Estimated Price: £80,000 - £100,000

Widely regarded as one of the most significant Japanese performance cars of the 1990s, the Subaru Impreza 22B STi was a homologation special produced to celebrate both Subaru’s 40th anniversary and its third consecutive WRC Constructors’ Championship title. Built in strictly limited numbers, only 400 units for the Japanese market, the 22B has since become a landmark model in the history of Subaru and a poster car for rallying enthusiasts worldwide.

The 22B was developed by Subaru Technica International (STi) as a road-going interpretation of the brand’s dominant World Rally Car. Featuring dramatically widened bodywork, bespoke Bilstein suspension, a twin-plate clutch, close-ratio gearbox and a heavily revised 2.2-litre turbocharged EJ22G engine producing a quoted 276bhp (though widely accepted to be higher), the 22B offered an exceptionally raw and engaging driving experience, perfectly tuned for the enthusiast.

This particularly early example, #24 of just 400 built, was supplied new to the Japanese Domestic Market in April 1998. Chassis #024 enjoyed the majority of its life in Japan up until May 2021 when it was exported to the United Kingdom. The odometer read 105,000 miles at that point which is warranted by the full Japanese service history supplied with the vehicle, along with a documented fresh service carried out in the UK prior to sale dated October 2021.

Finished in its original Sonic Blue Mica, the car retains its correct wide-bodyshell, signature STi forged wheels and period correct blue and black Alcantara-trimmed interior. It presents very well both cosmetically and mechanically, with signs of attentive upkeep evident throughout. The vendor reports that the car drives exactly as a 22B should, sharp, responsive and with the unmistakable character that made the model a legend.

Unusually for a 22B, this example has not been mothballed as a collector’s showpiece but instead maintained in excellent condition and driven with care, a rarity in a market where many have been kept static for years. This approach makes it a particularly appealing proposition for buyers seeking a 22B to use and enjoy, rather than simply store.

It's accompanied by a NOVA, its Export Certificates, older MOTs, the current valid until 10th June 2026, and invoices for maintenance and repairs from RM Performance and EKS totalling £8,434 during 2022/23. The car is currently registered with the distinctive number plate, 11 WRX, which echoes its rally-bred heritage. While this registration is not included in the sale, it may be available to the successful purchaser by separate negotiation with the vendor after the auction.

As values of the 22B continue to rise and examples with low mileage become increasingly inaccessible, this car represents a rare opportunity to own a genuine, driver-focused version at a realistic and competitive estimate of £80,000 to £100,000. It offers the essence of the 22B experience, not just as a museum piece, but as it was originally intended: to be driven.