1998 Subaru Impreza WRX STI 22B to be auctioned under ‘proceeds of crime’

A very rare 1998 Subaru Impreza WRX STI 22B will be auctioned next month on behalf of the Federal Government.

The Subaru was seized under ‘proceeds of crime’ laws, and is being sold by Liquid Asset Management under the instruction of the Australian Financial Security Authority.

The Impreza WRX STI 22B is build number 132 of just 425 ever built, and a personal import from Japan – where the majority of the cars were sold.

Records also indicate this vehicle received its compliance plate in 2008, with its Victorian registration listed as cancelled in July of 2017 – roughly the time when the vehicle was confiscated, together with a large collection of other exotic cars.

The 22B is considered to be the most desirable Subaru ever made, and one of the most sought-after Japanese hero cars of the era, with prices skyrocketing in recent years.

In April 2021, one example sold for AU$424,000 on US website Bring a Trailer, while another vehicle sold privately through UK dealer Appreciating Classics after being advertised for AU$526,000 (though the price paid remains unknown).

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The 22B was created in celebration of Subaru’s rally successes and the company’s 40th anniversary, with 400 being produced for the Japanese market, 16 for the UK, and just five for Australia. Three were prototypes, and one is understood to have been kept by Subaru.

Also keeping one for itself, Subaru Australia sold the other four to collectors for $125,000 each – more than three times the price of a regular WRX at the time.

The wide-body coupe is powered by a 2.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine producing a 206kW and 363Nm – however, this has since been disputed, with many suggesting its performance figures are much higher than the manufacturer’s claims.

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Power is sent via an adjustable centre locking differential to all four wheels through a five-speed close-ratio manual transmission, with the 0-100km/h sprint said and done in 4.7 seconds.

Created as a car for enthusiasts, the 22B does away with air conditioning and a radio to help save weight, further improving performance over the two-door WRX STI Type R upon which it's based.

The auction for this 1998 Subaru Impreza WRX STI 22B will end at 1pm on January 27, 2022. You can view the listing by clicking here.