2007 Subaru RB320

‘YT07 OFM’ is a very rare beast: a Subaru Impreza Turbo RB320 that’s had only one owner from new and just 18,800 miles on the odometer.

Keen drivers, the seller and his wife collected limited editions of cars they already owned, and being the tarmac expert, she identified the RB320 as a car they needed to own.

They collected it from Prodrive, which was an especially momentous day because Petter Solberg himself taught them how to make the most of the chassis he played such a large part in developing.

No strangers to the breed – they also owned a 400+bhp Impreza previously, importing the bits they needed direct from Japan, so it’s fair to say they know their stuff – he tells us that this is by far the quickest A-to-B Impreza they ever drove thanks to that infinitely adjustable chassis and the handbuilt Prodrive engine that was tuned to broaden the powerband rather than to make big numbers on paper.

Completely standard, it’s never been rallied or used for track days, just enjoyed sensibly on the road for a while before being carefully stored for the past decade or so.

It is now due a service, but the seller had the brakes recommissioned prior to consigning it to us and it now boasts an advisory-free MoT until July 2026, so you know the basics are fine. 
 

It’s a purposeful-looking thing, isn’t it? With a bluff front, acres of mesh grilles, and complex aerodynamic aids, the RB320’s imposing good looks are backed up by rallying essentials such as a full set of Prodrive mudflaps, four gold Brembo brake calipers, an enormous exhaust tailpipe, and a gigantic bonnet scoop.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

And the Obsidian Black Pearl paintwork (paint code 32J) shows off the panels to great effect; while black can be a somewhat difficult colour on older cars, nothing works in their favour better when the metalwork is as good as this.

Because, as you can see, the flanks are free of ripples, the four corners are free of park-by-touch scuffs, and the overall air is of a car that’s been driven with unusual care. The HPI check is clear too, providing further proof of the car’s unparalleled curation, which isn’t something that can always be said of an Impreza Turbo.

However, even curation as dedicated as this wasn’t enough to quell the usual paint/lacquer issues we see on just about every Subaru of the era, so you’ll need to budget to get that sorted out, probably by way of a machine polish.

Back to the good news.

The lamp lenses are bright and free of damage. The badges, including the all-important ‘RB320’ ones, are all present and correct. The frameless windows seal against their rubbers very well, and the polished mesh grilles are still straight and shiny.

It’s got a set of four Prodrive mudflaps too, and not one but two spoilers at the rear, one huge bi-level one on the boot lid and a smaller one on the roof.

The seven-spoke Prodrive alloy wheels, which hide the refurbished red-and-gold Brembo brake calipers, are generally good, with only a small amount of kerbing damage to the offside front and faded centre caps.

The tyres, which are matching Bridgestone Potenza, have good tread on them. Made in 2011, they were changed because the couple didn’t rate the ones it came with, not because they were worn out.

Other problems, aside from the paint and lacquer issue we’ve already mentioned, are few. There are a couple of small dents in the boot lid, a scuff on the rear bumper, and a dent on the offside A-pillar.
 

The interior is in great shape, including the black leather seats which are pretty much unmarked. They’re very comfortable too and their design ensures they’re as supportive as they need to be given this one’s propensity for high-G cornering.

There’s an STi steering wheel too, plus some fetching red decals on the instruments and the all-important C.DIFF controls and the switch for the intercooler water spray.

Other than that, it’s the usual Subaru fare of the period, which might be ever-so-slightly dull but is massively durable and reliable.

Which means the headlining is clean and taut, the blue carpets underneath the RB320 mats are free of wear and tear, and the rear seat might be only a couple of years old rather than 18.

The Clarion double-din headunit incudes sat-nav, and the fold-down front allows you to insert a CD or DVD.

The boot is surprisingly big, and features a fold-down flap so you can carry a couple of sets of skis. It’s also very well trimmed and clean, and hosts a space-saver spare wheel.

As for cosmetic flaws, we can’t see a thing that the Scooby’s new owner will need to sort out other than to maybe pop the mat from the driver’s footwell on a delicate wash.
 

The service history is excellent, with no fewer than six services across 17,000 miles.

•    27.04.2007 and 1,217 miles – service by St. Leger Subaru
•    07.08.2008 and 6,441 miles – service by Steve Barraclough
•    04.08.2009 and 10,559 miles – service by Steve Barraclough
•    15.03.2010 and 11,991 miles – service by Europa Subaru
•    17.03.2011 and 14,344 miles – service by Steve Barraclough
•    04.03.2014 and 17,235 miles – service by Autologic Hessle Ltd

As we mentioned, it’s barely been used between 2017 and now, so while it’s only covered around 1,600 miles since its last service, it is due another on the grounds of time elapsed.

Despite this it fires into life with the usual flat-four enthusiasm, idles perfectly, and revs with the glorious exhaust we’ve all fallen in love with over the years.

It’s got new discs and pads too, and the Brembo brake calipers were rebuilt only recently.

The engine bay is a bit grubby but that’s okay because grubbiness means it hasn’t been tarted up to hide a problem.

Some of the brackets, components, and fasteners around the engine and underneath have a veneer of rust on them but sorting that out would be satisfying and straightforward.

Importantly, the suspension struts are free of structural corrosion, and the underside looks solid; certainly, no MoT tester has ever mentioned that as being an issue.
 

The Impreza’s MoT certificate is valid until July 2026. Better still it, like so many before, was issued with no advisories.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the Impreza comes with two keys, the Subaru wallet and book pack, a sales brochure and an introductory email, and the original welcome letter from the Richard Burns Foundation.

There’s even a photograph of the seller receiving the keys from Petter Solberg himself.
 

EVO magazine again: “While it’s unlikely the RB320 will attain quite the adulation its RB5 forebear continues to enjoy, this shouldn’t detract from what is undoubtedly the fastest point-to-point UK Impreza ever to go on sale.”

So, if you’re looking for 0-62mph times to boast about in the pub then this isn’t for you. But, if you want to dedicate the next few months and years to perfecting your lines around your local track or up your favourite hillclimb, we can’t think of a better model.

Or you could invest a small amount of time and money in tidying up the bodywork and have an unusually well-curated – and completely standard – example of what many of us consider to be one of the finest driver’s car of the noughties.

We are happy to offer this car with a BUY IT NOW price of £30,000 which includes the buyers premium.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.