RE: Impreza 22B STI: Time For Coffee?
Discussion
giblet said:
I've been lusting after a classic Subaru for far too long now. The 22B is way way out of my reach so I'll have to keep eyeing up adverts for V5 Type R's. Its a pity that the cheaper UK turbo's and grey imports ended up in the hands of chavs. I've seen far too many of them being modified badly and driven around by idiots.
Something like this would go down a right treat.
Similar to my old STi V:Something like this would go down a right treat.
TX.
A number of 22Bs are making there way over here to HK from the UK and I guess Japan etc.. I recently met a guy who had imported a one in already very good nick from Blightly that he'd had restored to almost original condition by the selling company before shipping. HK peeps are Scooby mad and I am pretty sure more will be heading this way as I type. Fortunately the trend here is now for people to find rare 80-90's sportscars and return them to their stock condition, so there is little chance of seeing them badly modified in HK. Here are a few of the ones that I've managed to photograph. Stunning cars!
This was the first one I saw on the road a few years ago and I was rather excited to see it!
This was the first one I saw on the road a few years ago and I was rather excited to see it!
Edited by rupertprocter on Tuesday 17th December 01:03
Raven Flyer said:
I had the pleasure of driving 24 of the 22Bs in the UK, including 2 of the cars badged as 000. These were given to Colin, Nicky and Dave Lapworth for winning the WRC. Many of the original owners were very good friends and it was a privilege to be allowed to play with such beautiful cars, both on the road and on the track. Including the 16 UK ones, I reckoned there were about 40 in the UK.
The name came from the 555 WRC car sponsorship. Five hundred and fifty five is 22B in hexadecimal, the number base used in computer programming. At the time, IT was booming and the Impreza was the icon car for the successful IT contractor, not just here but in Japan too.
The engine wasn't bored out to 2.2 litre, the EJ22 was a separate casting. They were not especially strong, as people who went off and remapped them often found out. Getting hold of replacement engines was a nightmare as there were no more and many owners who blew them up put in the later EJ25 2.5 litre engine that was originally developed to get more power for the heavily emission controlled US cars. Even Nicky could get a replacement when the engine in his second one (he had a 000 and an import) let go.
The original 280bhp cars, with a nice exhaust and everything else standard (the exhaust put them up to around 305-310 bhp) were the best to drive. The car had much better turn-in than a standard GC8 Impreza and provided you were confident with them, they gave the most rewarding handling of any Subaru until the Spec C came along.
I very nearly bought a 22B on its original unmodified engine at £24k a few years back. The interior needed some love and it had a few scratches and lots of stone chips. Not buying it is something I have often regretted. Running costs are low and the cars are reliable, if not used as platforms to try and get 2013 bhp outputs. The big sexy arches make them one of the most beautiful styled cars ever made.
I own #301. I'm a member on bbs.22b.com , and have followed the history for some time.The name came from the 555 WRC car sponsorship. Five hundred and fifty five is 22B in hexadecimal, the number base used in computer programming. At the time, IT was booming and the Impreza was the icon car for the successful IT contractor, not just here but in Japan too.
The engine wasn't bored out to 2.2 litre, the EJ22 was a separate casting. They were not especially strong, as people who went off and remapped them often found out. Getting hold of replacement engines was a nightmare as there were no more and many owners who blew them up put in the later EJ25 2.5 litre engine that was originally developed to get more power for the heavily emission controlled US cars. Even Nicky could get a replacement when the engine in his second one (he had a 000 and an import) let go.
The original 280bhp cars, with a nice exhaust and everything else standard (the exhaust put them up to around 305-310 bhp) were the best to drive. The car had much better turn-in than a standard GC8 Impreza and provided you were confident with them, they gave the most rewarding handling of any Subaru until the Spec C came along.
I very nearly bought a 22B on its original unmodified engine at £24k a few years back. The interior needed some love and it had a few scratches and lots of stone chips. Not buying it is something I have often regretted. Running costs are low and the cars are reliable, if not used as platforms to try and get 2013 bhp outputs. The big sexy arches make them one of the most beautiful styled cars ever made.
I'd like to clarify some points in this excellent post.
On 22b.com, its been debated at length that Dave Lapworth didnt have the prototype, and instead, owned #400. This came direct from one of the subsequent owners of that car (#400), who pulled that information out of the owners handbook.
In saying that, people can definitely own more than one of these cars, and in fact, Nicky Grist owned 2 that we know of, as stated above.
Another point about the strength of the EJ22 block. That information above is incorrect. That block is VERY strong, and is frequently used by Time Attack campaigners, as its design is a CDB - closed deck block. As opposed to the open deck, or semi-closed. It will take significant amounts of boost, and is often built up to capacities of around 2.35l, through different crank, piston, and conrod combinations, which seems to be the sweet spot among the tuning community.
It should also be noted, that boost is often wound up WITHOUT modifying those components, and often results in a powerful engine, with reasonable longevity, barring owners behaving like lunatics with the boost levels.
Yes, engines will blow, and it can be bad fuel, failed components due to age, etc. But the EJ22 is inherently a strong block, relative to its brethren.
big_rob_sydney said:
On 22b.com, its been debated at length that Dave Lapworth didnt have the prototype, and instead, owned #400. This came direct from one of the subsequent owners of that car (#400), who pulled that information out of the owners handbook.
