Ultra-Rare 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B STi to Fetch Hundreds of Thousands at Auction
This time-warping JDM machine can only be driven 2,500 miles a year under U.S. “Show or Display” rules.
Of all the Subaru Impreza variants made, the 22B STi is without a doubt the one collectors, JDM fans, and automotive heads go wild for. Luckily for them, a very fine specimen of this particular car is currently at auction with Bring a Trailer, and it’s already attracting big dollars despite the auction having 12 days left before the sale’s completion.
This 22B STi is number 156 of the approximate 400 that were built for the Japanese market, and in 2020 it was imported to the U.S. under strict “Show or Display” rules. As such, it can only be driven 2,500 miles a year in the U.S., and only after it turns 25 can it be driven normally — so, in 2023.
Regardless, this model has racked up 40,000 kilometers on the clock, many of which were probably thoroughly enjoyed thanks to the car’s turbocharged 2.2-liter flat-four that drives all four wheels, producing a factory-rated 280 HP at 6,000 rpm and 268 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm.
Built to commemorate Subaru’s 40th anniversary as well as its third consecutive World Rally Championship, the 22B STi really did feature anything imaginable for a sports coupe of its time. For example, the “World Rally Blue”-hued car is set off with factory 17” gold-finished BBS alloy wheels, while the car also features an enlarged hood scoop, widened fenders, rocker extensions, and an adjustable rear wing.
Elsewhere, we find fog lights with covers, a rear wiper, power-folding side mirrors, a cherry blossom red Pleiades grille emblem, a “22B STi” trunk badge, an STi branded exhaust tip, and tinted windows. STi red brake calipers, a ProDrive-tuned suspension, Bilstein shocks, a quick-ratio steering gear, and a carbon fiber strut tower bar also appear, making the car a weapon on any road.
As of writing, the sale still has 12 days left. However, bidders have hiked the price up to $155,555 USD so far. A very clean model has previously sold for $370,000 USD, so expect this one to also go up even higher in price. Take a look at the car above, and find the listing on Bring a Trailer’s website.
For more “Show or Display” rarities, check out this Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG that’s currently at auction.
