I bought a brand new 1990 RS Loyale 2 dr coupe, fresh off the lot in Marysville, WA. very first Subaru I ever owned, LOVED the push button 4wd feature! now I'm actually on my 4th, an Outback 2011, just gotta watch those timing belts and head gaskets. thanks for sharing this, miss that Subbie! hope you enjoy yours!
Awesome - some updates on progress would be great - I am a Subaru Legacy 2001 GX daily driver and love the old Subaru style - new ones have lost the Pegasus awe.
I owned a 1986 Subaru Leone RX coupe Japanese spec as my first car. Brilliant machine, amazing on gravel and snow. My version didn't have a viscous center diff so if you did a u turn on tarseal in 4wd the front wheels would scuff. It had 3 drive modes 2wd/4wd hi/ 4wd lo, not sure why you would want low ratio on a coupe, also had a rear LSD. Used low ratio once to pull a heavy trailer of firewood up a muddy track from the river... good ground clearance on it about 160ish mm from memory. It wasn't reliable however, every conceivable fluid leaked in my ownership including various rain leaks into the cabin. I'm certain the Japanese version I had was about 100kw (134hp). It had factory checkered flag seats with vinyl/ leather bolsters that I was quite proud of lol.
I picked up a Leone GL1.8 from 88, and I don't know what it is but the seat is damaged in exactly the same way, the trunk was full of crap (and water), and maybe you have the same issue but the inside took on more water than a sinking boat, engine is bulletproof though, started up after only a timing belt change and a service after 10 years of standing still on the first try.
Yeah man! I'm hard at work rebuilding tbe engine. I've got more diy mechanics videos coming if you're interested in that kinda thing. What do you like in a RU-vid mechanics video?
Mine was a late '87 3-dr with the rear spoiler and for about 3-4 months from late '87 to early '88 they had a 50lb fuel pump instead of the 40lb in the rest due to the nearly 200hp short run, so they could race it thus, so I was told. Mine was bone stock and was neck & neck with a '93 'Vette to 70mph where cubic inches & aerodynamics took over and away went the 'Vette - lol Most fun car I've driven and I lived for stormy days so I could engage the LSD rear & front 50/50 4WD drive and hammer curvy coastal roads near the Russian River, CA. ...I shoulda kept it - I still have a new turbo for it in a box, lol
I used to drive my neighbors GLT4A. Interesting car but not that powerful. I'd love to find one because I've never seen once since. Built for the rally circuit with no luxuries. Manual windows, but did have adjustable suspension and a button to put it into 4x4.
I loved the video, great work! You should do more of these, I have a Brat Turbo now but I want an RX as an early drive, they're very rare here in Costa Rica and there is one for sale now.
I have a 1985 and ya full sti swapped 2006 with the 5 lug on tein coilovers 400wheel torque and insurance is the basic coverage but like 36 bucks a month be the 250 sti per month insurance. I fabricate a custom rear upper for coilovers from 2008 sti
When my wife was 18 we started dating and her father bought her one of these cars for her first car. It broke down a lot but it was such a great car when it was working right. Dual range transmission, transfer case with 2 & 4 wheel drive select, 3 locking diffs, turbo 1.4 liter with no low end power but a screamer at high revs. Loads of fun in snow & mud. We finally sold it to a guy who fixed it up for his son. Poor kid couldn't handle the speed & lost control at highway speed killing himself and a woman in an oncoming car. It was sad seeing a picture of our old car broken in two pieces across the drivers seat on the newspaper front page. The kid had his seat belt on but the car ripped in half dumping him out on the road.
@@jaredrusk1053 i loved the car. The kid was on bald tires during heavy rain going down a long mountain grade. He hydroplaned across the double yellow lines into an oncoming car. The other lady also was killed.
Of course I know it. Had one myself for rallying, 1988 and it had 136HP. Unfortunately extremely unreliable car with unpredictable handling. But I guess most rally fans from that era know it too since Ari Vatanen, Per Eklund, Harald Demuth, Mike Kirkland and Possum Bourne were amongst its drivers.
