1996 Rare Jap Import Subaru Impreza GC8D WRX STI For Sale

Import in 2003, Only two owners, same owner for 17 years.
Semi Closed EJ20 engine, over 300hp, All-wheel drive with new clutch, new pump, new plug.

The first gen WRX proved to be a monster on rally stages across the world, winning three World Rally Championships in a row. In 1988, Subaru Technical international Inc. was setup, know as STI, and it took over all Subaru's racing activities, with a particular focus on rally events. Prior to the formation of STI, Subaru use Leone for World Rally Championship events, while the car had huge reliability problems, so the first goal of the new motorsport division was to create a car that would be able to better handle the demanding stages of World Rally Championship Events.

Kuze, the president of STi at the time, decided to partner with Prodrive, a British motorsport and engineering firm based in Oxfordshire. The first rally car developed under this new partnership would be based on the Subaru Legacy and would become known as the Legacy RS. Subaru had specifically developed a new series of flat-4 aluminium alloy engines for the Legacy platform, with the EJ20 DOHC 2. 0-litre turbocharged version making its way into the RS. With 220 hp (164 kW) on tap and a bodyweight of around 1, 180 kg (2, 600 lbs), Legacy RS was a serious performer. The team at STi were keen to take the car rallying in 1990. Unfortunately, things didn't exactly go according to plan. While the Prodrive/ Subaru pairing managed to claim fourth in the constructor's title for the year, they failed to win the event, and the next year was almost as disappointing. Then the team at STi and Prodrive soon realised that the Legacy platform wasn't going to be good enough to win them a world title. They needed something smaller and lighter to match their competitors. Luckily for them, Subaru was working on a car that would tick all the boxes they needed.

The new Impreza was not in-fact a replacement for the Legacy, but for the more compact Leone that had been the basis of Subaru's rally efforts for much of the previous decade. However, the car was based on a shortened version of the Legacy's floor pan and was initial available as a 4-door sedan and a 5-door hatchback. Subaru's new chassis design gave the team at STi and Prodrive plenty of wiggle room to make a car that would be more suitable for demanding rally stages. The combination of rally legend Ari Vatanen and the compact Impreza quickly proved its worth, claiming a podium finish at the car's debut WRC event in Finland. The next three years would be a massive success for the Subaru team and the Impreza, with them taking three consecutive WRC constructors’ titles from 1995 to 1997.
While the Subaru rally team was hitting the rally stages of the WRC, Japanese buyers had already got their chance to get their hands on the new Impreza. The rally inspired road-going Impreza WRX (World Rally eXperimental) launched in November 1992, some nine months before the WRC car made its debut. The WRX was given many of the same technologies that were featured on the rally car, such as all-wheel drive, stiffer suspension and of course a turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine. Power for this first version of the WRX was rated at 237 bhp (177 kW), giving it more than enough oomph to keep up with all but the fastest cars in the real world (power was less for many non JDM markets). In the United Kingdom the WRX was labelled the Impreza Turbo 2000, while in Europe it was known as the Impreza GT. Both models featured significantly less power than the Japanese variant at around 208 bhp (155 kW).

In February 1994, Subaru launched the introduction of the WRX STi, for these 'first year' STi cars, Subaru took 100 regular WRXs of the production line each month and gave them a number of upgrades, power was boosted to 271 bhp (202 kW). More changes to the WRX line up came in November 1994. The new 1995 model year WRX received a power boost to 256 bhp (191 kW) and larger 16-inch wheels covered new ventilated brake discs on the front and rear. The STi version of the car was retained, power remained the same, however, the STi was now built alongside the WRX at the same time, rather than being built from finished WRX cars. Subaru brought some bigger updates to the Subaru Impreza WRX line-up for the 1997 model year (GC8D). Rated power from the 2. 0-litre EJ20 engine would be bumped up to 276 bhp (206 kW) for all models, but it was later found that the true power figure from these updated cars was actually closer to 296 bhp (221 kW) – Subaru had to advertise the power as lower due to the Gentleman's Agreement that was active in Japan at the time.

This car is an early batch GC8D with the upgraded EJ20 engine. The core of the car is in stock condition with upgraded intake and sports exhaust, late model gold wheels and aftermarket four piston brakes. The interior remains in original condition but with an upgraded sound system, you can see the protruding mid-tweeters in the door panels and the subwoofer in the tailgate. The paintwork is in very good condition for a 26 year old car with only minor scuffs at the right front. The car is ready to start and the sport exhaust accentuates the distinctive Subaru exhaust note. The 5-speed manual gearbox is clear into gear and has a high clutch binding point which is very helpful for quick gear changes. The interior of the car is clean and there are no rattles when driving, all switches work properly and there are no fault lights.

This car is an early batch GC8D with the upgraded EJ20 engine. The core of the car has upgraded engine with upgraded intake and sports exhaust, late model gold wheels and aftermarket four piston brakes. The interior remains in original condition but with an upgraded sound system, you can see the protruding mid-tweeters in the door panels and the subwoofer in the tailgate. The paintwork is in very good condition for a 26 year old car with only minor scuffs at the right front. The car is ready to start and the sport exhaust accentuates the distinctive Subaru exhaust note. The 5-speed manual gearbox is clear into gear and has a high clutch binding point which is very helpful for quick gear changes. The interior of the car is clean and there are no rattles when driving, all switches work properly and there are no fault lights. The car is perfectly capable of daily driving, and you are welcome to come and see the car also to experience it as a passenger.