This Practically New Subaru Impreza 22B Could Be Yours, But Only If You're Loaded
If you’re a lover of fast Imprezas, the ultimate version is surely the 22B. Debuting in 1998 to coincide with Subaru’s 40th anniversary and its third consecutive World Rally Championship title, just 400 of these things were built, and they’re proper pieces of kit.
The 22B’s 2.2-litre turbocharged boxer-four belts out 276bhp, a healthy figure in a car weighing just 1270kg. This makes 0-60mph possible in around four seconds - that’s still a fast figure even today.
It looks stunning thanks to a wide-arched body inspired by its WRC equivalent, finished off in 555 Blue. Under the skin it’s enhanced with Bilstein suspension, meatier brakes and an upgraded clutch with a ceramic disc.
It’s only had one owner, and a famous(ish) one at that - boxer Prince Naseem Hamed. That does mean you’re lumbered with some personalised embroidery in the headrests, but if you’re bothered by that you could always stick some post-it notes over them or something…
With so few produced, 22Bs rarely come up for sale, and when they do, they’re not cheap. Particularly this one, as it has just 2500 miles on the clock. As a result, the estimate from Silverstone Auctions is an incredible £60,000 - £70,000. It’ll go under the hammer at Silverstone circuit on 20 May.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
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Just me…
I cri evrytiem :(
I’ll never understand how a person could only put 2500 miles on a 22B. I swear non car guys are a different species.
Seriously, people might hate me for this but I would rally that thing. Drive it how it was designed to be driven.
Thats all I can say about it, why would someone buy a 22b thats meant to be driven and lock it up in his garage, that is so wrong…
But if it sells for £60-70k think how many cars you could buy for that?
Agreed, and why would anyone besides carguys by a 22B, let alone consider it, it’s not posh, it’s probably way to stiff for daily/roadtrips and very expensive for what it is
I wonder what non-car guy would buy a Subaru tho, I would assume non-car guys buying cars as an investment would buy like a Ferrari or Porsche or something, unless they have a very good agent lol…
Wasn’t this the one that was in a big smash when naseem had booked it into a garage and one of the mechanics crashed it when delivering it back to him?
Undriven, and still needs new leather on the seats. Good going, prince.
Love this, I had a ‘normal’ Impreza for 2 years, best car I have ever had … ever. There is nothing normal about any Impreza though. After you get over the novelty of the speed and sub 5 second 0-60 - what stays with you more then ever is the incredible handling…
Loving this. Except the embroidered headrests. Not very Imprezive
that doesn’t Impreza me much
Come on guys, I posted about this very 22B about 2 weeks ago. Albeit, the article wasn’t this detailed though :D
y u do dis to me?
There has been some “light” damage that was repaired.
Plus he probaly doesnt even fit in it anymore.
Was this the one where the mechanic crashed it on the way back from the garage?