Description
This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at Race Retro 2025 - Competition Cars on Saturday the 22nd of February, Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh Rd, Coventry, CV8 2LG. On offer here is an extremely interesting car that is currently owned by its original owner/ driver and has a fascinating story to tell. This FIA-spec Galant VR4 RS 'Group N' was supplied to the Gudang Garam Rally Team in 1991 to compete in the Indonesian National Champion, supported by Mitsubishi and Ralliart, who wanted a 'Group N' car competing at top-level rallies based in Indonesia.
The car was maintained on a day to day basis by a professional rally/ race workshop located in Jakarta, with no budget restrictions during the 1991 and 1992 Championships, funded by Gudang Garam. It was looked after on events by a combination of local mechanics and Ralliart factory mechanics. Parts were supplied by Ralliart and paid for by the Ralliart Dealer Team, who ran two factory 'Group A' cars in addition to supporting the 'Group N' car. To our vendor’s knowledge, it was one of only three cars prepared to full Group N-spec by Ralliart Asia and was built to the limit of the FIA regulations. The shell was prepared to factory 'Group A'-spec with only the fuel tank being 'Group N' and the interior trimmed as required.
Our vendor drove the car in the 1991 and 1992 championships, beating most 'Group A' cars and winning the class making it the most successful 'Group N' Galant in Asia. With the arrival of the 'Evo' cars, it was then retired and remained untouched, which was unusual as most Galants were destroyed when the mechanicals were stripped and installed in Evo shells.
However, it later came out of retirement to be driven by the team manager's wife, who frequently won the Ladies Class in Indonesian events. The car was finally imported to UK in 1999 by the lady owner and sat in her Collection being cared for by Ralliart UK, until the current owner bought it back to join his collection of rally cars, looked after by Protec, where it has resided ever since.
In summary, it is very rare to find a period competition car offered from its first owner/ driver, offering reassurance as to its special provenance. This is a factory-built car, driven successfully by mainly one driver, in completely original spec with its original shell, engine, gearbox, etc. and is an important car in the rally heritage of both of Ralliart and Mitsubishi.
The specification is listed below:
Original RS engine, blueprinted by Ralliart. Ralliart exhaust and competition AP clutch
Original RS gearbox
Original 'Group N' RS brakes and comp pads
Ralliart spec Bilstein struts/ shocks, Ralliart arms
Four-wheel steering fixed by Ralliart not to work as per 'Group A'
Original shell, seam-welded, original panels fitted and Ralliart supplied and fitted roll-cage
Works Ralliart 'Group A' wheels fitted with Michelin tyres
Standard interior ('Group N') with original Ralliart seats and steering wheel and 'Group N' dash
