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did these cars ever come out of the factory?

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Did subaru ever offer an ea81t 4 door sedan 4wd? I thought I had seen a picture of an ea81 turbo traction sedan with the cool checkerboard interior.

 

Also, did turbo ea81 hatches ever come from the factory?

Thanks.

-Jack

Yes on both counts--but we never got the turboed hatch in North America. Also, as you probably know, the sedans were available with an automatic only if you ordered the turbo, the 4WD, or both.

 

Edit: I'm not sure about the EA81 sedan. The EA82 Turbo Traction sedan was offered in 1985 only, with the checkerboard interior; so was the RX.

you wouldn't happen to know where a picture of the 4wd ea81T sedan might be would you?

 

No Turbo EA81 Sedans, sorry. Only Brat, Coupe, Wagon, and 1 Hatch ('82 prototype - used in the movie Cannon Ball Run).

 

GD

One of the headlight-washer threads had a photo of a turbo EA81 hatch, JDM, about two weeks ago. It was brown. Part of a sales brochure.

No Turbo EA81 Sedans, sorry. Only Brat, Coupe, Wagon, and 1 Hatch ('82 prototype - used in the movie Cannon Ball Run).

 

GD

 

The hatch isn't a prototype, it was actually an aftermarket car built by Motor Trend magazine. It currently resides at WWU and has a fresh block but a VERY leaky turbo. There may have been a seperate hatch built for the movie but I am only going on pictures I have and from what I can tell from looking at the car.

  • Author

Was the ea81 turbo coupe called an RX in this country? Did it have a special interior? Perhaps my mind is playing tricks on me.

EA81 RX models were not imported to the US. Also, they were not Turbo - they were dual-carb. Actually pushing more HP than the EA81T. Turbo was 95 HP, and the dual carb was 108 HP. There were special rally editions with even more insane engines - dual port heads and special carb setups etc.

 

GD

  • Author
EA81 RX models were not imported to the US. Also, they were not Turbo - they were dual-carb. Actually pushing more HP than the EA81T. Turbo was 95 HP, and the dual carb was 108 HP. There were special rally editions with even more insane engines - dual port heads and special carb setups etc.

 

GD

 

Now way! Did any other ea subes get dual ported heads?

What about the snazzy interior? When did that start? I have seen the checkerboards on the ea82 cars. I didn't know if it was offered on the ea81s as well.

Define "snazzy"--the GL-10 interior packaging started in '83 in the US, but I've never seen a checkerboard one. There was a sort of wave/pinstripe pattern on some 84 GLs though.

  • Author
Define "snazzy"--the GL-10 interior packaging started in '83 in the US, but I've never seen a checkerboard one. There was a sort of wave/pinstripe pattern on some 84 GLs though.

 

Oh, I thought that the RX got a checkerboard interior. If not checkerboard seats then something unique to designate it as a turbo or RX only. I'll see if I can find a pic.

Well...

 

Here in Honduras we got the EA81T (Turbo) in 1983.

 

 

The EA81T was only made in late 83 and the 84yr. It came in the Wagon, the Brat and the 2dr Coupe. All were 3spd autos with push button 4wd (single range).

 

The early ones only had oil cooled turbos until the dearlerships recalled them and added water cooling.

 

The engines were very easy to overheating, it usually would blow a head gasket and/or crack the heads if not shut down quick enough when hot. or if you try to put fresh water over the radiator, etc... when they overheat.

 

Other than that, they were fun cars, not timing belts to change. It will bolt up to all 5spd D/R trannies, but to do a conversion from carb to turbo is a major undertaking...

The engine crossmember, all the electrical from the dash forward, fuel system, etc. You basically need a donor car.

 

 

Look what I found: Those are "Turbone's" Pics. His Album is at:

http://usmb.net/gallery/album14

 

83RXCoupe.jpg

 

cleanengine1.jpg

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
ok, so just to sum this up, we never got an ea81 turbo sedan in the US?

 

Correct. We didn't get the the hatchback either.

Define "snazzy"--the GL-10 interior packaging started in '83 in the US, but I've never seen a checkerboard one. There was a sort of wave/pinstripe pattern on some 84 GLs though.

 

I have. Wife owned an '84 GL 4WD sedan when we were dating, the seats were black and grey checker. Not the big checkers like you find in EA82's, they were small ones. Actually more similar to the interior of her new Tucson. It was an immaculate car, too bad it kept eating transmissions.

Define "snazzy"--the GL-10 interior packaging started in '83 in the US, but I've never seen a checkerboard one. There was a sort of wave/pinstripe pattern on some 84 GLs though.

 

Actually the GL-10 interior package started in 84, I had an 83 GL-10 that had normal GL interior, no fuzzy door panels, etc..

  • 3 weeks later...

I have heard about a single turbo sedan existing somewhere in Seattle. There may have been a way to order the car from the factory like the original Z28 option, but they were never officially offered for sale.

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