• Fresh Japanese Import (Nov 2020)

• Japanese VX report

• Full underside restoration

• LSD-fitted RS model

• Super close-ratio 5-speed manual

If you’ve ever watched any kind of rally driving, you’ll already know what this car is. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has a racing pedigree deep within its veins. Mitsubishi has had racing at its forefront since well before the Evolution ever got developed - as far back as 1961 when the company was pushing for rally glory with its 500 Super Deluxe. As the years went on, and evolution cars came into the picture, Mitsubishi was ready for rally dominance that the world would remember, forging its mark in history as some of the most capable rally cars to date.

The Evolution name is not one which is carried lightly - and certainly not one to be sniffed at. Initial production dates for the first generation Evolution was 1992, with a small saloon sporting a 2.0 DOHC Turbocharged engine (4G63T) and an AWD drivetrain which derived from the original Galant VR-4 with mechanical changes such as a higher compression ratio, larger injectors and a lightweight crankshaft. With such an incredibly high powered engine at the time, coupled with a lightweight chassis and an AWD system, this car would trouble most things on the open road.

Fast forward to 1996 and Mitsubishi had already gone through 3 iterations of the Evolution, and it was now time for the 4th, which incorporated an entirely redesigned body. This new design proved extremely popular worldwide. The engine and transaxle were rotated 180° to improve the weight distribution and to help eliminate any torque steer under harsh accelerations. 

With the same 4G63T engine fitted, a new twin-scroll turbocharger TD05HR-16G6-9T was opted for to help introduce more low end torque and offer better mid-range performance making a staggering 276 bhp @ 6,500 rpm and 260 ft-lb of torque @3,000rpm. 

Two variants of this Evolution were made, the GSR and the RS. The RS was developed as a competition car - a worm gear limited-slip front differential was standard on these models as well as a friction type LSD on the rear axle. 

To help reduce any unwanted weight, Mitsubishi ditched electric windows for wind-ups, made air conditioning an optional extra, and added brace bars behind the front grill and across the rear boot to help strengthen the chassis and eliminate flex. All these changes made the RS weigh in at 1,260kg, that’s 85kg lighter than the GSR models.

This 1997 Mitsubishi Evolution RS spent its entire life in Japan.. Until a Scottish car collector set his eyes on it amidst the trying COVID lockdowns. We’ve all done it. Many nights have been spent looking at cars we don’t need… But a car like this is good enough to get any enthusiast prying at their wallet. 

The current owner had the car sourced and imported from Japan in November 2020, a very beautiful addition to his ever-growing collection of Japanese history. Soon after import, the owner sent the car off to his very trusted and highly regarded mechanics, who have spent over 20 years specialising in Evo’s. Knowing these cars like the back of their hand, the mechanics completed a full inspection and drew up a parts list for the vehicle.

As with all Japanese imports, the underside of the vehicle was in fantastic condition due to the absence of salt on the winter roads. However due to this car now being part of a collection, the owner wanted it as good as it would get. Who wouldn’t?! The entire undercarriage was steam cleaned to get rid of any dirt and grime, as well as painting all of the suspension control arms and subframes. 

Newly plated bolts were used to fasten everything up with the addition of new bushes and anti-roll bar links, the owner had the entire underside fully coated in Dinitrol High Performance Clear Wax to preserve the hard work carried out and protect it from any future use the car might see. The use of clear wax shows that this car has nothing to hide, truly worthy as part of a collection.

A full mechanical service was carried out on the vehicle after he work was completed which included replacing the following:

- Engine oil & filter

- Spark plugs

- Fuel filter

- Gearbox and differential oils

- Timing belt

This was followed by a full wheel alignment to ensure the vehicle was spot-on after all the work carried out to the subframes and suspension components!

Some minor paintwork has been carried out on the car, covering the side skirts, the bootlid and the front bumper to help freshen the car up and take some years off it - this was carried out by a trusted local body shop and was completed to a very high standard.

The current owner has the V5 which states 0 previous UK owners, as he is the first owner after the vehicle's import and registration process. Along with this the car has a valid MOT certificate which will expire in October 2021. 

A Japanese CAR VX report is in the owners possession, which tells the most complete history of the vehicle, showing that in the last 10 years the vehicle has only covered just over 21,000km (13,000 miles for us). The cars export certificate is also present with the vehicle.

As with any Japanese import vehicle, paperwork is usually quite thin on the ground. This is no news for those familiar with car imports. The CAR VX is a great addition to have and allows for transparency between the car and any potential buyers.

The interior of the Evolution is welcoming, basic, with a little hint of race car thanks to the aftermarket steering wheel fitted, which shows signs of use but no real signs of unreasonable wear. On the passenger side of the dashboard you will notice an oblong cut-out - this is due to the car previously having a small roll-cage fitted at some point in its life in Japan. 

