This ultra-rare Mitsubishi Evo VI presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a hidden gem from Japanese motoring history. Never intended to see public roads, this prototype Evo has the potential to be a far greater investment than any other Evo VI and the vast majority of Japanese cars ever produced. 

If you’re looking for a truly unique project with a rewarding final product, unrivaled by any other Evo VI on the planet, this is the one for you. 

This car has one of the most interesting backgrounds you will likely ever encounter, for all the right reasons. Back in early 1999, Mitsubishi Ralliart built 7 pre-production prototype Evo VI cars for the Japanese press.

As these prototypes were never road registered, the Japanese authorities gave Mitsubishi two weeks' grace for testing, under the condition that they were never to be sold to the Japanese public. Out of the seven cars built, four returned to Ralliart to become rally cars, one was stolen never to be seen again, and two were sold to friends of Mitsubishi Ralliart on the condition that they would leave the country immediately and not touch Japanese roads given their unregistered status. This particular prototype was one of the two originals designated for export. 

The current keeper purchased the car directly from Mitsubishi in February 1999 with 2200 miles on the clock and shipped the car to the UK as per the Japanese government’s terms. 

The car was then sold to the first keeper’s business partner, was later re-purchased in 2012, and has remained with the current keeper ever since. Essentially, the car has remained in the same family and has a fully traceable past throughout its time between the two owners. 

Over the years, the car has been well maintained by both Performance Autoworks and Protec of Preston from 2012 onwards. Protec is responsible for maintaining the current owner’s collection of unique cars and has taken good care of this Evo. 

In terms of paperwork, buyers will be pleased to know that this unique Mitsubishi comes with an assortment of invoices for previous labour and parts, MOT certificates, proof of communication throughout the initial buying process, an original manual, radio manual, locking wheel nut key and the V5C/registration documents. 

The interior of the Evo VI is strictly business. There are no luxury comforts or modern gizmos to distract you from a truly focused driving experience, which is exactly what Mitsubishi intended for. Other than an upgraded stereo, this car’s interior is exactly as it left the factory, even down to the safety flare located in the passenger’s footwell. 

The front Recaro seats hug you in place and have aged fantastically over the years, with only minor signs of wear showing. The rear seats have possibly never even been used, and could quite easily fool you into believing they’ve come right off the production line in Japan. Mitsubishi Evo and JDM enthusiasts will know that these Recaro seats are seldom seen in as great of a condition as presented here today.

The interior also boasts a few tasty Momo goodies, including a leather steering wheel, shift knob, and even a set of rare floor mats. As expected, all instruments, controls, and switches not only present themselves very well for their age but are in full working order. Carpets, door cards, and the headliner follow suit, showing very few signs of age. 

In the boot is where you’ll find the mentioned signs of rust peeking through. From the surface, the rust in the boot appears to be patchable, but ideally, the new owner will ensure this is fully rectified as part of the vehicle’s underbody restoration. Looking past the rust issues here, you’ll find the spare wheel, original jack, and unused toolkit. 

Overall, the interior of this rare Evo is in superb condition, and will easily rival even the cleanest examples found on UK roads today. It has been well cared for and clearly reflects the vehicle’s low mileage. The only noticeable defects, of course, are in the boot. 

 

This Evo VI looks absolutely fantastic for its age and is one of the few examples that remains original and hasn’t been modified over the years. The Scotia White paintwork has certainly held up very well, showing only a few minor signs of age. 

All 4 wheels benefit from being refurbished in 2018 and suit the rally-inspired Evo VI body lines perfectly. The lightweight OZ wheels are wrapped in a set of Toyo Proxes tyres, with plenty of tread left for the new owner to enjoy on a dry day. 

It is actually very difficult to believe that the car needs attention underneath, as it doesn’t show exterior signs of the usual rust that tends to plague Japanese cars of the era. The bottom of the doors, arches, and outer sills look great, likely saving you a fair amount of hassle when it comes to restoring the car to its full glory.

Buyers will be pleased to know that this impressive Evo fires up straight away, and performs brilliantly. Having been maintained by highly regarded specialists; Performance Autoworks and later Protec of Preston, the vehicle has absolutely no mechanical or electrical faults, ensuring a brilliant platform for the project. 

Although the car has been a dependable vehicle over the years, it benefits from a range of key maintenance and servicing including a cylinder head rebuild in 2014, rebuilt brakes & a rebuilt differential pump in 2018. The car has been serviced at regular intervals, doesn't suffer from the usual overheating issues, and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face from the moment you turn the key. 

Note:

As mentioned above, this vehicle is being sold as a project and will require attention underneath. Specifically, it suffers from common Evo 6 rust in the rear chassis rails and front panel, along with the minor areas in the boot floor. Significant restoration underneath the car beyond chassis rails, front panel and boot floor will be required underneath. That being said, the car will also include the replacement OEM chassis rails and front panel, ready for the new owner to restore the car back to concourse condition. These parts are otherwise unobtainable and have only been acquired through very strong connections within the industry. It is now impossible to purchase new versions of these from Mitsubishi, making these included chassis rails and front panel worth more than money alone. 

Once the vehicle has been repaired using the provided parts, you will have a truly unique vehicle. With only one other example out of the original 7 made believed to have been kept standard, the value of this Evo 6 prototype has the potential to be far greater than any other Evo 6, including Tommi Makinen editions. If you’re looking for an Evo as your next investment, this is the one. 

This fantastic Evo VI is not only in full working order but is absolutely packed with unique history and simply cannot be compared to other examples. As the car is in excellent mechanical condition, boasts a great exterior, and even comes with unobtainable repair items, it presents you with the perfect platform for an incredibly rare project.