Unicorn (1 of 350) 1980 Subaru Leone Skiers Special

Unicorn (1 of 350) 1980 Subaru Leone Skiers Special - 1800 4WD (AM5)

Рет қаралды 7,508

Жыл бұрын

I never knew this special edition Subaru Leone existed, which could be because I'm not a snow skier, or perhaps because I didn't grow up with JDM's or USDM's. This special car, which Hoonigan recently celebrated, is all about that snow-skiing life. While there are no performance modifications, there is skier-specific hardware (that pod on the roof), and the styling, both inside and out, is very striking. Driveline: EA-81 flat 4 engine (1781cc), 4 speed manual (Dual Range - FWD/4WD)
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Пікірлер: 135

@stuvademakaroner9607 Жыл бұрын

The roof rack obviously is for skis: they come out through the front and back and the bindings are covered with the box lid

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Well, they're obviously for that to people who know snow

@billyhong5071 Жыл бұрын

Sorry dude, I’ve never skied and it was the first thing I noticed! 😅 Awesome find. How much did it go for?

@adriangoede7433 Жыл бұрын

OMG!!! Now that is a unicorn. That is basically a copy of the Official Car of the US Ski Team. With the exception of the “Skiers Special” shield logo. You never stop amazing me Danno! Thank you!!

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Too easy, Adrian. Actually, it's nigh impossible. Hahahahaha ;-)

@rogeralbans4082 Жыл бұрын

Oh my god, that seat trim is special!

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

The plaider the better ;-)

@grantrobinson7101 Ай бұрын

Kiwis freaking love Subaru’s…super popular during the eighties with the ski crowd.the right type of car for New Zealand driving conditions 👌🏻

@stelitejet Жыл бұрын

Brings back memories of when I was a kid.... Every one had one to tow there jetboat with out here in New Zealand.. Often seen them at the river... Most were station wagons.... In fact I have a ea81 motor frome one in my small jetboat... Because motor is all alloy and light and compact..

@AutomotiveKarnage Жыл бұрын

Dude! What a find. Thank you for risking the filming to show us all an amazing unicorn.

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Hey, thank you, DJ. Hope all's well

@Ayaki6166 7 ай бұрын

I'm from U.S. I saw many times Subaru Leone when I lived Hokkaido. Pretty nice car.I never see in the L.A.

@BeardedWrencher Жыл бұрын

I absolutely LOVE this thing! I remember seeing posts on FB/IG when it was coming across the auction block a few weeks ago.

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

And, was still there today. Seems the seller 'knows what he has'

@BeardedWrencher Жыл бұрын

@@wasabicars I just checked and the first post I saw was back in late November. It is a really cool car. Thank you for putting this in a video! It was really cool to see a close walk around.

@cotzker Жыл бұрын

I had a Subaru like this, an '83 FWD model. The best car I've ever had

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Noice. Colour? And, it was the wagon?

@cotzker Жыл бұрын

@@wasabicars Indeed it was a wagon, faded white. A lot of rust but got everywhere easily even when driving off road. Today I drive a 2003 Impreza GX.

@OllamhDrab Жыл бұрын

A friend of mine had one I drove quite a bit, (especially when she'd injured her clutch foot. Pretty slow, but a real trooper, like they all were. ) Most of em really went till the rust finally claimed em. :)

@cotzker Жыл бұрын

@@OllamhDrab I've driven a lot of cars in my life, but if I put the point on what makes a good car, it's how connected I feel to it. A vehicle that gives you the feeling that you can get into it and cross the continent without any mental preparations. It doesn't have to be the most powerful vehicle or the highest level of finish and not even the most comfortable. If the car talks to you, that's it.

