We have three WRX from three different generations for a send off of the Legacy RS.
Most would think of the World Rally Championships when they think of Subaru in the world of motorsports, and that the Impreza would come into mind with legendary drivers such as the late Colin McRae, MBE, Richard Burns and Petter Solbert bringing podium finishes and glory to the now defunct Subaru World Rally Team (SWRT).
For the younger fans who may not have a clue, it was the Legacy that took Subaru to the world stage in rallying in 1990. The Group A Legacy RS developed by Prodrive performed with Colin McRae snagging second position for the 1991 and 1992 British Rally Championship in what seemed like demonstration races by Subaru to showcase the Legacy RS’ off-road capabilities. 1993 was the final year that the Legacy RS represented SWRT before the Impreza took over to leave an impressionable and significant legacy that has been remembered ever since, but not before finishing third for the Manufacturer’s Championship and Colin McRae coming in 5th out of an overall of 65 drivers.
Known as the Liberty in Australia, the Subaru Legacy RS was the top range of the mid-size family car developed and built by Subaru in an attempt to break boundaries that surrounded the previous Subarus that were once deemed unconventional. Marketed as affordable yet luxurious, the Legacy was placed against competition from the other major Japanese, Continental and American manufacturers, but it stood out with its AWD capability. Some manufacturers offered AWD variants in certain markets, unlike Subaru which was across the entire board.
As mentioned in an English excerpt from a Japanese brochure, the Subaru Legacy “represents a culmination of Subaru’s automotive technology. The engineering and design of this elegantly modern 2-litre sedan will set new standards for automotive excellence the world over. Performance, function and quality are the hallmarks of a great sedan. To these we have added that fun-to-drive feeling unique to Subaru. The Legacy; the more time you spend with it, the more you will appreciate it.”
The EJ engine has lasted since 1988 and has been imparted to the latest incarnation of the Impreza WRX and STIs. Unlike the inline or V engines, the EJ series is a horizontal flat-4 that is uniquely available to Subaru (now also available with the Toyota/Subaru BRZ/86 collaboration). The EJ20G DOHC 2.0 litre turbocharged engine from the Legacy RS produced an output of 217bhp and 270Nm of torque, a figure that is considerable for a car from the late 80s. The EJ20G that can be found in the GC8 was capped at 276hp and 260Nm of torque, limited by the Gentlemen’s Agreement among the major manufacturers.
A very unique turbocharger chimney heat shield located in the Legacy RS.
We have previously featured a mica blue GC8 earlier in 2013, and we are glad to have stumbled across yet another hidden gem. To give a little recap if you have not read it, the GC8 WRX is a cult car by nature and a beast to behold, this was the WRX of the yesteryear. Colin McRae took the World Rally Championship by storm to clinch the WRC Constructors’ title for three consecutive years from 1995 to 1997 in it. The rally blood is definitely in this 1st generation WRX (below).
Belonging to a tuner, this white WRX has been in his ownership for over a decade, and if you have been in the scene long enough, you will recall seeing this WRX at the former Kallang Car Park Rallies.
Gracing the shoot was a pair of STIs from the 2nd and 3rd Generation. If we had a Legacy GT present, it would have been PERFECT!
The GDB WRX STI may have dropped a hint to you discerning viewers that it is not a regular STI.
Yes, the roof scoop is a giveaway. A homologation car to rally as Group N vehicles, the WRX STI Spec C is by every right a factory specifications race car with its lightened body (70 kilograms reduction with lighter glass, aluminum boot and a thinner roof) and high performance engine with only 1,000 units produced for sales. The owner found the Spec C to be too hard to pass up on, even though he too has the WRX STI GRB that you can see in this shoot due to its rarity and homologation status.
While it was unfortunate that the global financial crisis forced Subaru to withdraw from the competition and that effectively switched me off from watching WRC. It did not help that the 3rd generation Impreza (GRB) was not fairing well in the rally stages. Nevertheless, I am absolutely confident that many would tune in to WRC again if Subaru were to return in the distant future, as the WRC has defined the Subaru for what they are today.
It is unlikely that the tax for this particular Legacy RS would be renewed here in Singapore. Hence, may this be a tribute and a send-off to one of Subaru’s best from the roads of our land. Rest in Piece(s).
Source with more pics - http://www.9tro.com/features/tuned-cars/legacy-rs-imprezzed-by-the-legacy
For the younger fans who may not have a clue, it was the Legacy that took Subaru to the world stage in rallying in 1990. The Group A Legacy RS developed by Prodrive performed with Colin McRae snagging second position for the 1991 and 1992 British Rally Championship in what seemed like demonstration races by Subaru to showcase the Legacy RS’ off-road capabilities. 1993 was the final year that the Legacy RS represented SWRT before the Impreza took over to leave an impressionable and significant legacy that has been remembered ever since, but not before finishing third for the Manufacturer’s Championship and Colin McRae coming in 5th out of an overall of 65 drivers.
Known as the Liberty in Australia, the Subaru Legacy RS was the top range of the mid-size family car developed and built by Subaru in an attempt to break boundaries that surrounded the previous Subarus that were once deemed unconventional. Marketed as affordable yet luxurious, the Legacy was placed against competition from the other major Japanese, Continental and American manufacturers, but it stood out with its AWD capability. Some manufacturers offered AWD variants in certain markets, unlike Subaru which was across the entire board.
A very unique turbocharger chimney heat shield located in the Legacy RS.
Gracing the shoot was a pair of STIs from the 2nd and 3rd Generation. If we had a Legacy GT present, it would have been PERFECT!
The GDB WRX STI may have dropped a hint to you discerning viewers that it is not a regular STI.
While it was unfortunate that the global financial crisis forced Subaru to withdraw from the competition and that effectively switched me off from watching WRC. It did not help that the 3rd generation Impreza (GRB) was not fairing well in the rally stages. Nevertheless, I am absolutely confident that many would tune in to WRC again if Subaru were to return in the distant future, as the WRC has defined the Subaru for what they are today.
Source with more pics - http://www.9tro.com/features/tuned-cars/legacy-rs-imprezzed-by-the-legacy