In saying that, people can definitely own more than one of these cars, and in fact, Nicky Grist owned 2 that we know of, as stated above.
This is interesting to read, as I watched a video quite recently covering the 22B that livess inside the STi buiding at Mitaka. In saying that, people can definitely own more than one of these cars, and in fact, Nicky Grist owned 2 that we know of, as stated above.
It was (as most 22B videos on the internet seem to be) factually incorrect, but it revealed that the number of the car was #000/000 (not #000/400).
Is this the third #000 car then, or were there four #000 and the Dave Lapworth #000 ended up elsewhere?
Terminator X said:
He cocked up the 22b thing, it's actually Hex for 555 
tbtstt said:
You are correct about the meaning of "22B". They also get the facts about the WRC/WRCars completely arse-about-face in that video!
Apparently we are both wrong. I made a similar post on the comment section of the You Tube video and just received a very angry reply telling me that I'm wrong and it actually means (I quote)...
"22= 2.2 litters and ''b''= Group B Rally . idiot!"
...ouch. Thats told me.
Kawasicki said:
nope! Wasn't my car, wasn't going to mess with it!
Fair enough! That dial controls the adjustable centre diff, wind to the back = open centre with 64% rear bias (if its the same bias as the STi-R and RA). I've never driven a 22B but I've driven STi-RAs with the DCCD and understeer really wasn't an issue - but if the centre diff was set too tight I imagine it would be.very special car indeed,
however, one of the many mistakes in that vid,
there are no other cars that have been great rally cars and street cars, in terms of looks etc. I know this is only an opinion,
however,
escort cosworth,
lancia delta
E30 M3
that said,
I would love a proper 22B, becoming very rare now though :-(
however, one of the many mistakes in that vid,
there are no other cars that have been great rally cars and street cars, in terms of looks etc. I know this is only an opinion,
however,
escort cosworth,
lancia delta
E30 M3
that said,
I would love a proper 22B, becoming very rare now though :-(
CNW25 said:
yes - supposed to be in the main section, but went where i was directed.
That's why I missed you then, I didn't even think to check over there despite always doing it for breakfast clubs! I was over in the main section with my Terzo (bit further down the food chain but at least I get the same 74f blue paint).
rupertprocter said:
A number of 22Bs are making there way over here to HK from the UK and I guess Japan etc.. I recently met a guy who had imported a one in already very good nick from Blightly that he'd had restored to almost original condition by the selling company before shipping. HK peeps are Scooby mad and I am pretty sure more will be heading this way as I type. Fortunately the trend here is now for people to find rare 80-90's sportscars and return them to their stock condition, so there is little chance of seeing them badly modified in HK. Here are a few of the ones that I've managed to photograph. Stunning cars!
This was the first one I saw on the road a few years ago and I was rather excited to see it!
Yeah HK people are damn rich, HK girls prefer german cars though. This was the first one I saw on the road a few years ago and I was rather excited to see it!
Edited by rupertprocter on Tuesday 17th December 01:03
tbtstt said:
big_rob_sydney said:
On 22b.com, its been debated at length that Dave Lapworth didnt have the prototype, and instead, owned #400. This came direct from one of the subsequent owners of that car (#400), who pulled that information out of the owners handbook.
In saying that, people can definitely own more than one of these cars, and in fact, Nicky Grist owned 2 that we know of, as stated above.
This is interesting to read, as I watched a video quite recently covering the 22B that livess inside the STi buiding at Mitaka. In saying that, people can definitely own more than one of these cars, and in fact, Nicky Grist owned 2 that we know of, as stated above.
It was (as most 22B videos on the internet seem to be) factually incorrect, but it revealed that the number of the car was #000/000 (not #000/400).
Is this the third #000 car then, or were there four #000 and the Dave Lapworth #000 ended up elsewhere?
The three prototypes were also understood to be listed as 000/000, but then I have also heard rumours of a 000/400. I have not laid eyes on such a car myself, but I'm leaning towards thinking the prototypes were all 000/000. Time will tell, I guess.
big_rob_sydney said:
David Lapworth's car was definitely 400/400. Whether he had one of the three prototypes or not is hotly debated, and most seem to agree the answer is no, with the third one being used for press duties.
The three prototypes were also understood to be listed as 000/000, but then I have also heard rumours of a 000/400. I have not laid eyes on such a car myself, but I'm leaning towards thinking the prototypes were all 000/000. Time will tell, I guess.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIsEcPGdMZkThe three prototypes were also understood to be listed as 000/000, but then I have also heard rumours of a 000/400. I have not laid eyes on such a car myself, but I'm leaning towards thinking the prototypes were all 000/000. Time will tell, I guess.
GC8 said:
Lefty said:
giblet said:
Lefty said:
Sounds like you want a p1!
Nope! The DCCD is one if the main reasons behind my Type R desires. I went out as a passenger in a relatives V5 (funnily enough also in grey) and my word that thing was a nutter. Being able to control the diff allowed for some rather fun moments on a quiet road. I need to make sure I have one within a years time./biased
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