Mitsubishi Lancer Evo II RS | Spotted

We definitely will need another interval in rallying like the 1990s to offer up some incredibly hot JDM performance cars and trucks once more. Subaru’s homolgation specific, the WRX STI, burbled its way by phases with a righteously fantastic Colin McRae guiding the wheel, although Toyota’s Celica GT-4 pushed the boundaries of legality… and dropped. But to the conclude of the 10 years nobody could touch Tommi Makinen and his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

In between 1996 and 1999, Makinen swept up the driver’s championship functioning just one of the many, numerous distinct variants of the Lancer Evo. What’s much more, Mitsubishi’s rally challengers were being intently linked to their road automobile counterparts, with most of Makinen’s titles coming at a time when the relaxation of the opposition experienced moved to the less-restrictive WR regulations. To retain alone on prime, Mitsubishi introduced a collection of evolutions (geddit?) for homologation. Granted, the rally automobiles were even now intensely modified about their roadgoing counterparts – because an airbag ain’t likely to cut it if you fly into a tree – but the Evo was about as shut as you could get to a rally car for the highway. Specifically if you went for the Evo II RS that we have here.

It’s a common formulation with what we see nowadays with the Renault Megane RS Trophy-R and Subaru RA-R, but back in 1994 the idea of a again-to-basics overall performance car was fairly alien. For starters, the Evo II took the 2.-litre turbocharged DOHC device from the Evo I and turned the wick up to 256hp. Following, the wheelbase was extended (potentially to make it improved on tarmac rallies), chassis rigidity was amplified by 30% and the 5-speed handbook gearbox was provided a tweak.

But this is no regular Evo II. Remaining an RS, you also get a single of the most fundamental interiors you will find on a manufacturing car or truck – even by 1994 specifications. The Evo II RS ditched the radio and the electric powered windows have been swapped out for manually wound ones. Also, recognize the black door handles and mirrors? These are produced of a low cost (but light) plastic, rather than the system-colour equivalent on the GSR. You could even option steelies! Nevertheless the customer of this product went of the normal five-spoke OZ rims that came on the GSR.

The Evo II RS was so hardcore that it was purchased up by privateer rally teams since it was simpler to adapt them to Team A polices. As well as, like several other JDM monsters from this era, the 2.-litre DOHC motor could be tuned to substantial heaven, making finding a tidy instance right now is tough to say the minimum. So when you take into consideration the Evo II RS we have listed here is fully stock nearly 30 many years after it left the manufacturing facility, you know that it’s been appeared right after by a correct Evo lover.

Then you glimpse at the selling price. There are not lots of rally icons you can select up these days for £24,995, especially when the Evo II is of the very same era as a Lancia Delta HF Integrale and Ford Escort RS Cosworth – the two of which can command upwards of £100,000. And with Prodrive having in on the Subaru restomod activity with the 50 percent-million pound P25, we doubt it’ll be prolonged in advance of somebody has the exact same thought for a jazzed up Lancer Evo and costs for authentic illustrations will only go skywards. Just check out to glance previous the trim materials…

Engine: 1,997cc, 4-cly turbocharged
Transmission: 5-velocity manual, all-wheel push
Energy (hp): 260@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 288@3,000-7,000rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
Calendar year registered: 1994
Recorded miles: 36,000
Cost new: N/A
Yours for: £24,995