@01FozzyS Жыл бұрын

What a find,Dan! Paging Bucky Lasek! lol

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Hey, man. You were the first to mention that name, but I'm afraid I don't know them and am not aware of the connection. ... Just had a quick google. I did see a tidy Brat

@RagdollRacingInc Жыл бұрын

What a beast I had a first gen two door Leone it was awesome

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

The styling of those two-doors is no unique. Btw, did you see the 2 door (but it was a hatchback) @1:50 or so? Funky. Cannot wait to bump into one of those.

@RagdollRacingInc Жыл бұрын

Yeah that looks weird as

@micjarrett Жыл бұрын

I am very much an all Australian Subaru tragic, and despite it being a skiers special, it would be excellent for here in the NT and exploring the outback. Thanks for sharing Dan this definitely is special and deserves a resto.

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Hey, my pleasure, Michael. Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed :)

@will16vuk Жыл бұрын

Nice find! Maybe the skis supposed to poke out the small rectangular slots on the front of the roof box?

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Lol. Yes. But, at the time, as I've probably never even touched a snow ski in my life, just couldn't figure it out. Coincidentally, it was just yesterday I was looking at a co-worker's car, a modern "Mini", that had a similar thing on its roof for a snow board

@petrolpunx Жыл бұрын

What an unbelievable unicorn this is!

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Certainly is :)

@TasHikingAdventures 11 ай бұрын

That's so cool for us Subaru owners

@travelingbeard Жыл бұрын

What a find!! Those meaty tires, the winch up front with mini-bull bar, the circle headlights, just WOW. I have had a few of these and I'll never get tired of their quirks.

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

So good, hey! This one reeeally got me excited. Thx for watching, man

@mrmoonlight9829 Жыл бұрын

Don't recall ever seeing a Leone wagon in the flesh actually, super cool

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Seriously? Wow. I was born in 1973 so I guess I was at the right age to notice heaps of these in my high school years

@mrmoonlight9829 Жыл бұрын

@@wasabicars Maybe just lived in the wrong part of NZ for it.. I'm 86 so they were probably around

@banpeinet Жыл бұрын

I would trade in my AE86 any day for a unicorn like this! 😲

@rogeralbans4082 Жыл бұрын

That would be a mistake, Leones were as gutless as a Victor lawnmower and front wheel drive until you pulled the 4wd lever that activated the rear and stole all the remaining power. So surprising not to see it as a rusty mess though. That must have lead a sheltered life to be so good 43 years later.

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Definitely no-one on your block would have the same car if you drove this one. Just 350 early (of the single round headlight) versions were built apparently. Though, I will say you may miss the AE86's performance at times. Lol

@banpeinet Жыл бұрын

Yeah it would certainly not be a car that would be outstanding in performance, but I live the way it looks. I love my ae86 but I haven't driven it for three years now and I know how it feels to miss it. Buy still, the looks of that Leone... 😘

@edwardfletcher7790 Жыл бұрын

Dude, you're CRAZY !! Your AE86 is worth more than $25k !

@taunusv4power Жыл бұрын

Gosh subaru was so awesome back in the 80s. It's ironic that I've never liked the popular years. But these are cool as heck. I swear I've seen one here in peru with that livery. No rack though 😢

@davidthomas9 10 ай бұрын

As a kid in 1980's Melbourne, I remember these 4WD Leone wagons & the later Touring Wagons being popular with the Ski Bunnies & to a lesser extent the bushwalking crowd. The Touring Wagons from the mid 80's were high-tech futuristic cars compared to the local Fords & Holdens of the time, especially with the digital dash & reliable Japanese electronics....

@LinkSquish 3 ай бұрын

My wife and I are watching a TV show called 'The Tourist' It's set in Australia and one of the main characters drives an 80's Subaru touring wagon 1800 AWD.

@wasabicars 3 ай бұрын

I'm gonna have to check that out. Cheers

@davidbarnsley8486 Жыл бұрын

When was the last time I seen one over here dan It has been years I’m going to have to start taking pictures if I see one here And blue was not an Australian colour at all Drivers doors is locked all other doors unlocked 😂😂

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Thanks, David. Lol! Probably not a car many would bother to steal even if it were easy ;-)

@oldskool1979 Жыл бұрын

What an obscure gem !

