How a 1983 Subaru GL wagon became a family huckster for "Gymkhana 2022"

Travis Pastrana's latest "gymkhana" car is a 1983 Subaru GL wagon called the Family Huckster. The choice of a GL wagon for such a car may seem surprising, but for Pastrana and his team, the GL wagon is the car that makes sense.

As explained in an episode of Subaru of America's YouTube show "Launch Control," Pastrana drives the Subaru WRX STI, a one-off STI that he drove in Gymkhana 2020 and set a record at the Mount Washington Hill Climb He wanted to build a retro machine to follow the Air Slayer.

The WRX was the obvious choice, but the Vermont Sports Car team that built the Air Slayer wanted to create something different while still retaining a Subaru feel. Subaru had been known for making practical wagons long before the WRX was used in rallies.

The GL wagon also offered the possibility of a distinctive livery: the GL was available with a red-white-and-blue graphics package tied to the Subaru-sponsored American Ski Team. This livery was also used for the Family Huckster.

The Family Huckster, however, had little in common with the normal GL wagon. It was based on a custom-built tube-frame chassis with carbon fiber body panels incorporating active aero elements. Under the hood is the same 2.3-liter turbo flat-4 as the Air Slayer STI, producing the same 862 hp. At the same time, Vermont Sports Cars tried to keep the retro look as much as possible, including a digital meter cluster with 1980s-style graphics and a brake bias switch disguised as a cigarette lighter.

Pastrana brought the family huckster to Florida for the 11th installment of the series, Gymkhana 2022, which featured a lifted pickup truck, a jet ski on wheels, and a 3,000 He was in the spotlight along with his horsepower Chevrolet El Camino. As with previous videos, while there were spectacular stunts, there were also many close calls and, ironically, a scary accident that did not involve a car. The usual warning of "don't do this at home" definitely applies.

For more behind-the-scenes action, check out the full video.