May dad has two of these cars he has a street legal one and a 1 of 15 specially imported from Japan as a rally car and a famous rally driver drove it ( don’t know if he is famous now tho
Got more coming! Sitting on video goldmine of engine diagnoses, tear-out and breakdown. Just want to get her put back together before I get too deep in editing. Are you interested in seeing some hardcore DIY mechanicing? I'm taking a poll 😅
Respectfully, let me tell you that your Subaru is the third gen Subaru Leone (also known as Loyale) and thus is a Third Gen Subaru RX rally inspired subie, there was a second gen earlier in the 1980's and the first gen RX in the 1970's Decade. www.imcdb.org/vehicle_218690-Subaru-Leone-Coupe-1974.html Kind Regards.
You are 100% right, Jezek, and I appreciate the correction. It would be more accurate to say "the last of the first" rally inspired Subarus, perhaps. Were the older generation RXs also turbocharged? This model was the first and only to feature the body kit and the full-time awd, correct? I have followed your Bumblebeast content on the USMB for years. You are a great inspiration to me. Thanks for watching 😀
@@jaredrusk1053 Thank you for your kind words, which I realy appreciate. In the previous generation of the Subaru Leone (EA81) there were two different teams developing engine improvements, one developed the Sports version of the EA81 which had reverse position valves and twin hitachi carburetors, known as the EA81S and the mere last version of it, which were used on the Safary Rally in 1983, featured twin downdraft Weber carburetors, each one mounted directly over each head, and a crosspipe for coolant between heads; Meanwhile, the other team already had a Turbo MPFI EA81S known as "EA81T" which came to sale on late 1982 in Japan, 1983 models in USA; However, the launch of the "Turbo Traction" Models in 1983 was limited outside Japan to the Brat pick-up and to the Wagon. Subaru offered a Turbo Coupé in Japan which was going to be the RX with the EA81T, but simultaneously, they already had finished the Development in-house of a New engine, (Later the EA82) which had the advantages learned from the EA81S such as reverse valves, MPFi but featured timing belts and was 2.0 displacement (code named EA91) in show prototypes built in 1983, and also they already had the Third gen Leone (aka: Loyale) new Body Style but wanted a new engine for it. So, Subaru started the production of the EA82 in Turbo since mid 1984 as 1985 models, but they downsized displacement to 1.8L for production, due to problems in the Head Desing (They were in a Hurry somehow and developed two more different generations of Heads for the EA82T after time) so, there were No Turbo RX previously to this Third Gen Leone (Loyale). Despite the existence of few Turbo EA81T Coupes for Japan Only in 1984, which were going to be RX´s. Also, regarding body kits, there were available them for the second gen Leone, as far as I know, as part of the extense list of accesories that were sold, both by Subaru and by aftermarket companies. Finally, all RX´s featured traction in all four wheels, although the previous two generations (Second gen leone or EA81 and first gen Leone or EA71) RX´s were 4WD while the Third gen Leone (or EA82) were AWD with differential lock. More info & photos on the EA81S, down in the link below: www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/149384-quad-carbs/?tab=comments#comment-1252461 Kind Regards.
I would love to come and just look her over. Right now mine is in as many pieces as she ever will be. I could use the inspiration. PM me on Instagram or FB, jaredrusk
Jared Rusk I don’t have FB or Instagram but would love to show you my car if you want. It’s a fun car and very rare. I’m not much into social media but you can Snap me
You're right. Technically if it was JDM it would be an RX/ii I think. It's all in the decals and trim. I have to get decals printed as my car has none. It can become whatever it wants to be! RX/iii?
The Earliest Rally inspired Subaru was the 1300 G dual carb in the 1960's then the first RX leone in 1974, second RX in 1980 and finally the Third gen RX which is the one you have. So, yours is the fourth gen rally Subie. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0McXe7Y2U1Y.html
Somebody races one of these here in Belgium in Regularity races. See: www.rallyuitslagen.be/2018/Gitter/DeelnemerslijstReg.pdf How do I know? I was in the same race with my rare Subaru :p