Apart from this, the interior is very presentable for a 24 year old car! Being an RS variant, there are no bucket seats here. RS cars were fitted with GLXi front seats, which today are still in great condition with no rips or tears in the fabric or stitching. The rear seats are in similar condition! 

All the dials on the instrument cluster are in full working order - even the lights, too! Illustrated by one warning light on the dashboard which the owner tells us is because of the O2 sensor due to the car having an aftermarket Kakimoto Regu turbo-back exhaust system. All the switches, dials and levers are working as they should. A double din stereo has been fitted to replace the old radio, this allows you to select local radio stations and introduces some modern functionality into the interior. 

Carpets are all in good condition as are the door cards with minimal signs of scuffs. All windows are manually operated as per the RS specification of losing weight wherever possible, it’s all “function over form” with this car - and really that’s the way it should be with such a driver oriented piece of machinery.

A great thing to note is the presence of the spare wheel in the boot area along with the jack and wheel brace - very often these go missing, but not in this one!

For a car from the late 90’s, it really would put a lot of modern cars on the road to shame with how well kept this chassis is. Thanks to the recent paintwork carried out on the front bumper bringing this car a new lease of life, as well as the well preserved headlights which show no signs of cracks and great visibility. 

There are some stone chips at the front of the bonnet, however this is to be expected - this car has been driven most of its life and it would be astounding if there weren’t any! You’ll also notice, no fog lights here. RS models didn’t come equipped as standard with the large circular PIAA fog lights, these were optional extras to assist in the goal of weight saving.

Thanks to the side skirts also receiving a fresh lick of paint, they’re in great condition. There are some common signs of use on the vehicle such as some minor paint chipping on the front edge of one of the arches as well as some evidence of sun damage on the black B-pillars - this is extremely common due to the type of paint used during manufacture. Some small cracks are apparent to the right rear side skirt where it meets the sill. Also noticed was some strong adhesive tape used on the lower section of the rear wheel arch where it meets the rear bumper.

The offside rear light unit unfortunately does have a crack - however the seller states he is trying to source a replacement before the sale, but this is not guaranteed and should not be taken as part of the sale. The boot lid and rear bumper have fresh coats of paint leaving them looking great! All panels throughout the car looks to be in great shape, all panel gaps seem consistent and precise.

The car sits on standard 15” wheels which are in good condition all round, wrapped in Toyo Proxes that have plenty of meat left on ‘em for loads of adventures for a potential buyer! Overall, this car is in great shape, it may have some age related marks or cosmetic imperfections but they are VERY easily overlooked when you see how beautifully kept the underside is. This is the perfect base for someone to tinker with, or even store away as a toy for the odd summer-night cruise.

As you’d expect, this car is in excellent working order. The 4G63T engine purrs beautifully at the turn of the key with no unusual or worrying noises apparent. Thanks to the car undergoing a complete service including items such as the engine oil and filter, spark plugs, gearbox and differential oil as well as the timing belt being replaced, a new owner can rest assured this car has been well taken care of.

Thanks to the RS super close-ratio gearbox, the car sprints quickly through the gears, enough to get the adrenaline going and make you feel like you’re out on a rally stage! No unwanted wines or crunches are present while driving and the gear changes are as they should be. Thanks to that Kakimoto Racing Regu turbo-back exhaust system you’ll be in audio heaven any time you sink your right foot. The feeling of driving a well maintained Evo is somewhat uncomparable to other cars, it’s an absolute blast.

Thanks to the owner fitting new bushes and links to the underside of the car, fitting a new Cusco front strut brace and Cusco front and rear anti-roll bars, this Evo handles like an absolute dream. Precise steering and great feedback ensures you know exactly where to place the car at any moment. You’ll be wanting to take it down every back road you set your eyes on!

A 90’s rally icon, minimal functional modifications, restored underside, and a sleeper-like appearance. What’s not to love about this? Finding a Evo 4 that has been kept largely standard is extremely difficult as these are enthusiast cars, this is an incredible base for anyone to start tinkering with or even keep as is for a showpiece. The underside of this car alone is enough to make any Japanese car enthusiast start salivating. It truly is a sight to behold when a 90’s cars underbelly looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor. 

Having the Japanese CAR VX report is a fantastic addition to have with the vehicle to showcase as much of the cars japanese history as possible, many imports come into the country with no paperwork whatsoever, so any history available for the car is very valuable to have. 

As rare as these cars are becoming, and as well kept as this one is, you’d be kicking yourself if you missed it. Don’t delay on getting involved with this beautiful, pampered Evo, this is a real needle in a haystack!