Deep Dive Travis Pastrana Gymkhana Car, Subaru Family Huckster

Travis Pastrana's "family huckster" packs the guts of a gymkhana car into the body of a 1983 Subaru GL wagon. Pastrana unveiled this unusual machine earlier this year, and the wagon will make its gymkhana video debut on December 6.

Inspired by the Subaru GL wagon used in a marketing tie-up with a U.S. ski team, the family huckster retains the normal boxy profile, but features a custom tube frame chassis, carbon fiber body panels and doors The wheelbase is nearly identical to the stock. The wheelbase is nearly identical to the normal, but the hucksters are about a foot wider.

This is both a return to Subaru's early days and a practical choice for videography, Pastrana explains in the video. The driver can easily see the corners of the car from the driver's seat, which is useful when driving near obstacles. Also, there is no need to worry about damaging the protruding rear wing, as with the Subaru WRX STI Air Slayer that Pastrana used to use in gymkhana.

Like the Air Slayer, the family huckster was built by Vermont Sports Car Company, which builds the WRX STI rally cars that Pastrana drives in the American Rally Association (ARA) championship. Underneath the boxy Subaru GL bodywork, there are quite a few similarities with these rally cars.

Power comes from the same 2.3-liter flat-4 turbo as the Air Slayer. This engine produces 862 hp, the same as the Air Slayer, and is sent to all four wheels via a six-speed sequential gearbox. The top speed of the family huckster is higher than the Air Slayer, reaching 175 mph.

The Family Huckster also incorporates some of the active aerodynamic elements of the Air Slayer. The flaps pop up when additional downforce is needed and retract to reduce grip levels when the pastrana wants to go sideways. In place of the Air Slayer's large rear wing, the Family Huckster has a movable wing that rises from the roof.

In keeping with the family wagon theme, Vermont SportsCar added a roof rack that also serves an aerodynamic function. It helps direct air to the roof-mounted intake for the radiator at the rear of the vehicle.

For authenticity, the outside of the wagon is fitted with the original Subaru GL taillights and badges, and inside are several factory switches Vermont SportsCar also replicated the factory dashboard in carbon fiber with the original interior blue hue that references the original color. The digital meter cluster also features 1980s-style graphics. The pastorana activates the radio when pressed and the windshield wipers when pulled.

The family huckster will be featured in a new Gymkhana video that will premiere on December 6. Until then, watch the full video for an up-close look at this unique wagon.