Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution: Spotted
Regular rally specials out of reach? There is another way!
Spoiler and arches and mudflaps? Yes!
And don't think the Pajero is some kind of poor relative. The first Pajero to win the Dakar was in 1985 and from 2001-2007 it won every single event. This particular car was built between 1997 and 1999 for homologation into the production-based T2 class, but actually won outright in 1997 and 1998. In 1998 Pajeros took the first three places, five hours ahead of anyone else.
But then this was no ordinary Pajero, even as a road car. The track was 125mm wider at the front, 110mm wider at the rear and with new dampers that cost twice as much as a standard car to replace. Look at those arches! The suspension introduced another superb acronym (ARMIE) into the world of JDM specials, those letters standing for All Road Multilink Independent suspension for Evolution. This when a regular Pajero had a rear live axle.
No danger of kerbing wheels with those tyres
So it's a pretty special car. That's before you mention the limited run of just 2,500 cars, the mud flaps, the aluminium panels, the uprated diffs, the Recaro seats... It's the real deal, make no mistake. This car is for sale at Fast Classics, whose stocklist is crammed full of stunning cars. While you're hardly going to be comparing PajEvos at local dealerships, it's pleasing to see a comprehensive history file and a car in entirely standard condition. From what can be gleaned from the pics, it appears to have been very well looked after.
Sure, you could go and buy a newer Lancer Evo for less money. Very, very few people will have any clue how significant it is. And being homologated for Dakar simply isn't as well known as WRC, DTM and the like. But that doesn't make the Pajero any less intriguing, and it's a damn sight more PH worthy than anything made by Mitsubishi now. One for the rally connoisseur!
MITSUBISHI PAJERO EVOLUTION
Engine: 3,497cc, 24v V6
Transmission: 5-speed auto, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 280@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 257@3,000rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1998
Recorded mileage: 87,507
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £12,995
See the original ad here.
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An amazing experience. The stand out memory is the sheer presence the thing had; both from bystanders and traffic seeing it bearing down upon them and quickly moving out of the way.
Having said that the owner had to start almost every journey by topping up the engine oil and carrying a couple of gallons (yes, GALLONS!) on board to top-up with en route!
ETA: Yes we did.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=122...CAVEAT EMPTOR
(but FAB car anyway)
1 long wait was a replacement auto gearbox and the other was a stub axle I think!
AWESOME thing though, my Mum was 65 when she owned that! :-)
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