When Subaru of North America offers you their S209 Press Car to drive to their Heritage Collection and witness some of the most influential models in the company’s history, how fast do you say yes?
When Subaru of North America offers you their S209 Press Car to drive to their Heritage Collection and witness some of the most influential models in the company’s history, how fast do you say yes?
We did so right away. Just a few weeks ago, the day started when the duo jumped in the WRX STI S209 #000, the first example produced and the star of Subaru’s current press fleet. This limited edition purebred pavement punisher is the most expensive Subaru ever produced and will set you back a weighty $64,000. All that dough gets you the EJ257 engine with 341 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque, as well as a performance package derived from the STI Type RA, the model that celebrated Subaru’s successful attempt at creating the fastest sedan around the Nürburgring.
Fast forward and we’re in the place that looks something like what we imagine an automotive utopia would look like. A warehouse full of historical Subarus and one-off examples that you would not see anywhere else. We don’t want to spoil every treasure that Subaru showed us, but here are some of our favorites:
Subaru Justy that clocked 120 mph at Bonneville in 1989
Subaru FF used in the Baja 500
There was even a Forester Woodie, a little experiment Subaru created for the 2010 Chicago Auto Show using a regular Forester adorned with genuine Philippine mahogany and white ash wood veneers. The Justy was a lunchroom conversion-turned-reality as nine Subaru employees took a bone stock Justy and gave it enough steroids to bring it to 120 hp at 9200 rpm and a record speed of 123.938 mph that still stands to this day. Lastly, the FF that competed in the Baja 500 twice but only finished once, was the little-known impetus for Subaru’s rally legacy that the company is still known for.
Not to mention that you all get to see Keith try to fit in a Subaru X-100. Does he succeed? Well, you’ll have to watch and find out for yourself!
Overall this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and an incredible experience that we are sure to remember for as long as we’re car guys, so basically forever. We are beyond grateful to Subaru of North America for letting us paw through their private collection and for lending us their S209 Press Car. It was quick, it was comfortable, it was able, and to us, that’s what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.
Words: Gabriel Ionica
Photos: Dean of Pink Jacket Photography https://pinkjacket.myportfolio.com
Video Editing: James Graves http://jamesgravey.com
