∙A rare opportunity to own one of these iconic vehicles
∙Well maintained
∙Excellent condition
The Background
The Impreza WRX Type RA is a truly legendary car. The Type RA was initially built as a limited Homologation for the Prodrive built GPA rally car, and is arguably the closest you will get to a road-going rally car. Built to be a true driver’s car, the RA is an incredibly refined, lightweight vehicle, with an incredible amount of engineering to cut those KG’s wherever possible. Weighing in at just 1180kg, the vehicle is lighter than the vast majority of cars on the road, and is mind-bendingly light for the body shape compared to its competitors. The weight can be felt from the moment you begin to touch the accelerator, and is a very unique feeling.
Equipped with the correct closed deck EJ20 block, 5th injector and close ratio gearbox, this Impreza embraces Subaru’s rally pedigree in a very characterful way. The only way to describe the feelings that this incredible vehicle provokes is to hop into the snug drivers seat, turn the key and channel your inner rally driver.
This incredible Subaru Impreza WRX Type RA was originally imported from Japan in 2018 & dry stored, to be later purchased by its current and first UK owner in 2020. The vehicle has the original matching numbers throughout the car, and is fitted with the correct closed deck block engine with 5th injector and close ratio gearbox. Although the vehicle does not have any of its Japanese paperwork, the current owner has maintained the car and treated it to any work needed from the day it was purchased.
The current owner has put a considerable amount of effort, care and money into ensuring this Type RA performs the way it does, has no known mechanical faults or major defects within the bodywork. Despite having cared for the car throughout their ownership and thoroughly enjoying the overall experience with the vehicle, the current owner is now looking to find a new home for the Type RA, simply to fund other motoring projects.
With these cars becoming more scarce by the year, this is a brilliant example of a well-looked after and very well set up Subaru Impreza WRX Type RA, and should be on the dream list of any motoring enthusiast.
Since being purchased in 2020, this car has undergone a rather large amount of key maintenance and future-proofing work. As well as having the rear arches professionally replaced to stop rust dead in its tracks, the current owner also has paperwork for the following work, carried out by independent and trusted specialists:
Roger clark motorsport timing belt kit and water pump
RCM 11MM uprated oil pump
76 degree thermostat
Black alloy large core radiator with new genuine hoses
550cc injectors
Fuji racing up pipe
Fuji racing coil pack conversion loom with Newage coils and pfr7b plugs
Fuji racing cyl4 cooling mod
Fuji racing 340lph fuel pump
200 cpi sports cat with h&s group A rear silencer
Ramair large cone filter with resonator delete kit
SIMTEK motorsport ECU fitted and mapped at TEG SPORT to a safe 309bhp with anti-lag enabled by heated window switch
STI alloy intercooler with original water spray kit fitted (triggered by ECU)
STI carbon/ titanium strut brace
New Exedy clutch kit
Carbon fibre group A mirrors
Genuine Speedline ST2 17" alloy wheels in mint condition with brand new Pirelli P-zero Nero tyres
New Pedders Motorsport suspension kit (This kit lowers the car 30mm, and rides exceptionally well)
In addition to the above mechanical modifications, the car will also be sold with the following list of factory parts, should the new owner wish to hold on to these rare and sought after parts for the future:
Original catalytic convertor and full correct type RA exhaust system with up pipe
Original airbox and resonator parts
Original radiator
Original intercooler
All four original struts
All four original wheels with tyres in very good condition
Original wing mirrors
Original injectors and fuel pump
Original Z5 ECU and associated parts
The car also has an MOT certificate until July 2022, perfect for the new owner to enjoy.
The interior of this car is a truly exciting place to be, and puts you right in control of an iconic road-going rally car. It is probably worth reiterating that this was never a vehicle designed for comfort or interior luxuries, and instead focused on providing the ultimate driving experience. With that in mind, you will find the interior is in very fair condition for its age, with only a few noticeable items of wear & tear. The classy OEM Nardi steering wheel and gear knob show signs of the usual wear and tear, which is a refreshing reminder that this car has been driven as intended. Despite the design being rather minimal to begin with, you’ll also find that the retro dashboard and all facing panels are in great condition, including the OEM radio blanking panel.
