Question 1

Do these kits fit all GC/GF variants including WRX and STI?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All kits fit the full GC/GF family: standard, WRX, and STI variants from 1992 to 2000. The body structure and panel attachment points are shared across all trims. For modified suspension geometry, confirm clearances before ordering.

Question 2

What surface finish do the parts arrive in?

Accepted Answer

Parts arrive in gel coat, the factory resin surface from the mold. Gel coat is not a finished paint job. Before painting, sand the surface and apply a primer coat. For FRP, your painter should add a flex additive to the primer to prevent cracking at flex points.

Question 3

Is shipping included in the price?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Shipping is included in the product price for all destinations. UK/EU: 7-20 days. USA/Canada: 10-20 days. All other destinations: 9-20 days.

Question 4

What payment methods are accepted?

Accepted Answer

Stripe (card payments), PayPal, Payoneer, and USDT. All payments are processed securely and confirmation is sent by email.

Question 5

How long is the FRP production lead time?

Accepted Answer

Approximately two weeks from order confirmation. Carbon parts have a longer production window; contact us for current availability before ordering.

Question 6

What is the difference between GC8, GF8, and GM6 chassis codes?

Accepted Answer

In the Subaru coding system, "G" identifies the Impreza production line. "C" denotes the sedan (4-door), "F" the sport wagon (5-door), and "M" the coupe (2-door, USDM only). The trailing digit indicates the engine: "8" for the EJ20 turbo, "6" for the EJ25 2.5L naturally aspirated. GC8 is the most commonly referenced code because it covers the WRX and STI sedan variants.

Question 7

Will a GC8 sedan body kit fit the GF8 wagon?

Accepted Answer

Front bumpers, front fenders, and side skirts share the same attachment geometry across GC and GF. Rear bumpers and rear quarter panels differ because the wagon body is longer behind the B-pillar. Confirm with the product listing which parts are sedan-specific and which are shared.

Question 8

What makes FRP better than carbon fibre for a street build?

Accepted Answer

FRP absorbs flex at panel joints and road-surface impact rather than cracking. It weighs roughly 40% less than steel, takes paint directly with standard automotive primer, and costs less than carbon fibre. For daily-driven GC/GF builds, FRP handles potholes, speed bumps, and parking incidents without structural failure. Carbon is the better choice when absolute weight reduction matters more than repairability, which is typical of dedicated track or show cars.

Question 9

How much does a GC8 WRX STI weigh?

Accepted Answer

Kerb weight varied by version. The early STI Version I (1994) weighed approximately 1,240 kg. The Version III (1996) came in at 1,250 kg. The Version V and VI (1998-2000) were around 1,260 kg. The 22B STI, which used a widebody coupe shell and 2.2L EJ22G engine, weighed 1,270 kg. All figures are for JDM models and may vary by market due to equipment differences.

Question 10

How many STI versions were made on the GC8 chassis?

Accepted Answer

Six versions. Version I (1994) through Version VI (2000), plus the limited-production 22B STI (1998, 424 units total) and the WRX Type R coupe. Each version received incremental upgrades to engine tuning, suspension, brakes, and differential systems. The STI models were homologated for WRC competition and sold exclusively in the Japanese domestic market during this generation.

Question 11

What engine does the GC8 WRX use?

Accepted Answer

The GC8 WRX uses variations of the EJ20 flat-four turbocharged boxer engine with a displacement of 2.0 litres. Earlier models (1992-1996) used the EJ20G, producing 240 ps. From September 1996, the EJ20K replaced it with 280 ps. STI versions V and VI received the EJ207. The 22B STI used the unique EJ22G with displacement increased to 2.2 litres. All variants feature DOHC, 16 valves, and an IHI turbocharger.

Question 12

What is the wheelbase of a first-generation Subaru Impreza?

Accepted Answer

The wheelbase is 2,520 mm (99.2 inches), shared across all GC, GF, and GM variants. Subaru built the Impreza on a shortened version of the Legacy floor pan. This wheelbase remained constant throughout the entire 1992-2000 production run regardless of body style or engine variant.

Question 13

Can I install a wide body kit on a GC/GF myself?

Accepted Answer

Test-fitting and temporary mounting are manageable for an experienced DIY builder with a clean workspace. Final bonding, panel alignment, and arch trimming require precision and are better handled by a professional body shop. Paint preparation on FRP (sanding, primer with flex additive, topcoat) requires spray equipment and a controlled environment. For a detailed breakdown of which stages are DIY-friendly and which are not, see the wide body kit installation guide.

Question 14

What wheels and tyres fit a widebody GC8?

Accepted Answer

A wide body kit increases the available fender clearance, allowing wider wheels and lower ET offsets than stock. Common fitments for widebody GC8 builds are 17x9 or 18x9.5 with ET offsets between +22 and +35. Tyre widths of 245 to 265 are typical. The exact fitment depends on the specific kit width, suspension geometry, and whether the arches are rolled or cut. The wide body kit fitment guide covers this in detail with clearance tables.

Question 15

Why do people still build widebody GC8s in 2026?

Accepted Answer

The GC8 won three consecutive WRC manufacturers' titles (1995, 1996, 1997) wearing widened arch aero derived from its production body. That competition-validated form is the reason the platform still attracts builders: the wide-body shape is not a cosmetic afterthought but a proven aerodynamic configuration. The chassis is also unusually light for an AWD car (as low as 1,230 kg), parts are mechanically simple, and the EJ20 engine platform has decades of aftermarket support.

