Okay, after looking at the third car in from front in the picture below:

 

 

I guess I now know what the 'cyclops eye' Brats were. But I'm curious as to how it operated - only with the high beams, or as a foglight? What happens to the Subaru badge when it's on? In any event it's very cool, reminding me of older Tatras.

There was a motor that raised/lowered the emblem flap, and I believe it was operated by an independent switch.

Yeah, they were only offered on 1982 models (some 81) and are operated by a switch underneath the blinker lever on the dash.

They were offered on '81-2 wagons and '82 Brats. They were operated by a switch and timer system. They only operated with the low beams. When the high beams were activated the center light would shut off automatically. It would relight after the high beams were lowered.

Its on my 1980 wagon, could be an Austin addition, but the stock switch is there, so i don't think so.

If I recall correctly on my 82's the cyclops only works when the brights are on. With the low beams it turns off. Maybe I just read Qman's description wrong, but it appeared backwards.

 

So you get Lo beams or hi beams or High beams + center light

my center light works with the low beams

Hmmmm mine ONLY worked with the hi beams... maybe it was a model year thing, or maybe mine is backwards?

Yeah I had an 82 Wagon where the light ONLY came on w/ the brights... weird.

Heres another vote for cyclopes lit when brights were on. 82 brat GL as the specimen.

yeah, mine only lights up when the brights are on.

Its on my 1980 wagon, could be an Austin addition, but the stock switch is there, so i don't think so.

 

 

its available on 80-82 GL 4wd subarus only, including the 82 brat (and i am not sure about the gen1?)

 

and on the 80 and 81 modles, it should have been so it only comes on with the headlights (low or high) and when the switch is on....

 

it is stock on the waterwagon Noah

On the 2 - '82 GL Hatchbacks I've had, it came on only with the hi beams.

Anyone got an owners book handy...

 

My 82 Hatch would only work the center lamp with LOW beams on.

 

I always wanted the center lamp to work with the high beams

Hey all,

 

 

Didn't they call this unit the "passing" light.

I've seen a few but never had one.

Only Subaru could think up something like that!

all the 82's I've had it worked on hi's but my 80 wagon works on both or just low...

 

it was standard equipment on the GL 4WD models (as listed in Austin's post)

Anyone got an owners book handy...

 

My 82 Hatch would only work the center lamp with LOW beams on.

 

I always wanted the center lamp to work with the high beams

 

My '82 GL wagon was only with the highbeams. And only if you held the switch in, since the catch was broken:brow:.

i still havnt been able to get my 81 hatchs to work somone else tried wiring it weird and i have to trace everything back

just buy a new switch from radio shack and you can have it on whenever you want. With high beams, low beams or by itself

 

Makes for some really confused people.

 

BW

The light on my 81 wagon only worked with the high beams.

 

Yeah, "passing lamp" is a good one on a car with 83 horsepower!

I wired mine so it comes on whenever you want. when I see oncoming motorcyclists, I use it to flash them a biker hello. It really works well with low beams, especially in heavy fog.

 

just love it. I stick a plastic pumpkin behind the brushguard and blow the kids minds on Halloween, too.

 

Dave