SUBARU WRX STI 22B

What is the 22B?

Vehicle Story

With the humdrum shopping Impreza as its base, the Japanese engineers went full-on banzai to develop the Impreza Turbo into a street fighting machine that was at home on the track as it was a forestry rally stage.

The WRX (World Rally eXperimental) flat-four engine is turbocharged and develops around 235bhp in initial trim. Modest by today’s standards but anything but in-period, the Scooby feeds its power to the tarmac via a manual gearbox and a sophisticated four-wheel-drive system. A relatively lightweight car, it goes like stink and took the motoring world by storm. Rally win followed rally win - and the Brits wanted a piece of the action, importing both saloon and hatchback variants by the container load.

The STi (Subaru Tecnica International) version takes the basic recipe to Heston Blumenthal-type levels of sorcery via hand-assembled and tuned engines, upgraded suspension and stylistic tweaks. Much prized by collectors and enthusiasts alike, they are the ultimate evolution of the Impreza Turbo range.

Of course, there are Impreza Turbos and there are Impreza Turbos, and while the STi is the one we all used to lust after, the 22B of March 1998 is so rare as to be almost mythical. Just 425 were built in the six months of production, with 400 being retained for the Japanese domestic market (all of which were sold on the day the order books were opened...), leaving just a handful for sale elsewhere.

Built to commemorate Subaru’s 40th anniversary and its third consecutive manufacturer’s title in the World Rally Championship, the car was rebuilt from the ground-up with a host of new parts.

Parts such as the 2.2-litre engine. Hand-built, it developed (officially, but you know what the Japanese are like for understatement...) 267bhp and 265lb/ft of torque. A twin-plate ceramic metal clutch was used, helping those figures manifest themselves as a 0-62mph time of around 4.7 seconds and a standing quarter in 13.5 seconds.

The fancy-pants transmission also features an adjustable centre-differential, which can send as much as 65% of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels, shuffling more to the front automatically should it detect slippage. With it locked, the torque split is 50:50, so ideal for snow.

The suspension is courtesy of Bilstein, and features forged aluminium lower links, rose-jointed transverse links, and Eibach springs. Four-pot Brembo front calipers help it stop more smartly than any other Impreza and they fit underneath bigger, 17-inch BBS alloy wheels.

Finished in a unique shade of blue, the seam-welded bodyshell also features widebody arches inspired by the Peter Stevens’ WRC car. The bonnet, front and rear wings, front bumper and huge rear wing are also unique.

Vehicle History

To our delight, this car gently used around 600km during his ownership. There have been no track days, tempting though that would be, or long journeys even, the car being used for high days and holiday drives only.

When not in use, the 22B has been safely garaged, though started and moved around regularly to keep everything in fine shape.

When imported from Japan, the car had been stylised from the outside to look like a WRC car. The work had been done by famous Japanese company Launsport.

Our seller was not a fan, preferring instead to return the car to the same condition it left the factory in back in 1998.

In addition, a full recommissioning service was carried out, details of which are listed in the history section.

We are told the car drives superbly – no funny noises, no warning lights, just scintillating performance to excite the performance car enthusiast. Collectable, driveable, this car has it all and we know it will attract interest from around the world.

Immediately after purchase, our seller commissioned a detailing company to remove the WRC stickers. He then purchased the 22B badges and pink logo for the front grille.

During the work, it was confirmed that the car had an accident-free history, but it was noted that the front right side of the bumper had a second coat of paint.

When the stickers were removed, it was found that they had damaged the lacquer on the bonnet, passenger door and bumpers, so these had to be professionally resprayed, along with the nearside sill spoiler.

This year a new ceramic coating was applied and we think the car looks absolutely stunning. Great in the photographs, even better in the metal!


The blue and black cloth upholstery still look almost new with no wear, tear or bobbling. The front seats give as much support as you’d expect of a car with the 22B’s performance, and yet they’re still more comfortable than most of the seats that come out of Germany.

The door cards, headlining, dashboard, and controls are all still very good, too. While the Impreza’s interior might not be the most exotic you’ll ever see, there’s no denying wither the ergonomics or the quality; this one, which you’ll recall dates back to the dying days of the last century, is still excellent and, more importantly, fully functional. That’s remarkable.

There is a non-original disc player fitted during its time in Japan, and every time the car is started, a female voice greets you in Japanese. Our seller rather liked the nostalgic element of this so chose to leave well alone.

The dashboard carries that all important plaque, confirming that this car is number 116 on the limited production run.

The boot is home to the spare wheel and tool kit and is in quite excellent condition. In fact, the whole interior is almost factory fresh – remarkable!

When our seller had the ceramic coating applied earlier this year, he also had an anti-corrosion coating applied to the whole chassis. He tells us it was in almost factory condition, and he was keen to keep it that way.

The Japanese do not use salt to grit their roads in winter, thus helping prevent the rampant corrosion we often see in Europe. All bar 600kms were covered in Japan, which has clearly paid dividends.

Our seller informs us that the engine, exhaust, drive train and chassis are all original.

Lifting the bonnet reveals that powerful hand-built engine in all its glory. The bay itself is remarkably clean and everything points to this car being one which has been cared for and maintained well, which we know it has been.

We have already outlined the removal of the WRC graphics, so now it is time to detail all the maintenance that has been carried out in the last few years.

Early on in his ownership the car was entrusted to a specialist and the work carried out included:

New flywheel
Motul 300V engine oil
New rear differential bushes
New rear wishbone bushes
New gearbox and diff oil
Replacement V belt and tensioners
New filters
Complete double disc clutch
New engine and gearbox mounts
Steering rods

3 years ago, all the wheel bearings were replaced and new brake discs and pads were fitted. The brake fluid was of course renewed at the same time.

Our seller also informs us that he has changed the oil on an annual basis, even though he has covered such a small mileage. We like this attention to detail.

We would also mention once again that a new ceramic coating was applied to the paintwork earlier this year and the chassis treated to an anti-corrosion coating.

This is probably the best 22B we’ve seen.

This type of vehicle have undergone and insane surge of skyrocketing prices.

The price of this car is US$250, and to all the buyers, all the currency fluctuates on a daily basis.

Please be aware that the price might go up or down. But it is set on $250,000USD


Plus shipping costs, import duties, gst, and other cost involved once it lands in your port.

We can arrange everything, from start to finish,

Please serious inquiries only
THIS CAR IS NOT IN AUSTRALIA