Yahoo Autos Junkyard Gem: 2003 Subaru Baja
As our reviewer asked when writing about the 2003 Baja: Remember the Subaru BRAT? Yes, from the 1978 through 1987 model years, Subaru sold a version of the Leone with a pickup bed in the United States, and memories of the BRAT remained fond even after all the lawsuits over injuries suffered by passengers riding in the Chicken Tax-avoiding jumpseats. That's why it seemed to make sense for Subaru to give the BRAT treatment to the much larger Legacy; today's Junkyard Gem is one of those first-year Baja pickups.
Most of the discarded Subarus I document are found in car graveyards located in my Subaru-loving home state of Colorado, but I spotted this one 1,300 miles to the southeast. That's right, New Orleans, Louisiana, home of Louis Armstrong, Professor Longhair and the Cain't Git Bayou 24 Hours of Lemons race. I was in New Orleans to judge at the 2024 Cain't Git Bayou event and found time to sneak over to the Pull-a-Part nearby.
I haven't been able to find a Baja in a Colorado junkyard that wasn't burned and/or mangled beyond easy recognition, presumably because they are so beloved in the Centennial State that owners keep the not-too-trashed examples on the street. I spotted two of them at the New Orleans Pull-a-Part.
Subaru built the Baja for the 2003 through 2006 model years, terminating production after disappointing sales numbers. In fact, this publication rated the Baja as the sixth most embarrassing car you could drive, back in 2013 (#1 was the Smart ForTwo).
The Baja was essentially a stretched Legacy Outback wagon with a pickup bed grafted on. In 2003, American Subaru shoppers could still get a Legacy Outback sedan (which remained available through 2004), though exterior Legacy badging was dropped from the Outback sedan and wagon starting with the 2000 model year.
The reason the Baja had to be a half-foot longer than its Outback wagon sibling was so there would be room for four doors and a back seat.
There were "Sports Bars" behind the cab to strengthen the structure and give the Baja a tough off-roady appearance.
The bed was small but useful.
