How the 1983 Subaru GL wagon turned the Household Huckster for “Gymkhana 2022”

Travis Pastrana’s newest “Gymkhana” automotive is a 1983 Subaru GL wagon referred to as the Household Huckster. It could not appear to be an apparent alternative for one among these builds, however the GL wagon made good sense to Pastrana and his staff.

As defined in an episode of Subaru of America’s “Launch Management” YouTube present, Pastrana needed to comply with up the Subaru WRX STI Airslayer, the one-off STI he drove in “Gymkhana 2020” and used to set a report on the Mt. Washington Hill Climb, with one thing retro.

Travis Pastrana drives a Subaru wagon in Gymkhana 2022

The WRX was the apparent alternative, however the staff at Vermont SportsCar, which constructed the Airslayer, needed to construct one thing totally different that was nonetheless distinctively Subaru. The automaker was identified for constructing utilitarian wagons lengthy earlier than the WRX first tore up a rally stage, so the 1983 Subaru GL match the invoice.

The GL wagon additionally supplied the opportunity of a particular livery. It was out there with a red-white-and-blue graphics bundle as a tie-in to Subaru’s sponsorship of the U.S. Ski Crew. That look was replicated on the Household Huckster. 

The Household Huckster does not have a lot in frequent with a inventory GL wagon, although. It is based mostly on a bespoke tube-frame chassis with carbon-fiber physique panels incorporating energetic aero parts. Below the hood sits the identical 2.3-liter turbocharged flat-4 used within the Airslayer STI, producing the identical 862 hp. On the similar time, Vermont SportsCar tried to maintain the look as retro as doable, with particulars like Eighties-style graphics for the digital instrument cluster and a brake-bias swap disguised as a cigarette lighter.

Pastrana introduced the Household Huckster to Florida for “Gymkhana 2022,” the eleventh installment within the collection, the place the wagon shared the highlight with lifted pickup vehicles, a jet ski on wheels, and a 3,000-hp Chevrolet El Camino belonging to YouTube character Cleetus McFarland. As with earlier movies, there are epic stunts, but in addition loads of shut calls, and one scary accident that, paradoxically, did not contain a automotive. The same old warning of “do not do that at dwelling” positively applies.

Take a look at the complete video for the behind-the-scenes motion.