2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C Type RA 2005

The Spec C Type RA 2005 combined the lighter Impreza specification with STI chassis equipment and road-use amenities. Subaru’s August 2005 announcement gives a 350-car limit tied to orders through November, distinct from the earlier Type RA and the later RA-R.

The year suffix identifies the exact programme

The factory announcement is dated August 17, 2005 and uses the complete Spec C Type RA 2005 name. Its ordering limit runs through November 2005, which should not be misread as the launch month. Type RA badges appear on several different Subaru programmes, so the full name and date are essential. This profile covers the named 2005 specification, rather than an earlier limited model or the separate 2006 Type RA-R.

Subaru: Spec C Type RA 2005 launch and equipment

The Spec C foundation is explicitly documented

Subaru identifies the 17-inch-tyre WRX STI Spec C as the base and explains its motorsport-oriented lightweight approach. The announcement also discusses the wider Spec C family’s competition role. That context does not make every Type RA 2005 a works rally chassis or prove that a particular customer car competed. The edition is documented as a road specification with its own equipment and sales boundary, separate from individual competition histories.

Suspension changes require accurate detail

The factory list specifies dedicated inverted struts with four-stage adjustable damping, reinforced lowered springs and pillow-ball-equipped rear links. It also names a dedicated rear stabiliser and its mounting components. Four stages is the source’s detail; it should not be replaced by a generic internet description of a different adjustment count. The meaningful engineering story is how the components work together, while the current condition and setup of an individual car require inspection and service records.

Subaru: Spec C Type RA 2005 launch and equipment

Road equipment remains part of the identity

STI 17-inch wheels, a front underskirt and a stainless-steel muffler accompany dedicated seats and cabin finishes. Subaru also lists automatic climate control, central locking and power windows, showing that the lightweight basis was combined with road-use convenience. These references should not be confused with equipment on another Type RA generation. Photograph the complete body, interior and mechanical components alongside original documentation rather than identifying a car only by a removable badge.

Subaru: Spec C Type RA 2005 launch and equipment

The factory image resolves the RA-R substitution problem

The supplied asset is from Subaru’s explicitly labelled August 2005 Type RA collection. It replaces the earlier unsuitable RA-R search results with the correct programme reference. The 350 figure describes the announced sales plan through the stated order deadline, not an independently reconstructed completion or survivor register. Customer modifications, competition use and registration dates belong in individual histories and do not create additional factory editions under the same name.

Specifications and identity reference

Rarity and production scope

The manufacturer announced a 350-car Spec C Type RA 2005 sales plan covering orders through November 2005. Earlier Type RA programmes, the later Type RA-R and the distinct V-Limited 2005 are not included. SUB-100 was an earlier hold, not a completed import. The matched factory collection resolves its image gap, while exact completed production remains blank because the sales cap is not a newly audited completion census.

What the photograph represents

Factory-supplied front-and-rear studio image from Subaru’s August 2005 Type RA 2005 collection. It shows the correct Spec C Type RA programme, not the later RA-R. The 600-pixel original is retained without file enlargement.

Related Subaru profiles

• 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STI S204
• 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI 20th Anniversary
• 2017 Subaru WRX STI Type RA NBR Special

Frequently asked questions

Was the launch in November 2005?

The contemporary announcement is August 17; November is the stated final order period for the limited plan.

Is this the later Type RA-R?

No. The 2005 Type RA has a separate name, factory announcement and 350-car sales-plan reference.

What is the production-count boundary for this profile?

The manufacturer announced a 350-car Spec C Type RA 2005 sales plan covering orders through November 2005. Earlier Type RA programmes, the later Type RA-R and the distinct V-Limited 2005 are not included. SUB-100 was an earlier hold, not a completed import. The matched factory collection resolves its image gap, while exact completed production remains blank because the sales cap is not a newly audited completion census.

Sources and further reading

1. Subaru: Spec C Type RA 2005 launch and equipment

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.