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Oh, for sure. And, given the scarcity in Japan of Subarus from this era, even a plain one would have been a miracle find. On line I've since seen some quad square headlight Skier Specials, but none of this earlier type.

@Low760 Жыл бұрын

I couldn't be bothered with hoonigan, so can't blame you, too many other local youtubers to watch.

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

I hear ya, but lemme tell you of some recent strangeness. I saw on some very famous KZfaqr's Instagram page, several commenters *demanding* eulogies for Ken Block. That struck me as very peculiar. Whether rational or (clearly) not, there are expectations on content creators, and I gotta be careful how I word things. There are definitely some who'll interpret me being too busy to watch Hoonigan to mean I have some issue with them. #crazyinthecoconuts

@Low760 Жыл бұрын

@@wasabicars that makes sense, it's sad he's gone, but it's like Peter Brock dying, very sad. Except no social media back then really.

@ef7andapp170 Жыл бұрын

That car is awesome!

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

It really is :)

@coltfanboi7747 Жыл бұрын

Rare as heck, great find Dan. Subaru make some quirky cars and editions, this being one of them...

@igvtec Жыл бұрын

My brother used to have a immaculate one for his second car, in Australia wasn't this decked out though. Wish he kept it.

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Oh, nice though. Thanks for letting me know. Always interesting to hear other people's stories

@sos15_yt Жыл бұрын

Wow,I love these special editions/rare versions of common (for Japan) Japanese cars.Definitely a nice Subaru

@rover213 Жыл бұрын

that scubby fixed would be fun on off-road trails

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

The world of off-road is beyond me, but I think it'd be as much fun on off-roads as it wold be at car shows. In Japan, it's a truly rare car

@cheharrison7107 Жыл бұрын

Hey Daniel, hope you're good buddy. Wow man! What a rare find, and a Wagon! 😍 Made me think of the later Impreza special edition called the Gravel express. Take it easy buddy and thanks 🤘

@nevillepretorius8948 Жыл бұрын

Car stil looks very original!

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Yeah, and so cool that it's so well optioned. I hope it finds the right owner, and that it gets back to the road, because it's gonna bring a lot of smiles to people.

@JeremyPetho Жыл бұрын

The non-adjustable vent in the middle of the passenger side has the factory radio speaker behind it

@crocglox7797 Жыл бұрын

Is that a type of salvage yard or storage yard? I remember the ads for this special edition car, in USA car magazines.

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

It's a large auction yard in fact. USS, they've got locations throughout Japan

@andrew8502 Жыл бұрын

3:28 the home stereo speaker is awesome haha 👌 What a cool car !

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

I don't know how, but I know I'd bump my head on those ;-)

@13x10s Жыл бұрын

Flanno seats … amazing

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Lol! Not such a popular option, eh. I've seen a couple Holden/Isuzu Geminis with it, though probably a cooler palette.

@akielkhan5916 Жыл бұрын

Hi I really like your videos and content. Always interesting cars, places and people shown in your videos.

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much, Akiel :)

@akielkhan5916 Жыл бұрын

@@wasabicars I'm based in the UK, so your definitely reaching out to a world wide audience. And impacting people in a positive way. So keep up the good work..

@ktcworks Жыл бұрын

I believe it was released just before "Touring Wagon" was introduced into market, which means it's a van and is very rare for a commercial purpose van to have such a gorgeous trim on the rear seat!

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Yeah? Cool. Thanks for the info

@theSam91 Жыл бұрын

Love this gen of Leone, I daily drive a 1981 wagon that I restored myself ;-) And where can I get some of those floor mats?? Never seen them before they look fantastic.

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Nice! Yeah, those floor mats were outstanding. They'd have been a rare option to start with, and the chances of them surviving in numbers would be very, very slim.