Question 16

What is the Subaru Impreza 22B STI?

Accepted Answer

The 22B STI was a limited-production widebody coupe built by Subaru in 1998 to commemorate both the company's 40th anniversary and its third consecutive WRC manufacturers' title. It used a unique 2.2-litre EJ22G engine (the "22" in its name), Bilstein suspension, 4-pot/2-pot STI brakes, and a body widened by 80 mm using fender flares from the Peter Stevens-designed WRC car. 400 units were produced for Japan and 24 for export markets. All Japanese units sold out within hours of release.

Question 17

What is gel coat and do I need to paint over it?

Accepted Answer

Gel coat is the factory resin surface applied inside the mold during FRP production. It provides a smooth, sealed surface but is not a paint finish. You cannot colour-match or polish gel coat to a showroom standard. Before painting, the gel coat must be sanded (typically 320-400 grit), primed with a flexible automotive primer, and then topcoated. Your painter should use a flex additive in the primer to prevent cracking at stress points where the FRP panel flexes.

Question 18

How are the body kit molds made?

Accepted Answer

Molds are developed from either 3D scans of the OEM body panels or physical casts taken directly from original parts. This process captures the factory panel geometry, attachment point locations, and surface curvature. The result is a mold that produces body kit parts matching the original panel lines at factory-level tolerances. Every kit sold on this page is produced from molds developed using this method.

Question 19

What is the difference between FRP hand-layup and vacuum-infused carbon?

Accepted Answer

FRP hand-layup involves placing glass fibre mat into a mold by hand, applying resin, and controlling the layup to produce a part with designed-in elasticity. It is the standard process for street-use body panels. Vacuum-infused carbon fibre uses a sealed bag and vacuum pressure to draw resin through dry carbon fabric at a precise resin-to-fibre ratio. This produces a lighter, stiffer, structurally superior part. The carbon process is not a decorative overlay; it is a fundamentally different manufacturing method that produces a part engineered for rigidity and minimum weight.

Question 20

Can I order a body kit if I live outside the UK, EU, or North America?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Shipping is available to all continents and is included in the product price. Deliveries outside UK/EU and USA/Canada typically take 9-20 days. The first international shipment was to Malaysia in 2015, and kits have since been shipped to Japan, Tanzania, Australia, New Zealand, and many other destinations. Contact us for a delivery estimate to your specific location.

Code	Body	Years	Engine	Power	Torque	Weight	Gearbox	Kits
GC8 WRX	Sedan, 4-door	1992–1995	EJ20G turbo	240 ps	304 Nm	1,230 kg	5MT	FRP Carbon
GC8 WRX	Sedan, 4-door	1996–2000	EJ20K turbo	280 ps	329 Nm	1,250 kg	5MT	FRP Carbon
GC8 STI v1	Sedan, STI spec (JDM)	1994	EJ20G (STI)	250 ps	309 Nm	1,230 kg	5MT close-ratio	FRP Carbon
GC8 STI v2	Sedan, STI spec (JDM)	1994–1996	EJ20G (STI)	275 ps	319 Nm	1,240 kg	5MT close-ratio	FRP Carbon
GC8 STI v3	Sedan, STI spec (JDM)	1996–1997	EJ20K (STI)	280 ps	343 Nm	1,250 kg	5MT close-ratio	FRP Carbon
GC8 STI v4	Sedan, STI spec (JDM)	1997–1998	EJ20K (STI)	280 ps	~352 Nm	1,250 kg	5MT close-ratio	FRP Carbon
GC8 STI v5	Sedan, STI spec (JDM)	1998–1999	EJ207 turbo	280 ps	343 Nm	1,270 kg	5MT close-ratio	FRP Carbon
GC8 STI v6	Sedan, STI spec (JDM)	1999–2000	EJ207 turbo	280 ps	388 Nm	1,270 kg	5MT close-ratio	FRP Carbon
GC8 Type R	Coupe, STI spec (JDM)	1997–1998	EJ20K (STI)	280 ps	343 Nm	1,240 kg	5MT + DCCD	FRP Carbon
GC8 22B STI	Coupe, widebody (JDM)	1998	EJ22G 2.2L turbo	280 ps	363 Nm	1,270 kg	5MT + DCCD	FRP Carbon
GF8 WRX	Wagon, 5-door	1993–2000	EJ20 turbo	220–280 ps	290–343 Nm	1,270–1,290 kg	5MT / 4AT	FRP
GF8 STI	Wagon, STI spec	1996–2000	EJ20K / EJ207 turbo	280 ps	343 Nm	1,280 kg	5MT close-ratio	FRP
GM6 2.5RS	Coupe, 2-door (USDM)	1998–2001	EJ25 2.5L N/A	165 ps	225 Nm	1,200 kg	5MT / 4AT	FRP
GC/GF (N/A)	Sedan / Wagon base trims	1992–2000	EJ16 / EJ18 / EJ22 N/A	90–137 ps	135–196 Nm	1,100–1,230 kg	5MT / 4AT	FRP

Subaru Impreza GC-GF Authority Hub

Technical specs by chassis code

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