[AndyH]

RIGNO the R. A life story – The First Owner

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I will begin.

This is the story of R1GNO, a rather special TypeR, it’s a bit like a Herbie movie to be honest as R1GNO is now owned by Nick (Morster) and is being put back together again.

Once upon the time there was a Subaru dealer in Sussex who in 1998 had a number of customers who did not want to wait for the new Prodrive P1 cars to finally arrive.

This dealer then decided to import band new STI Type R’s from Subaru Japan and convert them themselves to UK spec - by welding in a proper fuel filler restrictor and fitting a proper foglight holder to the rear STI cluster. (although this was not illegal, as the cars were not available in the UK/via IM, they lost their Subaru franchise over it).


Once such car was originally spec’d up by a MrX of Y, who requested a Silver Version 4 car with a set of 16in 22B style wheels designed for the standard body sheel and an Electric Sunroof. At some point between deposit and delivery, Mr X did not take possession.


The car, originally registered as R44 *** was there put in the show room for sale.

The cars first owner was a Mr Geno Francisco (that name is important) and he was a director of a teacher supply company and was passing the showroom in Horsham when he saw the car.


I know from a subsequent star letter published in a copy of the Performance Car Magazine (more on this later), that he fell in love at first sight and deal was done there and then. This deal also included the fitting of a set of Prodrive heated and cooled Recaro Seats.
I had a copy of the £36,000 invoice when I bought the car, which in 1999, was a big chunk of cash.


On collection of the car Geno had a year applicable private plate fitted - R1 GNO (Geno).


These are pictures of RIGNO the weekend I purchased her in 2002, and is roughly what the car would have looked like when new.











I don’t think Geno was short of money as not long into his ownership, the car was booked into Scoobysports in Basildon (the biggest Subaru tuner at the time) for a decat exhaust and back Box (The exhausts were made next door by Hayward and Scott) and a uprated air filter.

I think Geno was also security conscious (rumour has it someone tried to steal the car), as he had a full Clifford Alarm fitted, together with extra Door Bolts and Anti Smash film fitted to the windows.

After a year and a half and 30k of fun ownership, Geno sold the vehicle to petrol head and plumbing company owner Andy Dorrington.

Next: Owner Number 2: Andy - The Ring Driver.