1983 Subaru Leone GLF1800 – Today’s Tempter

By: Alex Affat, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 30.04.2020

Want to make waves at your next All Japan car show? Step this way.

It’s almost an unspoken competition of obscurity at the many Japanese-only car shows around the country. If you’ve never attended one, you might be surprised at the crowds of pure enthusiasm drummed up by compact oddballs you’ve likely never seen before!

Don’t knock it ‘til you try it, they say; and if you want to make waves at your next local All Japan show, this Subaru Leone might just be the thing.

The Leone existed across three generations from 1971 until 1994, and is widely regarded as the forefather to the ubiquitous all-paw Impreza and subsequent WRX.

Indeed, in the earlier years of the company – the Leone was the sole offering in many international export markets until cars like the Legacy arrived in 1989.

The second-generation Leone was produced from 1979 until 1984 (although the Brat/Brumby ute offshoot lasted all the way until 1994), and was available in four-door sedan and wagon bodies, a three-door hatchback and two-door hardtop configuration.

Engines ranged from a 1.3lt flat-four boxer to 1.8lts, with a range-topping turbo model added in 1983.

Here we have a 1983 example in two-door hardtop guise with the naturally aspirated 1.8lt engine and three-speed automatic transmission.

It’s an incredibly rare and unusual car to find here in Australia, with good condition hardtops virtually extinct in their native homeland of Japan.

The seller describes this Leone to be in "pristine original condition" and "virtually as new", having covered 165,000kms - according to the listing.

They state that everything works as intended, including cold air-conditioning and comes with all service ownership books.

The seller stresses that the car should have no problems passing a roadworthy and is willing to provide more information for genuine enquiries.

It looks to be a very well-kept vehicle with plenty of lustre in the paint and a near-faultless engine bay and interior.

The Leone Hardtop is based in Victoria and is listed for $17,999.

Check out the full listing here!

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