Subaru Family Huckster Front 34

VT21g: The Family Huckster

VT21g – 1983 Subaru GL Family Huckster

The Gymkhana stunt-driving franchise has left its mark on automotive culture with more than a half-billion views on YouTube. Starting from Gymkhana Practice in 2008, the first ten installments starred driver Ken Block ripping through the toughest circuits from San Francisco to Sweden. In 2020, Block handed the reins to longtime friend and rival Travis Pastrana for Gymkhana 2020 – the 11th installment in the franchise and the first to feature a Subaru since 2009’s Gymkhana Two. To date, Gymkhana 2020 has been viewed more than 51 million times.

Pastrana’s newest VSC-prepared Subaru Gymkhana car is an outrageous homage to the classic Subaru GL (‘Leone’ outside the USA) wagons from the 1980s. Affectionately named the Subaru GL ‘Family Huckster,’ the car made its debut at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it finished an impressive 5th overall in the timed Shootout, and will appear in an upcoming Gymkhana film later in 2022.

The Family Huckster incorporates a custom VSC designed 862hp turbocharged SUBARU BOXER 4 cylinder engine, all wheel drive, sequential 6 speed gearbox, long travel suspension (for jumps of course) and will incorporate new developments for the vehicle’s differential package from Pastrana’s record-setting winning run in the Airslayer STI at the 2021 Mt. Washington Hill Climb.

Also installed on the Family Huckster is an active aero rear wing, which is controlled electro-pneumatically, along with front and rear hydraulic aero flaps located on the fender flares which can be controlled automatically or manually. The custom, one-off KMC Wheels were inspired by the eight-spoke original-equipment wheels offered on the original 80s Subaru GL wagons. To make the Family Huckster as light as possible, the bodywork is composed of custom carbon fiber panels over a custom tubular spaceframe, which was designed around the most current FIA WRC regulations, including a twin-main hoop design for increased safety.

Rounding out the aesthetics is an authentic radio from an actual 1983 Subaru GL wagon donor car, along with a blue carbon fiber recreation of the 1983 GL wagon’s dashboard while the 12″ dashboard screen behind the steering wheel was custom programmed to mimic the look and style of the distinctive Subaru 1980s electronic dashboards.

“The GL wagon is an iconic Subaru that I thought would be pretty rad to see flying through the air, ” said Pastrana. “Surprisingly, the Family Huckster is a lot smaller than the Airslayer. Combine that with the boxy shape and you have a perfect recipe for next level precision driving. The Family Huckster is without a doubt my all time favorite vehicle to drive. I can’t wait to show the world what the car can do.”

ENGINE 
VSC Custom 2.3-liter horizontally opposed 4-cylinder Boxer engine
862 bhp and 664 lb-ft torque
Turbocharged and intercooled 
VSC billet block and billet heads
Garrett Motorsports turbocharger 
Dry sump oil system
VSC twin belt timing system with carbon fiber covers
VSC inlet manifold and carbon fiber cover
DLC coated camshafts
Sodium-cooled valves
VSC anti-lag system and turbo management

ELECTRICAL
Cosworth MQ12DI ECU
Lightweight motorsport wiring loom 
Cosworth electronic power control module and switch units
Cosworth data logger

WEIGHT 
2777lbs /1260kg *without driver

TRANSMISSION & DRIVE SYSTEM 
175mph top speed
SADEV 6-speed sequential dog-engagement gearbox
VSC carbon fiber gear lever
Tilton triple-plate carbon racing clutch
VSC front differential
SADEV rear differential  

COOLING
PWR radiator mounted in rear seat area
Custom carbon fiber radiator ducting
PWR front-mounted intercooler

SUSPENSION
Reiger competition suspension
VSC tubular front and rear cross members, suspension arms and links, hubs and spindles
Custom motorsport steering rack (11:1 ratio)
Motorsport high-flow power steering pump

ROLL CAGE / SHELL PREP 
Seam-welded shell custom FIA specification T45 roll cage

BRAKES 
AP Racing calipers with 343mm rotors
Endless brake pads ME20 RCP002
VSC carbon fiber Hydraulic Handbrake 

EXHAUST SYSTEM 
VSC custom exhaust manifold 
3D printed Inconel alloy fender-exit exhaust with Subaru logo embellishment

WHEELS  
Custom KMC 18 x 8.5 forged wheels

TIRES 
Yokohama ADVAN A052, ADVAN Apex

SEATS 
RECARO ProRacer SPG w/HANS (Head & Neck Restraint)
Seating for up to 2 adults

INTERIOR 
VSC carbon fiber dashboard, door cards, driver footplate
Schroth Enduro harnesses
Cosworth driver digital display
MoTec vehicle-status display

FUEL CELL 
FIA FT3.5 Fuel Cell (35+ Liters) 

BODY
VSC custom carbon fiber wide-body 
Carbon fiber flat floor, skid plate and rear diffuser
Active aerodynamics for optimized flight characteristics; fender and rear wing

MISC 
Aerodynamically optimized carbon fiber cross bars
Polycarbonate front windshield 
VSC polycarbonate side and rear windows 
Motorsport high-flow power steering pump 
Lifeline ZERO275 multi chamber fire suppression system

FLUIDS
Engine oil: MOTUL 300V 20W60
Transmission and differentials: MOTUL Gear Competition 75W140

Subaru Family Huckster Hard Braking
Subaru Family Huckster Dash Detail

Subaru Family Huckster Monster Truck

Subaru Family Huckster Goodwood Action

Subaru Family Huckster Gap Jump

Subaru Family Huckster Travis Pastrana

Subaru Family Huckster Engine Bay

Subaru Family Huckster Smoke Reflection

Subaru Family Huckster Duo

Subaru Family Huckster Goodwood Crowd

Subaru Family Huckster Water Explosion