2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C Type RA

Subaru announced the WRX STI Spec C Type RA on 19 October 2004 with a 300-car sales plan. Its combination of Spec C foundations, adjustable STI suspension, carbon rear wing and retained comfort equipment makes this a specific Japanese programme rather than a general Type RA lineage entry.

The October 2004 announcement fixes the programme boundary

The original inventory uses the broad wording “Impreza WRX STI Type RA,” with a market-dependent count. Subaru’s dated Japanese announcement resolves that ambiguity: this profile covers the WRX STI Spec C Type RA released on 19 October 2004. The release gives a 300-car sales plan and a named equipment list. It is a Japanese GDB programme, distinct from the following Type RA 2005 and the later RA-R. Keeping the date and complete suffix together prevents several related editions from being merged.

Subaru: 19 October 2004 Spec C Type RA announcement and sales plan

Spec C foundations are combined with road-car equipment

Subaru describes the base as the WRX STI Spec C with 17-inch tyres, then adds STI-developed equipment. The same announcement lists automatic climate control, central locking, power windows and power-folding mirrors. This combination is central to the programme’s character: a competition-oriented foundation with equipment for normal road use. It should be explained through the original package rather than reduced to a generic claim that every Type RA is a stripped-out car with identical equipment across generations and markets.

The suspension and aerodynamic details provide useful evidence

The named additions include four-stage adjustable inverted struts, lowered reinforced springs, front corner spoilers, an STI front underskirt and a carbon rear wing. Subaru also lists 17-by-8.0JJ STI alloy wheels. These details support a more useful identification guide than a badge photograph alone. They should be inspected as a coordinated specification, with service replacements and later modifications recorded separately. A car assembled from some correct-looking parts is not automatically another car within the original 300-car programme.

Subaru: 19 October 2004 Spec C Type RA announcement and sales plan

The original colour and transmission references stay specific

The announcement lists WR Blue Mica, Pure White and Solid Red, with AWD and a six-speed manual transmission. Those references belong to this October 2004 release. They do not establish that every later repaint represents an original factory colour, nor should another Type RA’s palette be imported into this profile. Original ordering or registration documents are particularly useful when comparing a surviving car with the programme. The factory specification explains what was offered; an individual history explains what subsequently happened to a particular example.

Subaru: 19 October 2004 Spec C Type RA announcement and sales plan

A correctly labelled factory exterior image resolves the hold

The photograph comes from Subaru Image Library’s October 2004 collection explicitly headed WRX STi spec C TYPE RA. Its matching index labels the file as the programme exterior, providing a documentary connection between subject and image. The small original is retained without enlarging the file. It illustrates the factory appearance, while ownership, originality and condition remain matters for vehicle-linked records. This precise photo and dated release resolve the earlier broad inventory wording without repeating a Type RA already covered in a previous batch.

Specifications and identity reference

Rarity and production scope

The attributed 300-car reference covers the Japanese WRX STI Spec C Type RA announced on 19 October 2004. It resolves original Verified row SUB-095’s market-dependent wording; it is not a count for all Type RA versions, all Spec C cars or a combined Japan/US allocation. Type RA 2005 and RA-R remain separate previously covered identities. The reference is the manufacturer’s sales plan, with exact completed production and survivor totals left blank. Colour choices are variants inside the same programme, not three additional production allocations.

What the photograph represents

Factory exterior image from the explicitly named October 2004 WRX STi spec C TYPE RA collection, with the matching file index identifying the subject. The small original is retained without enlargement. It is separate from Type RA 2005 and the later RA-R.

Related Subaru profiles

• 2000 Subaru Impreza S201 STI Version
• 2016 Subaru WRX STI NBR Challenge No.106
• 2026 Subaru WRX Series.Yellow

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same programme as Type RA 2005?

No. This is the October 2004 300-car release, with its own dated factory equipment list.

Does the 300-car reference apply to every Spec C?

No. It belongs to the specifically named Spec C Type RA programme, not the wider Spec C grade.

What is the production-count boundary for this profile?

The attributed 300-car reference covers the Japanese WRX STI Spec C Type RA announced on 19 October 2004. It resolves original Verified row SUB-095’s market-dependent wording; it is not a count for all Type RA versions, all Spec C cars or a combined Japan/US allocation. Type RA 2005 and RA-R remain separate previously covered identities. The reference is the manufacturer’s sales plan, with exact completed production and survivor totals left blank. Colour choices are variants inside the same programme, not three additional production allocations.

Sources and further reading

1. Subaru: 19 October 2004 Spec C Type RA announcement and sales plan

Research checked 19 October 2026. Linked manufacturer heritage pages, factory announcements, official distributor publications and labelled contemporary coverage support the specifically identified claims. Photographic descriptions identify the illustrated subject. Design analysis and suggested authentication steps are editorial interpretation.