Staying true to the performance driven design of this car, you’ll find manual crank windows on all 4 doors, in full working order. The OEM sporty seats hold you securely in place through the corners, and suit the interior of this car perfectly, with the fabric details matching the door card inserts to a tee. The front seats themselves are in fair condition for the mileage, but could perhaps use a bit of restoration work to bring them back to their former glory. The rear seats show much fewer signs of wear, and are rather well preserved. Throughout the cabin you’ll also spot the tidy black carpeting, finished off with a brilliant set of original Impreza floor matts.
This Subaru is a pure piece of art to look at, and instils nostalgia in every onlooker’s hearts. The combination of the crisp white paintwork and immaculate gold Speedline ST2 17" alloy wheels is a mixture made in heaven, and only helps complete the retro rally-inspired aesthetics. In terms of bodywork, the car is in great condition for its age. The paintwork shows only minor signs of age, and the few minor dents / defects in the bodywork are easily rectifiable should the new owner wish to bring this legend to flawless condition.
Under the current ownership, this Type RA has been treated to new pressed steel rear arch sections, as part of key rust treatment. The work appears to have been carried out to a very high standard, with no rust no longer showing in these sections and with the car wearing its shiny new paintwork with pride. As the photos show, this particular example doesn’t show any major signs of the typical boot lining rust that can often trouble this model of Impreza, which is a rare and welcome sight.
The car has also been fitted with a simply stunning pair of carbon fibre group A wing mirrors, which bring the aesthetics of this car together in a very classy way. All vents and details along the body are in excellent condition, with only minor signs of age on some of the darker trim pieces. The front Subaru Tecnica International decals, front and rear badging are in great condition, and help with the overall character of this classic. Yet another welcome sight is the original Subaru glass fitted to the vehicle, which was a key part of the type RA’s dedication to weight reduction where possible.
All in all, this is a stunning car that needs nothing to be admired and one that truly stands out on today’s roads.
The car fires up right away, and drives incredibly well. It’s almost difficult to describe how immersive the driving experience of this car actually is, it is truly astonishing. The lightweight chassis can be felt from the moment the vehicle starts moving, and all through the rev range and into bends. The turbo charged EJ20 boxer engine produces a very healthy amount of power and pairs perfectly with the short ratio 5 speed gearbox to provide an exhilarating yet controlled driving experience. The current owner has also fitted the car with a Pedders Motorsport suspension kit, which are a welcome replacement to the old original units, help drop the car a subtle 30mm and feel great on the road.
Inside the cabin, you’re greeted to a mixture of magical turbo noises as well as the signature Subaru rumble and burbles as you go through the gears. Whilst this Type RA is close to the original specifications, the current owner has installed a few modifications to help with driveability and performance, including a Ramair air intake, STI intercooler, STI strut brace, upgraded fuel pump, 550CC injectors, h&s group A rear silencer, Speedline alloys with Pirelli P Zero tyres, a larger radiator and a mapped aftermarket ECU to name a few (please see the “Paperwork” section for the full list). The end result of these modifications is a healthy setup that delivers 309 HP, on a conservative tune. The current owner has intentionally chosen the current power output, as a sensible balance between reliability and performance.
To the current owner’s knowledge, everything on the vehicle works as intended and there are no known mechanical faults. Being an avid collector of cars and with plenty of Subaru experience, the owner informs us that the vehicle receives a fair amount of mechanical sympathy and has been well taken care of during their ownership.
This Impreza Type RA is perhaps the closest you will get to driving a strictly performance based rally car on the roads. The driving experience is like no other, filled with character throughout the rev range, confidence through the corners and all round enjoyment. With production numbers for the 95 model being so scarce nowadays, this is a rare opportunity to grasp hold of a piece of key Japanese automotive history, with the rally heritage following you along the way.
This Subaru Impreza WRX Type RA needs nothing to be enjoyed, has been driven with plenty of mechanical sympathy, is exceptionally clean for it’s age and will certainly give you a smile from ear to ear.
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1995 Subaru Impreza Type RA
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