Chassis No. GC8-071199
22B STi No. 282/400

Over 25 years ago CAR Magazine staged an unusual comparison test between the new 996-generation 911 and the Subaru Impreza 22B STi—yet the end result wasn't what many expected. In fact, it ended with the Porsche driver throwing his keys to the ground after a vain attempt to stay with the 22B on a twisty road. Was the rally-bred road model of the World Rally Championship title-winning Subaru really that good? In a word, yes.

In the years since its introduction, the American consensus regarding the 22B STi has matured from the mythic unattainable rally legend to holy grail of high performance Subarus. Among its many rally-inspired features were widened front and rear “box-style” fenders, a deeper front bumper with integrated fog lights and STi covers, an aluminum hood with vented brace, sculpted side skirts, and a towering rear spoiler—all finished in STI's signature Sonic Blue Mica. Beneath the skin, the famed EJ22 flat-four was reworked to 2,212 cc, retaining its 280-horsepower output while delivering a flat torque curve, revving effortlessly to a redline of 7,900 rpm. A close-ratio transmission with a driver-controlled center differential received upgraded materials, and when paired with a twin-plate clutch, the drivetrain was built to handle the engine's elevated performance. Suspension components mirrored those of the works rally car, with specially tuned Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs, while 17-inch lightweight gold-colored BBS forged wheels added both visual punch and lightness reinforcing the car's reputation as a road-legal version of Subaru's World Rally contender.

Imported in February 2025 directly from Japan, this 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B STi was constructed as limitation number 282 of just 400 cars produced to not only celebrate 40 years of Subaru but three consecutive WRC titles. Japanese paperwork with the car and a CAR VX Report show that the 22B was first registered in July 1998 to Omori Industries in Kobe City. The three-page registration certificate shows additional Japanese owners until an Export Certificate was issued on 3 February 2025. Additionally, a CAR VX Report records the rare model specification and a clean history while in Japan. U.S. import documentation shows an entry date of 27 February 2025 into the Port of Long Beach. With only 400 ever produced, and as one of a handful currently in the U.S., opportunities to acquire the holy grail of performance Subarus are vanishingly rare—and with just 36,823 kilometers (approximately 28,900 miles) from new, this example, recently sourced direct from Japan, presents a compelling chance to secure one of the most iconic rally-bred machines of the modern era.