Weekend Edition – A Very Rare 1983 Subaru (Leone) GL Convertible Conversion on eBay

Jim Brennan

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It is the Summer Holiday Weekend Edition of Hooniverse, and we are chocked full of unexpected postings, and I get to start it off with this very interesting Subaru. This is a 1983 Subaru (Leone) GL Coupe that was converted into a convertible. It really is a very unusual car, one that you don’t expect to be put up for sale anywhere, let alone from the great state of Maine. More on the conversion process, and those ghastly white spoke rims after the jump.

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According to the listing:

No, Subaru never actually made this car. The convertible top is a conversion done by American Custom Coachworks in 1983. Many different vehicles were adapted to convertibles during this time period. There were only a few GL convertibles made by this Southern California company in 1983-84. They cut the top off a GL 2 dr. This “coachworks” trend came about due to increased safety regulations on automakers which lead to them not producing convertibles in these years. When safety regulations were standardized then auto manufacturers started making convertibles again and this coach industry disappeared.

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The White Spoke Rims were added on to several Subaru models by Subaru of New England, who was responsible for the distribution of cars throughout New England. Not only were the rims an extra charge, so were things like the extra body side molding (seen on this car as well), and the extraordinarily cheap looking luggage rack (also a part of this particular car). Things like wood grained dash boards, and “Rusty Jones” rust proofing were also applied at the port of entry, and the dealer had to request the distributor to leave it off.

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Asking price for this very rare GL is $6,500, which seems a bit high for a Convertible Conversion with this many miles. What do you think about it? See the listing here: [sc:ebay itemid=”290940520040″ linktext=”1983 Subaru GL Convertible” ]

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Jim Brennan

Jim Brennan

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16 responses to “Weekend Edition – A Very Rare 1983 Subaru (Leone) GL Convertible Conversion on eBay”

  1. Kris_01 Avatar
    Kris_01

    I don't get it…. asking a premium price, but can't be bothered to, say, put air in the freakin' tires?

    Reply
  2. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    When a mid-80's SAAB 900 convertible just doesn't raise enough eyebrows… I consider this an 11 on the cool scale.

    Reply
  3. Van_Sarockin Avatar
    Van_Sarockin

    I does look very nice, and well taken care of. Just not nine grand nice. The wheels are easy enough to fix, so I wouldn't let that deter me. Now if it was AWD…

    Reply
    1. Rasvis Avatar
      Rasvis

      Leone used bolt pattern 4×140 so finding a smarter set of wheels may not be too easy. My ancient Peugeot 505 had same pattern and the only decent rims I found were TRX ones, with metric tires. That wasn't cheap rubber.

      Reply
      1. scoudude Avatar
        scoudude

        All the GL/DL/GL-10/Loyale cars used that same bolt pattern so wheels are a dime a dozen, however the white spoke wheels are the most coveted ones available in those years.

        Reply
        1. Rasvis Avatar
          Rasvis

          That's right. What I meant was finding nice aftermarket wheels would be a pain. I guess there hasn't been much demand for these for, say, twenty years.

          Reply
      2. Van_Sarockin Avatar
        Van_Sarockin

        I was thinking more of painting the wheels body color or silver. But, yeah.

        Reply
  4. salguod Avatar
    salguod

    I seem to remember all or at least many Subarus of this era had those white wagon wheels, even here in Ohio.

    Reply
    1. scoudude Avatar
      scoudude

      Yeah there is nothing special about those wheels they were available on those cars sold anywhere in the US, and they are in demand from the guys who lift their Subarus.

      Reply
      1. dukeisduke Avatar
        dukeisduke

        They were fairly common on Brats here in Texas, and on some other Subies as well, including Justys.

        Reply
  5. craigsu Avatar
    craigsu

    Those wheels would look right at home on a Brat/Brumby. Since it's a Subie I like 'em anyway.

    Reply
  6. scoudude Avatar
    scoudude

    Nothing particularly special about those wheels or side trim they were both regular production options. The luggage rack was almost certainly applied by the convertible conversion company since so much of the trunk was sacrificed to not have the top stack up so high when lowered.
    There were never any safety standards enacted that made mfg's stop offering convertibles, they were only proposed which along with the high take rate of AC caused them to drop them since it took about 3 years from design to production. With the proposed roll over standards that looked very likely to take effect it wasn't worth designing that option as new models were introduced. By the time the standards were shelved it was too late, and mfgs had their hands, and budgets, full with ever tightening emissions standards, safety standards, and CAFE looming. As soon as their heads were back above water they started offering them on cars that made sense, initially by contracting and outside company as Ford did with the Mustangs they sent to ASC and then designing and building them in house.

    Reply
    1. scoudude Avatar
      scoudude

      Also 124K is just broken in on one of these so if it didn't have too much cowl shake I'd say it is a steal at 5K and still doable at 6K. But yeah at least the guy could have put some air in the tire before taking pictures if he really wanted to get top dollar.

      Reply
  7. kayoteq Avatar
    kayoteq

    They don't look as nice with the top up. <img src="http://webmonkees.com/art/brat/boot.jpg"&gt;
    Also, note Beauty Ring on rear wheel. That makes the wagon wheels nice.

    Reply
    1. scoudude Avatar
      scoudude

      Never seen a canopy like that or any canopy on a Brat, though I've seen a couple on the modern version the Baja.

      Reply
      1. kayoteq Avatar
        kayoteq

        Google "Subaru Brumby" and you can see a mirror hooniverse full of RHD wonders. They kept selling them in Australia till 1992. Disclaimer: Photoshop concept, actual cover is not a zebra stripe. Considering it.

        Reply