1998 Subaru Impreza STi 22B

We are excited to be offering for sale car number 116 of the 400 22Bs produced and originally sold in the country of its manufacture. It was imported into Europe from Japan in 2008 by an Austrian collector. He completed all the necessary import formalities, but never registered the car or even drove it. What a shame!

Our Polish seller purchased the car from him six years ago and registered the car in Europe for the first time. To our delight, he has gently used the car, covering around 600km during his ownership. There have been no track days, tempting though that would be, or long journeys even, the car being used for high days and holiday drives only.

When not in use, the 22B has been safely garaged, though started and moved around regularly to keep everything in fine shape.

When imported from Japan, the car had been stylised from the outside to look like a WRC car. The work had been done by famous Japanese company Launsport.

Our seller was not a fan, preferring instead to return the car to the same condition it left the factory in back in 1998.

In addition, a full recommissioning service was carried out, details of which are listed in the history section.

We are told the car drives superbly – no funny noises, no warning lights, just scintillating performance to excite the performance car enthusiast. Collectable, driveable, this car has it all and we know it will attract interest from around the world.

Immediately after purchase, our seller commissioned a detailing company to remove the WRC stickers. He then purchased the 22B badges and pink logo for the front grille.

During the work, it was confirmed that the car had an accident-free history, but it was noted that the front right side of the bumper had a second coat of paint.

When the stickers were removed, it was found that they had damaged the lacquer on the bonnet, passenger door and bumpers, so these had to be professionally resprayed, along with the nearside sill spoiler.

This year a new ceramic coating was applied and we think the car looks absolutely stunning. Great in the photographs, even better in the metal!

The blue and black cloth upholstery still look almost new with no wear, tear or bobbling. The front seats give as much support as you’d expect of a car with the 22B’s performance, and yet they’re still more comfortable than most of the seats that come out of Germany.

The door cards, headlining, dashboard, and controls are all still very good, too. While the Impreza’s interior might not be the most exotic you’ll ever see, there’s no denying wither the ergonomics or the quality; this one, which you’ll recall dates back to the dying days of the last century, is still excellent and, more importantly, fully functional. That’s remarkable.

There is a non-original disc player fitted during its time in Japan, and every time the car is started, a female voice greets you in Japanese. Our seller rather liked the nostalgic element of this so chose to leave well alone.

The dashboard carries that all important plaque, confirming that this car is number 116 on the limited production run.

The boot is home to the spare wheel and tool kit and is in quite excellent condition. In fact, the whole interior is almost factory fresh – remarkable!

When our seller had the ceramic coating applied earlier this year, he also had an anti-corrosion coating applied to the whole chassis. He tells us it was in almost factory condition, and he was keen to keep it that way.

The Japanese do not use salt to grit their roads in winter, thus helping prevent the rampant corrosion we often see in Europe. All bar 600kms were covered in Japan, which has clearly paid dividends.

Our seller informs us that the engine, exhaust, drive train and chassis are all original.

Lifting the bonnet reveals that powerful hand-built engine in all its glory. The bay itself is remarkably clean and everything points to this car being one which has been cared for and maintained well, which we know it has been.

Sadly, we do not have any documentation relating to the 22B’s early years in Japan, where almost all of the car’s miles were covered. We think it is safe to assume that it will have been enthusiast owned and maintained.

It arrived in Europe in 2008 and remained carefully stored until May 2017 when it was bought by our seller.

We have already outlined the removal of the WRC graphics, so now it is time to detail all the maintenance that has been carried out in the last few years.

Early on in his ownership the car was entrusted to a specialist and the work carried out included:

• New flywheel
• Motul 300V engine oil
• New rear differential bushes
• New rear wishbone bushes
• New gearbox and diff oil
• Replacement V belt and tensioners
• New filters
• Complete double disc clutch
• New engine and gearbox mounts
• Steering rods

The work cost some 8,000 Polish Zloty, equivalent to some £1,500.

3 years ago, all the wheel bearings were replaced and new brake discs and pads were fitted. The brake fluid was of course renewed at the same time.

Our seller also informs us that he has changed the oil on an annual basis, even though he has covered such a small mileage. We like this attention to detail.

We would also mention once again that a new ceramic coating was applied to the paintwork earlier this year and the chassis treated to an anti-corrosion coating.

Our seller states:

“I consider the condition of the car to be great, and the only lack are the titanium ‘Sti’ ellipses on the front fenders, which I can purchase at the buyer’s request. Everything works, no warning lights come on, no disturbing noises etc.”

Genuine icons are rarer than you think, and most can be identified by a single word: F40; Testarossa; F1; Countach; and the 22B.

Because, if you know then you know – and while the Impreza Turbo changed the world of high-performance driving almost single-handed, then the 22B moved the game on to a completely different level.

Ultra-rare, they were instant classics when they were released and snapped up by the sort of folk with deep pockets and the insight to acknowledge that we’d probably never see their like again.

This means that most of them were cherished from day one, carefully modified and preserved with an understanding that they were merely looking after it for the next generation, curating what they knew was an icon that would transcend the millennia.

Inspection is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the owner in Warsaw, Poland; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.