Subaru Apocalypse Wagon
Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 2:58 am
Updated March 14, 2014
Camo wrap (March 2014):
2013 SCCA RallyCross SoPac National Challenge:
(photo by Regine Trias)
Porterfield Glen Helen RallyX Practice:
At the CalClub SCCA Autocross in January:
Lake Isabella in August 2012:
Glen Helen RallyCross Championship 2012:
Death Valley / Hunter Mountain 2012:
Interior shot:
Current mods / parts:
* IPF 968 lights with 100 watt bulbs on a custom light bar built with the help of Chris West (http://www.westcoastfiero.com) and my girlfriend. Actually they did most of the work, I just had the vision (and measuring tape).
* Yakima LoadWarrior basket with Hella FF lights, shovel mount, spare tire mount, CB radio antenna, and Hi-Lift jack
* Yellow-tinted fog lights
* Window tint (thanks to Scott Kim at [urlhttp://www.advancebra.com/]Advance Auto Engineering[/url] in Cerritos)
* Primitive Racing front skidplate and rear diff protector
* Custom mudflaps
* Midland 1001LWX CB Radio
* Kenwood KDC-X994 /w bluetooth
* Boston Acoustics speakers
* GoPro mounts on front bumper and roof basket
* Red LED interior lighting (for maintaining night vision during nighttime activities like astronomy)
* STI group-N dogbone
* King KSRS-29 rear springs (higher spring rate than stock) and custom 1/2" HDPE rear shock spacers
* Grabber AT-2 tires on stock wheels for backcountry roads
* Matte-black Motegi MR118 wheels (17x8) for street driving, TPMS-equipped (Dill TPMS)
Right after I bought it:
It took me two months to find a black Outback with black leather and a 5-speed. Such a combination is apparently not suitable for the target market. At least 90% of the cars are white with beige interior and automatics. I could only find a few black on black 5-speeds for sale all over the entire United States. I finally found one in mint condition 3 hours from LA a couple weeks ago. 128,000 miles on it and immaculate service records. It's in very good shape.
Now I have a good basis for my Apocalypse Wagon project..
Excuse the minor dirt; I couldn't find any mud that wasn't part of the impassable lakeshore marshland, so I wasn't able to get it as dirty as I wanted to.
It was bone stock when I purchased it; I've added the roof basket, Hella lights, window tint, and replaced all the interior incandescent lights with LEDs for extended operation without running the battery down. The dome light and rear compartment light are red, to add a battleship map room atmosphere.
The rear seat cushion pivots forward, allowing the seats to fold down completely flat. There's enough room in the back for two people to sleep comfortable with legs stretched out.
Offroad performance is decent. Ground clearance is ~9.5 inches to the rocker panel. There are no mechanical parts below that point, just the exhaust.
Future mods will be revealed as they are completed. Since I know everyone is going to ask, I'll answer now: no, I'm not planning on adding forced induction anytime soon. I plan to finish my Fiero before I touch the motor in the Apocalypse Wagon.
I'll try to get some night-time lighting pics at some point.
Camo wrap (March 2014):
2013 SCCA RallyCross SoPac National Challenge:
(photo by Regine Trias)
Porterfield Glen Helen RallyX Practice:
At the CalClub SCCA Autocross in January:
Lake Isabella in August 2012:
Glen Helen RallyCross Championship 2012:
Death Valley / Hunter Mountain 2012:
Interior shot:
Current mods / parts:
* IPF 968 lights with 100 watt bulbs on a custom light bar built with the help of Chris West (http://www.westcoastfiero.com) and my girlfriend. Actually they did most of the work, I just had the vision (and measuring tape).
* Yakima LoadWarrior basket with Hella FF lights, shovel mount, spare tire mount, CB radio antenna, and Hi-Lift jack
* Yellow-tinted fog lights
* Window tint (thanks to Scott Kim at [urlhttp://www.advancebra.com/]Advance Auto Engineering[/url] in Cerritos)
* Primitive Racing front skidplate and rear diff protector
* Custom mudflaps
* Midland 1001LWX CB Radio
* Kenwood KDC-X994 /w bluetooth
* Boston Acoustics speakers
* GoPro mounts on front bumper and roof basket
* Red LED interior lighting (for maintaining night vision during nighttime activities like astronomy)
* STI group-N dogbone
* King KSRS-29 rear springs (higher spring rate than stock) and custom 1/2" HDPE rear shock spacers
* Grabber AT-2 tires on stock wheels for backcountry roads
* Matte-black Motegi MR118 wheels (17x8) for street driving, TPMS-equipped (Dill TPMS)
Right after I bought it:
It took me two months to find a black Outback with black leather and a 5-speed. Such a combination is apparently not suitable for the target market. At least 90% of the cars are white with beige interior and automatics. I could only find a few black on black 5-speeds for sale all over the entire United States. I finally found one in mint condition 3 hours from LA a couple weeks ago. 128,000 miles on it and immaculate service records. It's in very good shape.
Now I have a good basis for my Apocalypse Wagon project..
Excuse the minor dirt; I couldn't find any mud that wasn't part of the impassable lakeshore marshland, so I wasn't able to get it as dirty as I wanted to.
It was bone stock when I purchased it; I've added the roof basket, Hella lights, window tint, and replaced all the interior incandescent lights with LEDs for extended operation without running the battery down. The dome light and rear compartment light are red, to add a battleship map room atmosphere.
The rear seat cushion pivots forward, allowing the seats to fold down completely flat. There's enough room in the back for two people to sleep comfortable with legs stretched out.
Offroad performance is decent. Ground clearance is ~9.5 inches to the rocker panel. There are no mechanical parts below that point, just the exhaust.
Future mods will be revealed as they are completed. Since I know everyone is going to ask, I'll answer now: no, I'm not planning on adding forced induction anytime soon. I plan to finish my Fiero before I touch the motor in the Apocalypse Wagon.
I'll try to get some night-time lighting pics at some point.