The most expensive Subaru of all time?
06/17/2017
It was around 263,539 euros or 287,231 francs that changed hands when a car enthusiast fulfilled his wish to buy a very special Subaru Impreza. This was probably the world record for a Subaru, at least we are not aware of any Subaru that has been sold for more money.
But it was also a very special Impreza. The car auctioned by H&H in Woodcote Park on June 6, 2017 was the prototype of the 1997 Subaru Impreza World Rally Car, so to speak. It was developed in 1996 and a little tuning was not enough.
The body was recalculated and rebuilt in the computer. Although you could or had to start with the two-door series base, the side panels and the front were redesigned by none other than Peter Stevens, who gave us the Lotus Esprit of modern times or the McLaren F1, among others. The engineers tickled around eight percent more power out of the engine than the Group A version and the whole package proved itself in the 1997 season with several victories.
A video with Tiff Needell from the nineties takes you through the entire development process and also gives an insight into how the Subaru Impreza WRC '97 drove.
But car 001, after its use as a photo, promotional and test vehicle, including with Colin McRay at the wheel, was sold to an amateur, who later sold it on until the rally car finally gathered dust somewhere, until an enthusiast rediscovered it and had it completely restored to its former glory by the original builder Prodrive. In the process, many parts that were almost impossible to find were used, so that the makers thought that there would probably be no second car that was as correct and complete.
This must have convinced the bidders, as the highest bid was well above the average estimate.