@dsanford12 Жыл бұрын

Love the seats , Nice flannel by the way 💪

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Such a bold choice. Always a welcome sight though ;-)

@L.C.A.car_adventure_channel Жыл бұрын

This Leone is awesome and the seat trim is like a Scottish Kilt what's great. Ah before I forget, the skies do fit in, because you have in front and back the ribber seal on the cover and bottom part so that the skies are hanging out in front and back. The middle section is where also the middle skies go in with the attached locking mechanism for the skie boot's. Well, I used probably too much of the word skie and it's been years when I stand on them. But back to reality, I do keep an aye open for a Leone because you just never know.

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I didn't realize how the ski pod worked at the time, but do now of course. :)

@L.C.A.car_adventure_channel Жыл бұрын

@@wasabicars I wouldn't know also but I seen an old commercial (not Subaru) where it was similar. By the way this video is great, this Subaru version is rare and the Kilt interior us exactly what I like. Do you maybe know what is the reserve price, just as curiosity?

@mattangrave8478 Жыл бұрын

Nice one mate 👍

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Matt

@commonsenserhetoric Жыл бұрын

懐かしいです　ちなみに俺は　🇺🇸US限定？のSUBARU BRATが大好きで過去に探してました！、球数が少なくて😭　福岡朝倉市のHighwayの甘木interchangeをおりて数百メートル直進して左側にSUBARUのディーラー横にBRATがありましたが最近見ません　早く買えばよかったと後悔してます

@webmonkees Жыл бұрын

My mechanic has a 84 wagon in the lot but best not ask in case it is affordable.

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Hahahaha! Usually when the price board says 'Ask' it means don't ask. Yours is the opposite. Hahahahaha

@FLIPMYRIDE Жыл бұрын

Ahh Dan! Always the man to bring the gems. Love those rubber floor mats! I need some for mine. My 1984 Touring Wagon with the factory sunroof is a unicorn, but this is THE UNICORN! So maybe I got Charlie the unicorn and you found Lady Almathea?? 😂

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Cheers, man. Oh, that's Last Unicorn reference is a deep cut. Lol. Not that I knew at first. Just went down the rabbit hole (just a little)

@FLIPMYRIDE Жыл бұрын

@@wasabicars a deep cut? Didn't intend it mate. Just googled unicorn characters.

@carsnstuff3195 Жыл бұрын

Saw snow for the 1st time last year. I'm 46.

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Ha! That is funny. I was well-and-truly an adult before I first saw snow ;-)

@stevethorne9605 Жыл бұрын

I can see the smell through the screen

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Hahahaha!

@67tomcat Жыл бұрын

Great discovery Daniel! It's been a long time since I've seen the GL Wagon as this was called in the U.S. Believe this had an optional (?) "cyclops" headlight hidden behind the front grill? Thank you for sharing.

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Hey, man. These bloody Cyclops headlights you mention. Commenters have have told me about these before but I'm yet to see any revealed. What is the deal? Okay, I've just had a google. Defo never seen. All the Cyclops grilles had the update (rounded rectangular) headlights. None shown with the round headlights like on this Leone.

@webmonkees Жыл бұрын

the Cyclops: US GL 81-84 got one from a salvage yard. cut up the 85 grille but bolts in. worth it.

@67tomcat Жыл бұрын

@@wasabicars Hi Daniel, comment below from webmonkees confirms. I believe there's a review of a Leone/GL on "Motor Week" show showing it in action. Happy New Year too!

