We all know the rule when it comes to silly Subarus. The longer the name and the fewer the doors, the better the car. Sometimes it might just be the two-door box ticked – see 22B or P1 – or just the ridiculous name one – looking at you, WRX STI Type RA NBR Challenge – and they’re all greats. But occasionally there will be a jackpot car. An Impreza Type R STI Limited Version 6 is just the kind of thing we’re talking about.

The Imprezas that celebrated Richard Burns’ achievements in Subarus were always the exceptions that proved the rule. Both RB5 and RB320 were brilliant cars, but four-door only; the names were obviously quite short and the designs, by Impreza standards at least, were restrained. The RB5 was grey, the most obvious giveaway to its special status being the branded foglight covers. The RB320 had more visual clout, but painted all black (when that was the cool thing to do) it wasn’t quite so in your face as a Subaru could be. They both neatly reflected Burns’ character behind the wheel, typically less flamboyant and attention-grabbing than his opponents while still wickedly fast.

That the RB320 actually arrived two years after Burns’ untimely passing indicates just how loved he was in Subaru circles. All 320 were spoken for not long after it was announced, despite the new model being based on what was then quite an old Impreza design. It was no mere badging exercise, either, as the 320 got the Prodrive performance pack – for 320hp, of course – as well as a bespoke chassis set-up, with a lower ride height as well as unique Eibach springs and Bilstein dampers.

It was these chassis changes that guaranteed the RB320 legendary status (if it wasn’t already assured as the last Hawkeye saloon with the great man’s name attached). ‘The new components and Prodrive’s suspension tweakery have done wonders for this car’, read one review, praising the Impreza for its agility and body control. Another lauded the brakes and spoke of ‘bringing far more high-speed composure to the formerly unsettled STI’. It was a proper job, the RB320, an impressive Impreza then and all the more appealing when the first five-door WRXs and STIs didn’t quite hit the spot.

Now they’re very highly prized, just like the RB5, if not quite to the same point as the mad two-door cars. This 320 is one of two currently in the classifieds, and must be one of the best left out there. Since 2007 it’s covered just 24,000 miles with three owners, and boasts a full service history, mostly with Subaru agents. It even comes with the original invoice, showing a purchase price of £33,773.40 thanks to options like the ‘light smoke tinted windows’ for £450, the Clarion sat nav (almost £1,500!) and the upholstery upgraded to Charcoal leather and Alcantara, for £1,276.60. Everything points to this being a really cherished car, including a four-figure sum recently spent on replacing the cambelt and water pump.

A Subaru this special won’t come cheap, at £46,995, but such are the values now attached to the most notable Imprezas. The other RB available is still commanding £20k with more than 100,000 miles – it’s very much par for the course as far as the best Imprezas are concerned. On the plus side, it seems unlikely that they’ll be any less loved in years to come. If you can make the numbers work, a great RB320 will surely remain valuable in the years to come.

Engine: 2,457cc four-cylinder boxer, turbocharged
Transmission: 6-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 320@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 332@3,750rpm
MPG: 26.4
CO2: 292g/km
Year registered: 2007
Recorded mileage: 24,000
Price new: £30,000 (before options)
Yours for: £46,995