought his first Subaru (he’s on his fifth one now). It was a brand-new 1986 Subaru XT Turbo. It had an wild interior with an asymmetrical steering wheel, and aircraft-inspired ‘pods’ on the dashboard.
The car had an efficient 1.8L four-cylinder engine plus all-wheel-drive, which was pretty much unheard of in passenger cars at the time. It was perfect for a travelling salesman in Canada.
My dad liked the car so much, he bought a second one a few years later. A dark grey 1989 Subaru XT6 with a Kaminari body kit, like the one pictured above. This one had a huge 2.7L flat-six, a 5-speed manual gearbox, locking differentials and air suspension. It was a technological marvel, and was way ahead of its time. The XT was never a big seller though, and some thought wedge-cars looked weird.
Last week, Doug DeMuro did a segment on a very original Subaru XT and all its ‘quirks & features’. Neither of my dad’s XTs had the video-game dashboard (not sure they brought those to Canada) but watching this brought back a lot of memories for me, so I though I’d share the video here. Enjoy!
~ Chris #16 Demaras ~
WTB: Subaru XT6 (Running or project)
Looking for a Subaru XT6, preferably AWD.
Running car preferred but will consider projects.
I am a serious buyer and can arrange shipping internationally.
Located overseas but ready to move fast.
Please DM me if you have one or know someone who does.
Hey… Even I WTB one of them! Just check Auto Trader Classics and Bring a Trailer.