2005 Subaru Impreza STI JDM Spec

Highlights

• Special edition Legacy co-developed with Porsche
• Just 75,896 miles on the clock
• Recent timing belt, service, alternator and brake rebuild
• Refurbished original alloy wheels
• Apple Carplay head unit

Overview

When it comes to rare and interesting performance cars and special editions, no one quite does it as well as the Japanese. So when a Japanese manufacturer teams up with one of the greatest names in European motorsport, then you know the result will be something special.

Believe it or not, the car you see here is the slightly unhinged result of a most unlikely collaboration between Subaru – purveyor of mad all-wheel drive rally specials – and Porsche Design, the studio behind some of the most beautiful and cleanly finished objects of all time. This is like Slipknot teaming up with Adele. It makes no sense at all.

However, here at PH towers we judge on results not on first impressions. And crikey, the results are good. Say hello to the Subaru Legacy B4 Blitzen, in our opinion the finest performance grand tourer ever to come from the stable of the seven stars.

While Subaru took care of all the mechanicals, Porsche Design added some delicate styling touches to the car’s unique bodykit, wheels, interior and colour options. This is a near perfect combination, offering drivers the punchy, smooth torque of Subaru’s twin-turbo two-litre boxer engine, with some deeply attractive late 90s / early 00s styling.

Only about 2,000 are thought to have been built in the end, all for the Japanese market. Naturally, only a handful have made it onto these shores via the import market, so you’re almost guaranteed to never see another one in the wild.

Certainly, it’s sure to be the darling of any JDM car show you care to attend. Just be prepared for lots of variations on “that looks fabulous, what is it?”

Presented in excellent condition, with a handsome specification, low mileage, and excellent recent service and maintenance record, this is a fine opportunity to acquire one of the rarest and most desirable Subaru performance models.

History and documentation

• First registered in the UK on 16th July 2018
• Import documentation included
• Just 2 former owners in the UK, current owner since June 2023
• A number of receipts and invoices for servicing and maintenance in the UK
• 75,896 miles on the clock, verified in the UK by service and MOT records since 2018
• 2 keys and 2 alarm fobs (UK fitted alarm system)
• Current MOT expires 20th June 2025
• Advisories on the current MOT have all been dealt with (invoices for work included)
• V5 present in owner’s name
• This car has a finance agreement in place which will be cleared upon a successful auction prior to collection
• Currently on a private registration, which the owner will be retaining (original registration is V302MAU)

Interior

• Smart black leather upholstery to the seats, with fabric centre inserts that feature a grey, white and blue pattern
• All of the seats look to be in great condition for their age, with no evidence we could see of damage, sagging or significant wear
• Dark grey carpet runs through the cabin and appears to be in good order, with an original set of Subaru branded over mats present (which show a little wear)
• Black vinyl adorns the dashboard top, fascia and door cards and is in fine condition, with fabric inserts in the door cards to match the seat upholstery
• Brush aluminium style trim to the centre panel and instrument surround presents nicely, with no notable blemishes
• Modern touchscreen double DIN head unit fitted, with Apple Car Play
• Air conditioning
• Electrically operated windows and door mirrors
• Light grey headlining shows well, with no sagging, staining or damage we could identify
• Original fitment Momo steering wheel
• All of the instruments and switchgear look to be in fine fettle, with no major wear and tear on show
• The vendor tells us that everything works just as it should, with no faults or issues to report other than an occasionally temperamental fuel gauge
• Generously proportioned boot space, trimmed with dark grey carpet
• Under the carpet, a spacesaver spare wheel is present and correct, while the boot floor is in very good order, with no signs of repair or corrosion

Exterior

• Handsome gloss red paintwork, presented in overall good condition
• There are a few minor stone chips and blemishes, but the only marks of note are a couple of small dents in the driver’s door
• We’re told that the bonnet, wing mirrors, rear bumper, boot lid spoiler and side skirts have all been professionally resprayed this year
• The bodywork all looks to be straight and clean, with even panel gaps and no evidence of corrosion or misalignment
• Porsche Design added a unique rear wing, smoked rear lights, bonnet vent, side skirts and blacked out front grilles to the car
• All of the light lenses, glass elements, badges and other external trim pieces look to be in great condition
• A set of smoked wind deflectors have been fitted to the side windows
• Underneath, the floor pans and sills look to be in fine condition, with no damage or corrosion to mention
• A Laile under panel has been fitted, which offers extra bash protection as well as smoothing airflow under the car for less lift
• The original, Blitzen specific 17-inch alloy wheels are present and correct with their smart gold finish, having been professionally refurbished in May 2024
• They wear a matched set of Goodyear tyres, fitted in July 2023, and the vendor is included a further pair of nearly new Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres in the sale

Mechanical

• 1,990cc four-cylinder flat-four, twin-turbo, DOHC 16v
• Two-stage sequential turbo system for torque-rich power delivery
• Rated at c.260bhp
• All-wheel drive system with viscous centre LSD
• First Subaru fitted with an Aisin Seiki sequential automatic transmission
• All-round fully independent suspension, with a multi-link rear set-up
• The engine bay is very clean and tidy, with no evidence of leaks of other issues we could discern
• The brake calipers were refurbished/rebuilt and repainted in December 2023
• Brand new discs and pads were fitted all round in February 2024
• A new alternator and belt was fitted in February 2024
• New anti-roll bar D-bushes and rack rod ends were fitted in June 2024
• A new timing belt and tensioner was fitted in October 2024 at 87,306 miles
• A service including fresh differential oil, engine oil and filters was carried out in October 2024
• A full wheel alignment was also completed in October 2024
• We’re assured by the vendor that the car is in excellent mechanical condition, with no faults or issues to report – the car starts, idles and drives just as it should, with strong performance and a great balance of comfort and sportiness

Summary

For those of us of a certain age, there’s not much that’s as exciting as a JDM special edition. And this surprising but most welcome Subaru and Porsche collaboration is no different. From the gorgeous Porsche Design external styling and enhanced interior to that wonderfully powerful and burbling Subaru twin-turbo flat-four, there’s much to admire here. It’s one of those cars that most people will never have heard of, but has a way of working its way under your skin.

The car has clearly been cherished, with the current owner having lavished it with all manner of maintenance to keep it in A1 mechanical condition. Powerful, comfortable, capable and genuinely rare, it makes a very good argument for being “all the car you ever need”.

But, to be honest, we’d just want it because it’s a deeply wonderful thing and is achingly cool. It’s the kind of machine you park up and then take a last glance at as you walk away – which is always the sign of something truly special.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located near Aberdeen in Scotland.