The 22B is the best version of the STI. It was made to celebrate Subaru’s 40th anniversary and its three straight manufacturer titles in the World Rally Championship. Subaru rally racing features include an all-wheel-drive system that the driver can change, a wider body, a big rear wing, and painted in World Rally Blue. The auction ends on March 28, and there has already been nearly $100,000 worth of bids. When Subaru turned 40 in 1998, it got what might be the best birthday present ever. In its middle years, Subaru was on a roll. From 1995 to 1997, it won three straight WRC manufacturer championships. To celebrate, Subaru showed off the rally-bred 22B, which would become the most popular six-star Subaru vehicle. Bring a Trailer, owned by Hearst Autos like Car and Driver, is auctioning off a beautiful World Rally Blue car from the late 1990s. This 22B is one of 400 sold in Japan. It is number 135 (25 were split between the U.K. and Australia). The car got into the country because it met the “show and display rules.” Show and display rules say that a grey-market vehicle like the Subaru 22B can only drive 2500 miles annually. The 2.5RS was the only car on this side of the Pacific Ocean that was similar to the WRX/STI of this generation. Even those are worth more now because Subaru fans want to build tribute cars on clean donor chassis. Regarding a natural 22B, things are as tasty as any gravel-covered rally fan could hope. No Subaru STI has ever looked better; few have weighed less than 2800 pounds. In a 1999 test, Car and Driver got 0.96 g on the skidpad with 235-series tires on the blister fenders. Under the functional hood scoop is a 2.2-liter flat-four turbocharged and intercooled engine with a top speed of 7900 rpm. A switch on the dashboard turns on and off the water injectors. Subaru listed the 22B as having 280 horsepower, which was standard then. However, most people think the 22B’s peak power was between 300 and 350 horsepower. This power is sent to all four wheels by an all-wheel-drive system with a center differential that can be changed. This lets you drive at different speeds off-road or do some fun sliding. It’s the kind of driving experience you get from cars like the Subaru WRX sedan and the Toyota GR Corolla, which are based on rally cars. Pour a gallon of vape fluid out for the STI version, which is sorely missed. This car has 186,000 kilometer’s (115,000 miles) on its odometer and just had a complete engine-out service. Even though the car has over 100,000 miles, the bidding has already reached $90,000 with seven days left. If the idea of a Subaru costing $100,000 is shocking, it will continue. The 22B is the Subaru version of the Ferrari F40. It was made as a one-of-a-kind gift for an anniversary and will probably never be seen again. Also, can you drift your 401(k) on gravel before bringing it home to wash the flies off the side windows? In these uncertain times, when even blue-chip investments can fail, it might be time to think about World Rally Blue-chip investments. No matter what happens on the stock market, driving a 22B on a dirt road will make you feel like Colin McRae.
