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Everyone has to see Travis Pastrana jump a Subaru Brat over a frozen lake. You might know Travis Pastrana as an X Games gold medalist, motorsports competitor, or from his show Nitro Circus. We think his most impressive feats are the stunts he performs. In fact, he replicated several of Evel Knievel‘s most famous jumps in Las Vegas without sustaining a single injury. This time, Travis did some outside-the-box thinking and came up with a stunt that no one had even thought of before, let alone attempted.

Watch Travis Pastrana jump a Subaru Brat over a frozen lake

Usually, when a stunt performer like Pastrana makes a dangerous jump, they’re inside a vehicle that’s well-equipped for the occasion. For instance, in a recent Hoonigan video, Travis Pastrana jumped his WRX STI over bodies of water and roads surrounded by trees traveling upwards of 150 mph. His WRX STI is riddled with equipment for doing stunts, just in case something goes wrong.

The Subaru Brat seen in this video has nothing of the sort. Despite the professional driver making things look like a breeze, he’s in a tremendous amount of danger. The newest video from Nitro Rallycross shows the iconic motorsports driver on a frozen lake with a few different Subarus. If driving a WRX around icy, snowy curves isn’t impressive enough, the Subaru Brat jump certainly will be.

Travis Pastrana’s Subaru Brat survived the jump

A red 1984 Subaru Brat coupe utility jumps over a frozen lake in Vermont with Travis Pastrana behind the wheel.
1984 Subaru Brat | Nitro Rallycross via YouTube

After Pastrana finishes up with the Impreza WRX, he whips out a 1984 Subaru Brat. Remarkably, he successfully makes the jump despite the old beater barely being able to pick up enough speed. Although it doesn’t handle hitting the ground too comfortably, Pastrana and the Brat are fine, and the jump is successful. The only safety equipment involved with the Brat jump was a roll bar in the bed and a helmet on Travis Pastrana’s head.

It’s awe-inspiring for the old Brat to make a jump like this. We didn’t think it would survive driving in the cold weather of Vermont, let alone making a jump over a frozen lake. If Subaru suddenly decides to bring the Brat back, this could be the perfect advertisement. What could sell a car better than watching Travis Pastrana jump a Subaru Brat over a frozen lake?

What is a Subaru Brat?

A red 1984 Subaru Brat coupe utility lands in the snow after making a big stunt jump with Travis Pastrana behind the wheel.
1984 Subaru Brat lands in the snow | Nitro Rallycross via YouTube

The Subaru Brat was a four-wheel-drive coupe utility vehicle produced from 1978 to 1994. Interestingly, the model name is an acronym that stands for “Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter.” Subaru went with the shortened version since that name sounds like something from a Dr. Seuss book. A coupe utility vehicle means that it is a two-door coupe with a pickup truck-like bed.

Automakers produced coupe utility vehicles for a while, but they all died out due to a lack of sales. Other automakers made similar models like the Chevy El Camino, Ford Ranchero, and GMC Sprint.

Dangerous stunts are nothing new to Travis Pastrana. He’s performed motorsports and other types of stunts for years. What makes his latest video so impressive is the use of the 1984 Subaru Brat. An already dangerous stunt becomes even more so when using an unprepared vehicle. The vehicle of choice makes it a bit more entertaining, as it’s one of the last models you’d think to see performing stunts over a frozen lake. That’s why it’s so amazing that Travis Pastrana made the jump with a Subaru Brat.

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