WRC Subaru Impreza ‘barn find’ could sell for $1 million

UPDATED 28/09/2021: A rare 1994 Subaru Impreza rally car that was piloted by Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz and was reportedly found in a barn in Victoria has sold for $500,000 at auction.

Falling well short of the $1 million touted by Lloyds Auctions ahead of the auction, the Subaru Prodrive 555 Group A Impreza is one of only 63 commissioned by Prodrive and came with authentication from the International Classic Automobile Authentication and Rating System (ICAARS).

“The new custodians are motorsport enthusiasts and are looking forward to enjoying all the benefits of the car and honouring the vehicle,” said Lloyds Auctions chief operating officer Lee Hames.

“This WRC car was a needle in a haystack, uncovered in a barn in Victoria, and was originally thought to have an estimated value of $15,000 to $20,000.”

Hames also said the Impreza was bought with cryptocurrency, making it one of the first race cars to be purchased through the auction house using a digital wallet.

“Cryptocurrency is the way of the future,” he said.

As we’ve reported, a 1971 Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III also set a new price record for an Australian-made production last weekend, going under the hammer for $1.3 million plus auction fees.

Other vehicles up for auction included:

• An HSV GTSR W1 Maloo ute that reached $1.25 million before being passed in, but is expected to sell as negotiations continue with interested parties.

• A road-legal HSV GTSR W1 race car (build #017) which sold for $750,000.

• Walkinshaw Andretti United’s winning supercar driven by Chaz Mostert that sold for $600,000.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE PUBLISHED 21/09/2021: Reportedly found in a barn, untouched and unrestored, a 1994 Subaru Prodrive 555 Group A Impreza is now up for sale, providing would-be owners with the chance to secure a piece of World Rally Championship history.

Driven by rally legend Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz (father of Ferrari Formula 1 racer Carlos Sainz Jr), the Subaru Impreza WRC car in question is said to be in exactly the same condition as when it was retired in 1996.  

Initially thought to be worth no more than $20,000, Lloyds Auctions chief operating officer Lee Hames says the forgotten icon could potentially sell for more than 50 times that original estimate, given its distinguished provenance.

“When we originally saw this car, it was a barn find with an estimated value of $15,000-$20,000. Today it’s had a wash and a check of its history, and it may well be worth more than $1 million,” he said.

The rally car in question was the first to wear the L555REP number plates, marking Carlos Sainz and Subaru’s sponsorship deal with Repsol.

Its most notable results were achieved by Sainz in 1994, when he drove the GC8 Impreza home through ice and snow to finish third in Monte Carlo.

With its Chassis 94.006 livery still intact from its final Prodrive hurrah with McRae at the helm, Lloyds says Sainz’s #2 555 tobacco livery from Monte Carlo is also included.

According to the auction house, the car was commissioned in December 1993 as the first 555 1994 season car for Sainz to start with Subaru and is still fitted with the original active front diff reserved for the top drivers in ’94.

Low mileage is said to be courtesy of the vehicle’s DNF results in the early stages of Corsica 1994 and both the 1995 and 1996 Indonesian rallies. 

The WRC icon has been authenticated by ICAAARS and Possum Bourne Motor Sport (PBMS) and is said to have been in storage since it was last raced, with three owners since its retirement.

Original running gear, including a 2.0-litre turbocharged boxer engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and all-wheel drive system, are all still intact.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own such a unique vehicle and we are honoured to pass it on to the new custodians,” said Hames.

At the time of writing, the highest bid is $118,000, with Lloyds saying only pre-registered bidders can take part in the auction, which is set to finish Sunday night (September 26). The WRC Impreza will be up for auction alongside a heap of cool machinery this weekend, including a collection of Mad Max: Fury Road vehicles and a bright yellow 1971 Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III.