1998 Subaru IMPREZA WRX Type R V Limited

Built to commemorate the marque’s rallying success, the Impreza WRX Type R V Limited features a WRX engine, a lightweight two-door coupe bodyshell, and a roof-vent. Designed to be used as the basis for a highly competitive rally car in its day, it is much prized by enthusiasts today being almost as desirable – but much, much cheaper – than two-door brethren like the 22B and P1.

This particular example was imported in 2016 from Japan, and sold to the vendor – who is the car’s only UK owner – in March 2017. He’s previously owned an Impreza P1 and say that this car is nicer to drive, and faster; while the P1 adhered to the gentleman’s agreement to limit cars to 280bhp, this car is believed to have something in the region of 300bhp.

It is being offered with No Reserve, which should cause every rallying fan’s heart to beat just a little bit faster given how much Subaru P1s and 22Bs are fetching these days…

Mica Blue with gold wheels might be a bit of a cliché these days but clichés become so because they’re accurate and relevant, and no colour scheme is more iconic than this. The two-door coupe bodyshell, two huge fog lights, a massive bonnet scoop, wildly OTT rear spoiler, and a (reasonably) discreet roof vent distinguish this example from lesser models.

It’s in good shape, too and shows no rust whatsoever. The panel gaps are tight and even, which bodes well given the propensity of these cars to be driven by folk with more ambition than talent. The flanks are free of ripples and what stonechips there are are few and far between.

The paint has started to flake off the plastic rear bumper and front radiator grille in a couple of very small areas but overall it really is quite delightful and completely standard, and even still bears its original stickers and badges.

The alloy wheels are in good condition but have been very slightly kerbed, so the new owner might like to get them refurbished. While they’re at it, the matching Dunlop high-performance tyres are getting low on tread and will need replacing soon. This could be seen as a good thing because the sort of person who buys a car like this probably has fairly firm views on which type of tyre they would prefer it to run on it, so they’ll have the perfect excuse to buy a full set while the wheels are being sorted out…

While we love the boot-mounted rear spoiler the original, more discreet one is supplied with the car should the new owner prize originality over looks.

Swapping them over would be very straightforward, too.

Aside from the wheels and tyres, the only other thing we would sort out on the car are the wiper arms, which have started to flake. This would be a very easy job for a winter’s evening and one that would make a huge difference to the way the car looks. Oh, and we have spotted one tiny area of surface rust on the boot lip! Not bad at all eh??

The interior is as good as the exterior, being original and free of damage. The heavily sculpted sports seats, for example, are free of wear and are virtually as supportive and comfortable as the day they were first fitted. They have the V3 logo embroidered on them too, which is further proof of the car’s originality.

The Momo steering wheel might be lightly patinated, but the door cards, carpets and headlining are all in great condition. The car was fitted with an aftermarket stereo system, which the owner had removed to return the car to its original condition. Again, we applaud his attitude towards originality.

A set of three white-faced dials sit atop the dashboard, and match the white dials set in the dashboard. A plaque on the centre console confirms that this is car number 187 out of 1,000 built and the roof vent is present and correct, operates well, and seals tightly.

The boot is very clean and tidy, and the spare wheel and toolkit look to be unused.

The only problem we can see are two extraneous brackets on the A-pillars. Still, sourcing a replacement trim piece on eBay shouldn’t be hard or expensive. Oh, and while the central locking works on the key, the remote key fob only sets the alarm and immobiliser and doesn’t trigger the central locking.

The engine bay might be a bit grubby bit you can forgive it that when it is home to that iconic flat-four turbocharged engine, can’t you? In contrast to many examples, this car hasn’t been dressed with anodized goodies, or fitted with bright blue silicone hoses, or adorned with stickers either. It’s as God and Subaru intended, and all the better for it.

A full clutch kit was fitted in 2016 when the car was imported from Japan, and the gearbox oil was changed at the same time. It was also serviced in 2017 with new sparkplugs and synthetic oil, and a magnetic sump plug was fitted. This is a small detail but one that goes to the heart of the care with which the work was done.

The underneath appears to be very solid and free from damage and any signs of rot, and is coated in what we are told is primer. We have taken the car for a usual brief test drive and report no issues with the general drive, gearbox, brakes, steering, starting etc, and that the functions we tested inside all did their thing.

The online MOT history shows nothing of concern whatsoever and the only advisory points this year were for the tyres, which are getting low on tread. 

The MOT certificate itself runs out in June 2020.

The car comes with an expired MOT certificate plus a some old invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it. It also has its full Japanese service history with it, which fans of JDM cars will know is very rare.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has maintained to a very high standard.

The Impreza Turbo’s reputation has taken a beating in recent years, which means that it is easy to lose sight of how iconic, groundbreaking, and sizzlingly quick they are; even now, few cars can keep up with a well-driven Scooby thanks to that turbocharged punch and faithful, hugely grippy chassis.

And, if you’re free-thinker and not easily swayed by popular culture, then the Impreza’s reputation might actually work in your favour because prices are low, and that’s a state of affairs that can’t continue forever.

While you might need to find a six-figure sum to buy a low-mileage and original P1 or a 22B, the vagaries of the modern classic world mean that something like this without the iconic name is likely to fetch only around a fraction of that at around £10,000 - £14,000, which strikes us as an absurd situation. And, even more bonkers, the owner is happy to offer this on a No Reserve basis, meaning it will sell from the very first bid no matter what it fetches…

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen here at The Market HQ in Abingdon; 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.