Doctor Christiaan Neethling Barnard performed the world’s first human heart transplant on December 3rd 1967, transferring a donor heart from a young accident victim into an older, very sick recipient. Today’s Nice Price or Crack Pipe Subaru has seen a similar infusion of young blood, but is it priced to give you a heart attack?
Yesterday’s 1987 VW Jetta SCCA-ready two door had you racing to vote and it took the checkered with a handy 68% Nice Price win. Since we’re on a roll with modded cars this week, let’s keep the dream alive with today’s Subaru. Its mods are far more subtle than that of the Jetta or Monday’s Caddy, but they’re worthwhile nonetheless.
It’s a funny thing about Subaru’s situation in the late ‘60s. It seems that they lacked the resources to design cars that didn’t look either like pillbugs or mini Ford Taunuses. Seeing little future in that they entered into a deal with 20% stakeholder Nissan to help with styling duties. That resulted in the ensuing Leone looking a lot like. . . well, the Nissans of the time.
Today’s 1978 Leone 4x4 wagon is an exemplar of that long-hood/short tail style and this one is so small and scruffy that it reminds one a little of Tyrion Lannister - post Blackwater. By the way, yesterday was actor Peter Dinklage’s birthday!
These cars were originally powered by the EA71 OHV edition of Subaru’s iconic boxer rebellion four. That 1,595-cc weezer was good for an anemic 67 horses, which did managed to move the little car, but only due to its light weight.
This one however has seen that ‘70s EA71 get the heave-ho, to be replaced by a 2.2-litre EJ221, which is a SOHC flat four that should be good for 135-bhp. Behind that is a five-speed manual and two-speed transfer case from what's said to be an '87, sending power to both front and rear wheels.
Overall the car looks to be solid, if not prime valet positioning condition. The blue paint is somewhat translucent in places and the bumpers have more dings and waves than a kindergardener’s clay Father's Day project.
On the inside, the seats are covered with shrouds which doesn’t bode well for the viability of their surface or stuffing. I think my favorite part of the ad however, is the interior shot where the picture taker looks like he’s smoking a bowl in the rearview. Party on Garth!
Speaking of the ad, it doesn’t really say much about the car’s current state, although the note that it has “modern drivability and reliability” leads one to believe that it does move under its own power.
Still, the seller cryptically says that it has a touch left to finish up, and that if left to do so he’s only going to increase the price. That means that should someone be looking for an old Subie with the heart of a. . . well, not new one exactly, but pretty damn close, then they should jump on it right now.
To do so will take $3,500, and remember the seller is threatening to finish up the car - whatever that means - which will only mean he’d throw that amount back in your face. What do you think about that price for this heart recipient? Does that seem like a deal? Or, is does that mean this Leone is flatlining? CLEAR!
You decide!
Denver Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
H/T to bigblockbear for the hookup!
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