*No reserve on this auction!*

・One of only 20 V6-24s left taxed in the UK
・Genuine low mileage
・Manual gearbox, Momo wheel and full leather trim
・Perfect low profile Q-Car

Ever since the sixth generation Mitsubishi Galant appeared in 1987, the Japanese company’s biggest saloon car has enjoyed a reputation as a bit of a curious, leftfield choice with bags more character than many of its European rivals.  

It was also the model that kicked off Mitsubishi’s world rally career, with the four-wheel-drive, four-wheel-steer Galant VR4 winning the 1989 Lombard RAC Rally in the hands of Finnish rally genius Pentti Airikkala. 

The Galant gave way to the iconic Lancer Evo in 1993, but the rallying pedigree meant that the bigger saloon continued to thrive from the halo effect of Mitsubishi’s motorsport antics, not least because it was always pretty decent to drive as well. 

The eighth generation of Galant came along in 1997 and was sold in the UK until 2003, with distinctive shark-nosed styling and impressive dynamics.

It came with a choice of four-cylinder ‘GDI’ engines, which were technologically fascinating thanks to their direct injection systems, and a flagship 24-valve V6 model, with a 2.5-litre quad cam engine and 161bhp. 

And that’s what we have here. One of the very last Galants sold in the UK, PE03 VNS is a V6-24 model in range-topping Elegance specification. It’s particularly unusual, too, in that it comes with five-speed manual transmission instead of the automatic gears normally found on the V6 models. 

It’s a rare car. According to DVLA data, at the end of 2020 there were just 20 Galant V6-24s left taxed on UK roads, so you’re unlikely to encounter another one coming the other way. In stealthy black, it’s the perfect Q-Car. 

PE03 VNS was supplied new by Browns Mitsubishi in Preston, Lancs, just in time for the 1st of March 2003 ‘new registration’ day, when it was delivered to its first owner – a Mr Welch, who bought it privately and kept it until 2009. He kept the car maintained by the supplying dealer before the second owner took delivery and kept it maintained independently. A third owner ran the car until earlier this year.

Having carried out quite a bit of work on the car he is now selling the Mitsubishi to make space in his eclectic car collection for something a bit older.

As well as a V5 in the vendor’s name and an MOT certificate valid until October this year, the Galant has quite a bit of historical paperwork including the original book wallet, handbook and service booklet. 

In the service history are a stamp for the pre-delivery inspection two days before the car was first registered, along with main dealer services at 9,425, 20,165, 27,072 and 49,987 miles. After that, there is a pile of receipts from an independent garage in Preston, Lancs, all the way up until 2016 when the car had covered 64,000 miles. It currently has just over 83,500 miles on the clock, verified as genuine by its MOT history. 

In addition, an original brochure stamped by the supplying dealer comes with it, along with instruction booklets for the alarm system and factory-fit VDO stereo system. 

Finished in striking solid black, the Galant looks fantastic, especially with its bold and menacing front-end styling. It was one of the best-looking saloon cars of the late 1990s and early 2000s, and the sharp, clean and angular lines have stood the test of time well. 

It looks terrific on its 12-spoke alloys, which were sourced by the vendor while recommissioning the car as the originals (the same design) were in poor condition. 

While it looks great, there are a couple of imperfections to be aware of. There’s a small rust patch on the bottom of the driver’s side rear arch and also some small bubbles on the other side in the same place, but the metal in this area feels solid and it shouldn’t be too difficult to sort out. 

The vendor says he has had the car on a ramp and that the underside is solid and has never been welded, so some time spent with a wire brush and some underseal would be a worthwhile task for the car’s next owner. 

There are a couple of small stone chips and swirl marks. Nothing that jumps out, though, and overall the car looks and sits really well. 

The alloys aren’t perfect but they’re a decent second-hand set. All of the tyres are legal but show some wear. 

It has a stealthy look overall, but the deep front splitter, bumper-mounted fog lamps and subtle V6-24 boot lid badges hint that there’s some reasonable performance on offer. 

Inside, the Galant is in great order. It has three of its four original dealer carpet mats, with the driver’s side replaced by a rubber one, but otherwise everything is there and in tip-top order, as you’d expect from a low-mileage car.

The black leather seats are in good condition, while an optional chunky ‘Momo’ steering wheel is a nod to Mitsubishi’s rallying antics and is a genuine ‘Ralliart’ accessory. 

There are no warning lights illuminated, the original stereo and CD changer work as they should and there’s very little wear to the gear lever, handbrake or seat bolsters, which are hallmarks of careful previous ownership.

With 165bhp, the power output of the Galant sounds quite modest, but the 24v quad cam layout means it has a pretty torquey response, with 223Nm of grunt. 

That’s enough to give it the ability to accelerate from 0-60mph in just eight seconds, with a top speed of 134mph. A decent turn of performance, accompanied by a lusty V6 soundtrack, aided by a stainless steel sports back box. 

It sounds terrific on the road, starts on the button and holds a steady temperature. The vendor reports that the brakes, steering and suspension all feel good and that the car is great fun to drive.  

The Mitsubishi Galant is a car that has always had a bit of a cult following – think of it as a Japanese equivalent to an Alfa Romeo or a SAAB. The kind of car that gets under its owner’s skin and beguiles you with its charms. 

It’s an oddball, a Q-Car and a very rare example of a model that is fabulous long-distance cruiser or point-to-point performance saloon. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a charming, leftfield modern classic.