The shocking mistake that made the subaru impreza legendary

It’s a car icon, instantly recognizable – a vibrant blue with those unmistakable gold rims. But the story behind the Subaru Impreza 555’s most famous feature is far more unexpected than you might think. A simple, catastrophic manufacturing error birthed a legend, forever changing Subaru’s trajectory in the World Rally Championship.

A wheel of misfortune

According to David Richards, president of Prodrive and a key figure in Subaru’s WRC success, the whole thing began with the 1997 Monte Carlo Rally. The Impreza WRC97, fresh off the production line, arrived with wheels that weren’t gold. They were intended to be a stark anthracite grey – a deliberate design choice by Peter Stevens, the car’s designer, to meet the evolving regulations of the time. It was a move to modernize the Subaru’s aesthetic, a subtle shift away from its previous, more heavily sponsored look.

But Speedline, the wheel manufacturer, tragically sent a complete batch finished in gold. The initial reaction within the team? Horror. Richards recounts the immediate feeling – that this was a complete and utter disaster, a clash with the carefully planned design. There simply wasn’t time to rectify the issue before the rally’s start. So, with a shrug and a silent prayer, the Impreza was unleashed on Monte Carlo with those accidental golden wheels.

And something remarkable happened. Piero Liatti secured victory, and the spectacularly wrong wheels became a sensation. The media frenzy was immediate, and Subaru’s president, upon seeing the results, surprisingly decided to embrace the error. He requested that the wheels be retained, effectively turning a manufacturing blunder into a defining brand image. It was a decision that defied logic, but one that propelled Subaru to unprecedented success.

Richards himself recalls the conversation: “I said, ‘Look, I really have to apologize for the wheels; we’ve sent them back to be repainted grey.’ He said, ‘No, no, no, we’ve already done all the advertising, they have to keep with the gold wheels now.’ And that’s how the gold wheels came to be. It wasn’t intentional; it was a complete disaster.” The legacy of State Express 555, the tobacco sponsor with its iconic blue and gold colors, subtly seeped in, creating a visual shorthand that resonated with audiences.

Interestingly, the gold hue wasn’t entirely new to Subaru. It had appeared on earlier competition models, like the 1993 Legacy RS and the 1994 Impreza WRX STI. This pre-existing connection to the State Express brand played a crucial role in the colour’s enduring appeal.

Despite the initial hiccup, the Impreza WRC97 dominated the season, securing eight of fourteen rallies and ultimately claiming the WRC Manufacturers’ title. Even Colin McRae’s near-miss in the Drivers’ Championship – a single point behind Tommi Mäkinen – couldn’t diminish the impact of the golden wheels. The Impreza, born from an error, became a symbol of Subaru’s rally prowess. And that, in essence, is the story of one of motorsport's most enduring and unexpected icons.”n