Block Drives Car in X Games
The Subaru Impreza, even in a WRX or STI guise, doesn’t usually generate front-page headlines. Yet, this ride owned by the late Ken Block, a renowned rally driver legendary for his Hoonigan brand and wild Gymkhana videos, should certainly make an exception. The beloved racer tragically departed in a snowmobile accident earlier in the year, leaving one final Gymkhana video featuring an electric Audi as a tribute to his legacy. Fans will fondly remember him best for his driving antics in a Subaru, and now they have the chance to acquire a piece of history with this 2004 Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS.
In 2006, Vermont SportsCar of Milton, VT transformed the car into open-class rally racing frames. Ken Block and his aide Alex Gelsomino then drove it on the 2006 X Games installment. Mark Fox would later buy the car in 2009 and utilized it to enter the New England Forest Rally. The overall distance this vehicle has traveled is unclear, but we do know that it has rarely, if ever, been handled with care. Below you can witness some TV clips of Ken Block zooming around in the car.
Despite being a 2.5 RS, a 2.0-liter turbocharged flat-four engine powers the car and is mated to a KAPS five-speed dog-box manual transmission along with a diver-controlled center differential plus Cusco front and rear limited-slip differentials. Though no output figure is given, the engine likely delivers around 400 horsepower. While we don’t know if this used rally automobile is suitable for road driving, it does possess a Carfax report as well as an Oregon title. The Carfax discloses water damage in 2005 that resulted in the car being declared a total loss, but subsequent competitions have seen it then receive repairs. Not taking away from its racing pedigree, the front spoiler is fractured and there are numerous blemishes across the body.
The outside is dressed entirely in black, featuring an iconic Monster Energy design, as well as a Ken Block special. The golden wheels, boasting BFGoodrich g-force tires of 215/65 dimension, are a part of the setup, along with a spare wheel in the trunk. Additional exterior features include PIAA driving lamps, a hood scoop, a rear wing, roof ventilation, mudguards, and a rear towing hook. The car is fitted with freshly reconditioned AP rotors with four-piston calipers, Ohlins shock absorber suspenders, and Cusco rear suspension links.
On the inside, the Subaru has undergone a full makeover for racing. It is outfitted with Recaro Pro Racer SPA HANS racing seats, Sabelt six-point safety restraints, along with a roll bar, carbon-fibre dashboard and entrance panels, Corti Giant rallycomputer, specialised fuse and relay panel, Tilton pedal box, and passenger footbrace as well as fire restraint system. Regrettably, the certifications of the seat and harness have been surpassed, thus requiring the new possessor to equip them with new ones in order to be able to race again.
Whether you got this as an entertaining ride or a historic collectable, this is a one-of-a-kind item. It includes signatures from Alex Gelsomino, Travis Pastrana, and Ken Block. At the moment, the offer on Bring a Trailer (BAT) has escalated to $45,000 with still twelve days left for bidding; although, it is likely to hit a far greater amount when the auction comes to an end.