@nzuncovered1845 Жыл бұрын

I know that smell of those cars

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Haha :)

@gred_cz Жыл бұрын

cool :). some of the aftermarket audio installs in old japanese cars can get pretty wild like in this case. the rear speaker placement is rather curious too, and im pretty sure that bracketery in the glovebox also had some audio equipment in it at some point, haha

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Oh, I really wasn't sure what the story was with that dash. Certainly the previous owner liked to tweak

@cerberus1981 Жыл бұрын

For some reason, plaid fabric seats were equipped in just about every American car in the ‘70s 😅. Can’t help but wonder how the JDM customers reacted…

@batman9592 Жыл бұрын

I wanted this LS Diff for my Datsun but gave up finding one. Too rare! We had a SR5 Tercel growing up. Sort of the same thing.

@aliashtiani8246 Жыл бұрын

look on the GL10 or any turbo model.

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Oh. Oh! And, Tercels are even more mega rarer than the Leone in Japan!

@Tiger351 Жыл бұрын

Wow, I remember seeing the promo pic you should in the video from magazine ads and dealer promo material in Aus back then, there were rumours that a single example was imported and was intended to be shown on the International Motor show circuit (Sydney/ Melbourne motor show) but never was. I'm pretty sure there was a much later Kosciuszko edition (Gen 3 I think, or possibly early Liberty?) that was very toned down from this, much more subtle decals with a pretty heavily revised roofbox. Low volume once again and kinda flew under the radar cause it was kind of an expensive niche special edition.

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Holy Dooley. Thanks for all that info/insight. Appreciated, Robert

@edwardfletcher7790 Жыл бұрын

What a great Unicorn 👍 Did Subaru steal the whole front grill & rear lights off a Mazda 323 ?? The Skis fit thru the black slots !

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I understood about the ski carrying thing prior to uploading, just not at the time. :)

@johnnyizegem Жыл бұрын

You can melt some snow in those floor mats... they look like oil drip trays... 😅

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

They were over-engineered and incredible. Could definitely hold a couple of litres ;-)

@SUBARULEONE Жыл бұрын

1:06位から写ってるアドミラルブルーのAM5は私のです(^0^)

@sos15_yt Жыл бұрын

Nice AM5,it looks cool 👍

@SUBARULEONE Жыл бұрын

ありがとうございます。

@Jarahako1 Жыл бұрын

Cool!

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Cheers, Ivan :)

@tommy_kaira733 Жыл бұрын

I guess dan bezos is to busy to watch KZfaq😂😂😂

@koczownik Жыл бұрын

Hi, what is this place? Are these cars for sale?

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

It's a dealer-only auction yard in Japan. They open the gates one day a week for the public to look at the cars, but as said, only dealers can bid. You got to go through an importer/dealer

@koczownik Жыл бұрын

@@wasabicars thanks for your reply! :)

@jamesshead3707 Жыл бұрын

I wonder if that old girl has manual or electric/hydraulic adjustable suspension

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Sorry, James. I just like "cars". Super weak on all the book-read stuff.

@jamesshead3707 Жыл бұрын

@@wasabicars all good dude.myself & my brother have owned a few.& was just curious

@shirtz69r Жыл бұрын

Any idea of how much this has been asking $$$?

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

I don't. I can say that bidding hasn't gone beyond the reserve to my knowledge. Highest bid I know of is 500,000 yen. I'll leave you to convert to your local currency

@deanstevenson6527 Жыл бұрын

🥝✅🎿 ⛷️🏂🚠🥽

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

I feel like I'm suddenly fluent in sign language :)

@MrRBobs Жыл бұрын

always fascinated by your uploads Dan coincidently tubing late one night this guy popped up cant understand what the gentleman is saying the car the same or is it? the roof line interior trim absent bull bar could it be a fake? dropped a link here hope is okay kzfaq.info/get/bejne/i7GYqpuqxrbPnnU.html

@wasabicars Жыл бұрын

Thanks you, sir. Coincidentally, I follow Swinging Motors on insta, and after seeing that Subaru from the video you posted, I decided to edit up the footage I had of an earlier one. Yes, certainly the same special edition, but from different years. 1980 v's 1983. Side note: I can't hardly understand the guy's Japanese either.