Posted Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 10:11pm
Subaru didn’t always focus so much on sensible cars over all else. Long before the brand leaned so heavily into crossovers, wagons that are really just SUVs, and outdoorsy body cladding, it made things like this. One of just 300 Impreza S201 STIs is up for auction, and it’s a reminder that Subaru used to plant its flag in a very different place than it would dare to today.
At a glance, the S201 almost looks like a joke. The front bumper sticks out like a snow plow, the rear valance looks unfinished, and the towering triple-deck rear wing feels like something pulled from a late-night tuner catalog. Drive this through most American towns today, and a lot of people would assume it’s just an old WRX with a bunch of AutoZone parts bolted on.
Except none of it is aftermarket. This is how Subaru built it.
