- Constructed as a double celebration of Subaru’s fortieth anniversary and triple wins of the WRC producer’s championship, the 22B is the final word STI.
- All of the Subaru rally-racing goodies are right here: a driver-adjustable all-wheel-drive system, wider bodywork, an enormous rear wing, and World Rally Blue paint.
- The public sale runs via March 28, with bidding already approaching $100K.
In 1998, Subaru turned 40 and gave itself just about the most effective birthday current ever. Subaru was driving excessive in its center age, with three consecutive WRC producer championships between 1995 and 1997. To have fun, it introduced what would develop into essentially the most fascinating automotive ever to put on the six-star Subaru badge: the rally-bred 22B. One in every of these late Nineteen Nineties World Rally Blue beauties is now up for public sale on Carry a Trailer—which, like Automobile and Driver, is a part of Hearst Autos.
This 22B is #135 of the 400 examples offered in Japan (an extra 25 have been cut up between the U.Okay. and Australia). The automotive has been imported into the U.S. beneath “present and show” guidelines. Below present and show guidelines, a gray-market automotive just like the Subaru 22B is restricted to 2500 miles a 12 months.
This technology of the WRX/STI by no means formally got here to the U.S., and the closest we bought on this aspect of the Pacific was the two.5RS. Even these have elevated in worth of late, as Subaru fans search out clear donor chassis to construct tribute vehicles.
In the case of an actual 22B, issues are about as tasty as any gravel-spattered rally otaku might hope for. No Subaru STI has ever regarded higher, and at simply over 2800 kilos, few have been lighter. The blister fenders home 235-series tires for max grip —Automobile and Driver managed 0.96 g on the skidpad in a 1999 take a look at—whereas tucked beneath that practical hood scoop is a turbocharged and intercooled 2.2-liter flat-four engine with a redline of 7900 rpm. Water injectors are managed by a dashboard change. Subaru listed the 22B on the 280-hp score widespread on the time, but it surely’s broadly believed that the height energy determine was someplace between 300 and 350 horsepower.
That energy is doled out via an all-wheel-drive system with an adjustable middle differential, making for all types of back-road tempo or large, enjoyable sliding. It is the type of driving expertise that also echoes as we speak in rally-inspired equipment like Toyota’s GR Corolla, or, sure, Subaru’s personal WRX sedan. Pause right here to pour out a gallon of vape fluid for the much-missed STI model
This automotive has 186,000 kilometers (115,000 miles) on the odometer and has simply accomplished a complete engine-out service. Regardless of the six-figure mileage, bidding has already hit $90,000 with seven days to go.
If the considered a six-figure Subaru is stunning, that quantity is just going to tick upward. The 22B is mainly the Subaru equal of the Ferrari F40, an anniversary reward of a kind that can seemingly by no means be seen once more.
Moreover, are you able to drift your 401K on gravel, then take it house to clean the bugs off your aspect home windows? In these unsure instances, when even blue-chip investments can falter, possibly it is time to take into account World Rally Blue–chip ones. It doesn’t matter what occurs within the monetary markets, you may financial institution on the truth that a dirt-road blast in a 22B is certain to make you are feeling like Colin McRae.
Contributing Editor
Brendan McAleer is a contract author and photographer primarily based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British vehicles, got here of age within the golden period of Japanese sport-compact efficiency, and commenced writing about vehicles and folks in 2008. His specific curiosity is the intersection between humanity and equipment, whether or not it’s the racing profession of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught each of his younger daughters how one can shift a handbook transmission and is grateful for the excuse they supply to be perpetually shopping for Sizzling Wheels.