Rally Rockets: 1991-94 Subaru Legacy Sport Sedan

June 11, 10:08 AMLA New Classics Car ExaminerTom Anderson

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Aside from the aftermarket wheels, it looks pretty harmless, huh?

It’s hard not to admire companies that march to the beat of a different drummer; when there’s likely easy money to be made following the herd, some corporations are brave enough to mix it up and try a different formula. Such has been the case with Subaru, the plucky Japanese marque that has built its reputation on all-wheel-drive and boxer engines. And thanks to the Impreza WRX and WRX STI, the company is also quite well known for rally-proven performance models. But the WRX wasn’t the first WRC-inspired Scooby to hit our shores; that honor fell to the original Legacy Sport Sedan.

Notice how I said “WRC-inspired” rather than, say, “WRC-bred.” That’s because the Legacy Sport Sedan was, sadly, not the same car that Subie submitted to the FIA to approve for racing. WRC rules, then as now, call for a turbo engine no bigger than 2.0L and with no more than four cylinders, and in the rest of the world, that’s exactly what they sold to the general public to meat homologation requirements. However, the overachiever Legacy for North America received a 2.2L SOHC (but still 16-valve) non-intercooled turbo flat-four. Output was decent by early ‘90s standards at 160hp and 181 lb./ft, but those numbers (as well as the straight line performance figures) have most certainly not stood the test of time as far as cars with sporting pretensions are concerned. Where the Legacy Sport Sedan really shone was when the road ceased going straight. The full-time AWD system with center viscous coupling with the 5-speed manual (torque distribution was electronically controlled if the available 4-speed automatic was fitted) and the tweaked suspension made for a capable dance partner whether you were negotiating a freeway offramp, a muddy logging road or any other vehicle path that let out your inner Colin McRae. Aside from the improved performance over the standard versions, the Legacy Sport Sedan also packed a revised grille and front fascia, a hood scoop, 15-inch alloy wheels and a rear spoiler into its bag of tricks.

How much will one of these babies set you back? From what I’ve been able to dig up, a nice 5-speed with less than 100k miles is worth less than three grand, but the numbers will go up or down depending on condition, mileage and options. Reliability is generally good, but try to find a car with as many records and receipts as you can. Do your do diligence and you’ll be the satisfied owner of a reasonably potent sleeper and a piece of Subaru history.

For more info: Subaru Legacy Forum, The Subaru Forum, North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club.