Whether on the road or circuit, the Subaru Impreza has long been the choice for enthusiasts looking to experience a taste of rally heritage. Whilst the Impreza in its standard guise is nothing to turn your nose up at, this particular example has far greater ties to the brand’s legendary rally success than most.
See, this V-Limited Impreza is one of 555 vehicles produced to celebrate Subaru’s 1996 World Rally Championship manufacturer’s title. As such, the car sports the desirable 53C Saltire Blue paintwork, along with factory additions such as the roof vent, and Colin McRae decals.
Already a desirable and well specced Subaru, this V-Limited has then been fully prepared for competition use, and now shows off a build list no less than a mile long. The vehicle now presents itself with both a valid Motorsport UK passport until 2029, and a valid MOT until April 2023. As such, this presents a fantastic opportunity to obtain a rare, road-legal, and competition-ready rally car with all the trimmings.
This V-Limited edition STI was of course originally designated for the Japanese domestic market, and was specified with the 53C paint option, and 63C option code from the factory. In 2005, the vehicle was then imported to the UK, where it has since been enjoyed by 6 former keepers, covering rather few miles in the process.
Over the years, the car has of course received a tremendous amount of upgraded and aftermarket parts on its way to becoming the rally-ready monster it is today. Key details of the specification can be found in the relevant sections below, and within the included MSA logbook.
Also included alongside the stamped MSA logbook are the valid Motorsport UK passport, V5C document, and collection of invoices detailing previous parts and labour. The car does of course also include all of the pictured communication and safety gear.
As you would expect, the interior of this Impreza is strictly business, fitted with a set of Sparco Rev bucket seats, L-Tec 4-point harnesses and a full Safety Devices roll cage. The interior also shows off plenty of welcome competition-ready components, such as a set of Terratrip headsets and an onboard Stilo intercom system. The navigator is also treated to a map reading light and an LED timer on their side of the dashboard
In addition to the motorsport equipment, this Subaru also shows off some rather desirable goodies, such as a set of WRC STI pedals. There’s also a rather rare set of STI Carbon dashboard clock surrounds, and an STI shift knob.
Although we’d be foolish to expect an imperfection-free interior on a race-car, buyers will be pleased to know those key items like the bucket seats, OMP wheel, switches, and safety equipment are all seemingly in excellent condition, and in full working order.
This rally-spec Impreza shows off its original 53C Saltire Blue paintwork, along with its fair share of both custom, and factory-fitted decals. This example also features a factory-fitted roof scoop, which is commonly regarded by enthusiasts as a very rare find.
This is one of the few vehicles with which bodywork imperfections and signs of use are to be expected, given the car’s purpose. After all, this is primarily a rally car and as such, there are defects to note. The body shows its fair share of dents, scratches, chips, and visible corrosion near the over-fenders and side skirts. In the world of rallying, this is simply the result of another day at the office so to speak.
The vehicle sits on a set of 15” Revolution competition wheels, which present themselves well, respective to the car’s previous use. There are of course marks to note, along with slightly more significant lip damage to the passenger side wheels.
That being said, the wheels still look excellent against the paintwork and hold air as intended. As an added bonus, the wheels are wrapped in a set of Hankook Ventus tyres with plenty of tread left to enjoy.
As the extensive list above reflects, this Impreza has had a small fortune spent on upgraded parts, rebuilt components, and clever tech. As you would expect, the car has more than enough power to party, with a claimed power figure of 342 bhp. Although the figure is difficult to verify at this moment in time, this Subaru certainly seems to have enough power & breathability modifications to suit.
The vehicle is seemingly also set up to handle well, having received a set of HSD Mono-Pro coilovers in 2015, along with plenty of renewed components such as ARB bushes and drop links. Upgraded 4-pot brakes then provide all the stopping power you could ask for, with a hydraulic handbrake set up for corners and launch assistance.
With the Motorsport UK passport, MSA logbook, and MOT certificate support, this Impreza is now ready to be enjoyed on both the road and circuit.
As one of just 555 V-Limited editions made, this JDM Subaru Impreza WRX STI V-Limited is certainly a very rare, well-specced vehicle. As if the original specification wasn’t impressive enough, this Subaru then received a fortune’s worth of performance and safety modifications to become rally competition ready.
The car now presents itself with a Motorsport UK passport valid until 2029, along with a valid UK MOT until next April. As a result, the car is more than ready to dive right into its next competition, and will gladly enjoy some spirited road driving in between.
(As provided by a previous keeper of the vehicle, the above specification is indeed believed by the vendor to be accurate. Whilst all effort has been taken to ensure the stated specifications are as accurate as possible, many of the internal components are unable to be verified at this moment in time. As such, buyer discretion is advised.)
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1997 Subaru Impreza WRX STI V Limited 555
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