1994 Subaru Legacy Turbo – Project Profile

We think it’s safe to say that Japanese auto makers in the ’80s and ’90s had a propensity for turbocharging everything, and we love them for it. You of course have the heavy hitters like the Nissan Skylines and Mazda RX-7s that wore their forced induction on their sleeves, sending out a warning not to mess at traffic lights, but then you had the more subtle, surreptitious spooly bois. Cars that were very much in on the turbo act but didn’t shout about it quite so loudly. Cars like the Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 with its twin-turbo six-cylinder, or the Subaru Legacy for instance.

When it comes to cars like the latter two listed above, the word sleeper is definitely an adjective one could employ to describe them. And boy do we love a sleeper. And turbos. In fact, while we’re on the subject, do you know what else we love? Estate cars. Well, this 1994 Subaru Legacy ticks all three boxes then. Perfect.

If you belong to a certain age group familiar with the original PlayStation and a certain iconic racing game called Gran Turismo then you’ll no doubt be familiar with the second gen Subaru Legacy wagon that could be acquired and subsequently raced in said game. Here was an all-wheel drive, twin turbo estate car that could embarrass quite a lot of sportier fare, but that car only exists by virtue of the popularity of its predecessor.

Breaking ground in ’89 the original Legacy, available in both saloon and estate guises, was a bold step forward for Subaru and ushered in many design and manufacturing changes as well as a whole new engine developed especially for the model – the now legendary EJ as featured in the Impreza, among others. Slotting in at the top of Subaru’s line-up the Legacy became the company’s flagship model and featured myriad luxury and high-tech improvements over previous cars.

With a choice of body styles and trim levels it was the 220bhp turbocharged wagon that captured the most hearts, our included, which is why we’re featuring it today as our Project Profile of choice. Other engines were available but who cares, right? Go big or go home. But hopefully not via the hospital, or the local garage after the turbo eats itself…

What is it? 

This ladies and gentlemen, is a 1994 Mk1 Subaru Legacy turbo wagon. And isn’t it just wonderful sitting atop its Prodrive alloys? And yes, that means it has the coveted EJ20G, flat four turbocharged engine under the bonnet (WRX anyone?) mated to Subaru’s all-wheel drive system and a five-speed manual gearbox. If this was a stock Legacy turbo then that would mean a six-ish second zero to sixty dash, but then dear reader, this is not a stock Legacy turbo, and partly why it’s a project, but we’ll get to that.

It is an original UK market Mk1 Legacy but it’s been extensively mechanically modified since those first forays onto tarmac in the ’90s. And that’s another great thing about Japanese turbocharged cars from this era: they’re just so bloody tune-able. This isn’t simply a case of bolting second hand bits and bobs onto an already tired motor, however. The engine was fully rebuilt at around 160,000 miles with many new and improved parts (the car has now covered 180K) and as such has no doubt transcended that original 220bhp figure. But in true sleeper fashion the work has been carried out in such a way as to not draw attention. You’ll find no silly wings or swathes of brand stickers here, just the tell tale signs of a a boost gauge and bucket seats, as it should be.

Why is it a project? 

Despite running and driving the car’s last MOT expired in 2015 so it has been off the road for almost a decade. Along with the usual recommissioning work that a modern classic of this era that has been unused for so long will require, the Legacy also has a problem with the idle air control valve not working, which is a suspected ECU issue. With that being said however, the car does appear to be a solid example and with a rebuilt engine could prove to be a relatively easy and satisfying little project.

What should you look for? 

History

As mentioned previously the engine has been rebuilt and has many new and upgraded parts fitted but who did the work and was it done to a professional standard? It’s all well and good upgrading a car’s engine – and the EJ20G is a reliable unit – but if it hasn’t been done skilfully then you’re asking for trouble, so check the history file (which is decent) for evidence of a pro build.

Modifications

This Legacy has plenty of after market mods and it is imperative that everything has been installed and set up correctly. Having a turbo let go on a dual carriageway at full send because you’re boost controller was a bit janky isn’t a good look (ask us how we know) so ensure that all of the upgrades work as they should before leaning into any extra oomph.

Suspension and brakes

You can’t just hike the power of a standard car and expect the standard brakes and suspension to cope with all of the increased stresses and strains that that entails so check that all of the braking and suspension components are up to task. We know the car has been fitted with BC Racing coilovers and Powerflex polybushes but is everything still fresh and working as it should?

Rust

From the pictures and current owner’s testimonial the car appears to be solid underneath with little signs of any rust but there are a few small areas of deterioration to the exterior so have a close look for any bubbling paint that could be hiding more serious concerns. Rear doors and sills should be especially scrutinised. This is a 30 year old car now after all.

Electrics

While not generally a concern with these cars this particular Legacy has received some ECU fettling as well as an after market alarm, which can be notoriously dodgy, so make sure any modified or additional wiring looks legit. If you’re seeing masses of electrical tape instead of cleanly heat wrapped wires with proper connectors then that should be a red flag.

What should you do with it? 

Looking at the condition of the car, as well as the reams of paperwork and receipts, the modifications that this Subaru Legacy has been festooned with appear to have been carried out properly and with due care and attention. If that is indeed the case then the car should just need a refresh and full service to see it back on the road.

If it were our money though, we would take it to a Japanese performance car specialist (someone like Redline Tuning or Abbey Motorsport for instance) where it could be professionally checked over and dyno tuned to ensure all of the upgrades are singing from the same hymn sheet. Not only that but you’d get the exact BHP figure for those all important pub bragging rights, so get it bought. And with our Make an Offer system in place it couldn’t be easier.