Vehicle Description
Is this the next collectible car? If you’ve been following the collector car reports, you’ve seen how Japanese specialty cars like the Datsun 240Z are rapidly rising in value. (The Toyota 2000GT is over $1 million today.) Many think the Subaru SVX is destined to join their ranks. It was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, perhaps the leading extant auto designer in the world, whose Ital Design firm styled many of the world’s most reknowned cars from Ferraris to Lexus’. He was named Car Designer off the Century and is in the Automobile Hall of Fame. A few of his memorable designs include the Alfa Romeo Guilia Sprint GT, the Delorean, Lotus Sprint S1, Aston Martin DB4 Bertone, BMW M1, Bugatti EB 118, Ferrari 250 GT SWB, Maerati Ghibli, Bora and Merak… you get the idea.
His trademark design cue for the SVX is the “aircraft-inspired glass-to-glass canopy” side window treatment. It not only is distinctive and innovative; it provides for high-speed open-window cruising without buffeting. The car is loaded with many other such meticulously crafted details and is built to an exceedingly high quality standard, as it was Subaru’s debut effort in building a true luxury sports car. By the way, this was a concept car in the 1989 Toyko Auto Show, and is one of very few concept cars that actually make it into production.
This model is the very first year of production, 1992, of a short run 1992-1996, the first (and last) year traditionally being the most sought after by collectors. It is a two-owner, low mileage, 100% original example down to the excellent paint and interior (even the carpets). Everything works perfectly, including the sunroof, all four power windows, power seat, power windows, entertainment system, A/C, electrics, etc. It is fully loaded with every conceivable option of the era.
The specs of this fascinating car continue to impress, with its EG33 engine, which is a 3.3 liter boxer, horizontally opposed flat six (think Porsche) with dual overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, sequential multi-port fuel injection, and Active Torque Split ALL-WHEEL DRIVE system.
Only 14,257 of these cars were ever imported into the United States over its four-year run, and they are already becoming collectible, as they are truly significant cars. This is probably the best example available if originality and condition are your criteria.
