This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, Supercar Fest Sale of Iconic and Classic Cars 2024 on Saturday the 18th of May, Sywell Aerodrome, Sywell, Northampton, NN6 0BN. Built at Subaru's Fuji Heavy Industries plant in Japan and honed by rally 'royalty', Prodrive, the Impreza P1 was always destined to become the hugely desirable modern classic that we rightfully see it as today. Built in a limited run of 1,000 examples, all were painted in Sonic Blue and using the WRX STi Type R as a base, Prodrive engineers installed the anti-roll bars from the European-specification Impreza Turbo, along with firmer springs and shock absorbers, to deliver a suspension set up better suited to continental roads. They were powered by a revised version of the rally engine with re-calibrated electronics and developing no less than 280bhp, 69bhp more than the standard Impreza Turbo. The cars also featured ABS, as well as the Peter Stevens-designed anthracite OZ Racing wheels, front spoiler and rear wing.
On offer here is a very exciting and perhaps unrepeatable find. This P1 is a UK-supplied, right-hand drive example sold new by Keith Price Garages Ltd of Abergavenny, Monmouthshire in March 2001 to its one and only registered keeper, a lady who lived locally. It was enjoyed sparingly with less and less use as the years went on and as a result, the odometer read just 14,975 miles at the time of cataloguing. She kept the car for 22 years until it then came into the possession of our vendor, who enjoys a significant private Collection. He has not registered or used the car under his ownership and a change in direction for the Collection means that the P1 is now available for its next lucky owner.
The history file includes the car's V5C (showing no former keepers), the dealer book pack with additional P1 literature, the service book with three stamps, some Tracker correspondence and a number of old MOTs. The car presents as you would expect for such low mileage and the original radio is included with the car. So rare is it to find such a low ownership/low mileage example that Octane magazine carried out an in-depth feature on the car, in their May 2023 edition.
It's hard to find an Impreza P1 in today's market, regardless of condition, so to find one in this condition with this provenance is almost in the realms of mythology. With soaring prices of Japanese Domestic Market cars, and 22Bs heading well north of £100,000 in recent years, this P1 may well be an unrepeatable opportunity, and is perfect for any discerning collector, enthusiast or purist.