For those who don't know, I recently purchased/traded for the 1983 Ski Team Wagon that Tom (TheLoyale) has been working on over the past year.

 

 

Sitting in my driveway looking almost as cool as the 1980s.

 

So I've been researching these cars and coming up mostly dry. I know it was a joint venture between Subaru and the Ski teams from the late 70s until early 90s originally to gain some attention and market the new 4wd of the Subarus.

 

But how many did they make? How many are still out there? Where are they and who owns them?

 

It looks like the restoration will continue and I'm also looking for a source to replicate the decals on the car to restore it to near originality. I'll be making full size traces of every decal before doing the rust work and paint to the car.

 

Any info is appreciated as all I can find so far are some old advertisements and a smattering of info on a few others out there. I'm wanting to complete and preserve this vehicle as best i can. And I'm genuinely curious as to the history.

I'm Glad to read that the '83 Ski Wagon is in Good Hands again; I don't have much info about those, but as far as I know, another USMB member owns (or had) another one like yours.

 

By the Way, 1983 was the Last Year of that EA81 model for the Ski Wagon Team, because they where the First to obtain a Brand New EA82 Ski Wagon in 1984 (for the 1984 Olympics), See:

 

~►

 

Kind Regards.

Some Posts in other USMB Threads:

 

 

 

Here are the images I've got for the ski team decals:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The NOS set that I have look like these:

 

Nice. After the 82 there's very little difference in the graphics.

well the canadian ski team drove mule deer up the hill beat that traction. Mule deer the offical vhecle of the canadian ski team !

In a couple of those pics, it looks like they were already high centered and waiting for a tow, eh!

I know at one point it was said that the Ski team had a contact with Subaru that all ski team wagons would have their decals removed when they had served their purpose. So privately owned examples are pretty rare.

I like how in every photograph they are never actually IN the vehicle. They're always walking in front, behind, or along-side it lol

 

Also, not to thread jack from the OP, but just curious; Has anybody ever even seen an ea82 ski wagon?

I found some more scans of old brochures here http://a15ff11300g.sakura.ne.jp/catalogue/oversea/oversea.html

 

Figured I would link what I can of the Ski wagons. Maybe this helps? There is some good info in these pages

 

 

McBrat had one i believe

McBrat had one i believe

 

He did. This picture, already in this thread:

 

was his. The blue wagon in the background was mine at the time, and his brat can be seen in the foreground.

Maybe he'll chime in here with more info at some point.

 

Once this weather warm up a bit, I'm going to get traces of all the decals to have them re-done.

 

Does it make more sense to have decals re-made? Or do I get really fancy and get the exact dimensions and actually paint it on?

I have pictures of that same ski wagon.

 

you could just take high resolution pics and send the pics to the print shop.(because they have tecnology to be able to take the decals in a picture to life size:headbang:)

Subiemech85 still owns the one pictured above, Mick's former ski wagon.  

My dad worked at a subie dealership here i oregon back when they were making these ski team wagons. He told me his dealership had one for sale and that he borrowed it for a weekend ski trip to Mt. Hood. So I believe you could buy them new with these decals. All this time he knows I'm a subaru freak and he dosen't bother to share that gem of a story till just this week.

I remember the ski wgns. here in Denver,Co. BURT SUBARU used to sponser them..I tried to get my dad to get a wgn. instead the sedan 83 {I had a 77 4x wgn.at the time} I used for camping  but he didn"t want 1  ...The only reason he bought a Subie was because of mine {I wish I had it now  } Thats how SUBIES got noticed was the ski team and then owwie {audi} had to pop up and took Subies thunder w/more pwr.{5cyl.}4whl.drv.leather int.more comfort blah,blah,Subies were more utilitarian than pretty  {they WORK} but the options I do remember specific on the pre-83s were they had JACKMAN WHLS.{straight spoke}on them and the ski team stickers w/roof racks for skis....other than that they were fully loaded Subies...

http://www.indysworld.com/vehicles/1980-skiwag/skisoob.html     Just as a refernce

That is still the same car from the last few photos.

Any ideas on how many originally existed? Was there just one per year or was there a fleet of these things out there? Like a dealer package or something? Or limited edition. Trying to grasp just how particular I should be with this car. just how rare were/are they?

Subaru Fanatic;

 

   I just bought a totally  "rust free" 1982 subaru GL, white in color with blue plaid seats...fully loaded...with center headlight......engine has been replaced with EA81....new tires....original white spokes.....could have been a ski-team model with decals taken off..

 

  No decals...but I am planning to decal it and sell in fall to some lucky skier probably on ebay....    Your comments and pics help alot....

 

Mellow

 

 

 

 

Let me know when you're ready to redecal the wagon. I've got a set of NOS decals that I'm going to scan in and recreate.

Thanks for that. Let me know what it would cost to get a set. Seems these cars are a bit of a unicorn these days.

Awesome thread. I hope to see one of these in person one day. Mellow, bring it to the West Coast Subaru Show if you get a chance September 6-8 in Long View, Washington:)

well the canadian ski team drove mule deer up the hill beat that traction. Mule deer the offical vhecle of the canadian ski team !

 

Plus when they got where they were going they had a tasty venison dinner and new buck skin clothing!