1996 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV GSR

Highlights

• Striking Tommi Mäkinen-style Ralliart tribute livery

• Low mileage

• Remarkably early chassis number

• Great condition

• Comprehensive UK service history since 2022 import

Overview

Mid-1990s rally stages belonged to one car and one driver. As Tommi Mäkinen began stitching together a run of consecutive WRC drivers' titles, the Repsol-liveried Lancer Evolutions became part of the cultural furniture. So when an Evo IV rolls up wearing full tribute colours, we all sit up and take notice.

The Evolution IV was the first of the breed to ride on the new CN9A platform, with a rotated drivetrain layout and the debut of Mitsubishi's clever Active Yaw Control torque-vectoring system. Underneath that bonnet vent sits the 4G63T, a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four with the unmistakable red DOHC 16v cam cover, paired to a five-speed manual and all-wheel drive. In GSR specification you also get the Recaro buckets, AYC, ABS and air conditioning, making this the rally-bred Evo will cope with a damp commute as well as being a blast across the moors.

This particular car is a genuine JDM example with a chassis plate that reads like an enthusiast's dream: CN9A-0000700, an exceptionally early-build number stamped both on the factory plate and the bulkhead. Factory paint is W83 Scotia White, now wearing a full Ralliart/Repsol/RACC tribute livery that mirrors the WRC machines, complete with race "1" door panels, NGK, OMP, Michelin, Enkei, Öhlins, Sabelt and Pringle decals, a red rear wing and matching red roof scoop. White Enkei alloys on Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 rubber finish off the rally-stage stance.

Step inside and the JDM character continues. As well as Recaro seating with crisp contrast stitching, there’s period-correct burgundy chequered cloth on the door cards, a Pioneer double-DIN touchscreen for modern infotainment plus a red anodised Ralliart short-shift gear knob, and a matching handbrake button. Original Japanese-text warning labels still adorn the sun visors and a JDM Mitsubishi parts label remains on the rear glass, both reminders of the car's far-flung origins.

Registered in the UK in March 2022 and still in the hands of its first UK keeper, a consistent string of annual workshop invoices shows it's been properly looked after. Still showing remarkably low mileage and with the underside fully undersealed, it’s a modern rally classic that would look at home in any collection but could also be enjoyed to the full.

History and documentation

• First registered in Japan 1996; UK first registered 01/03/2022 with zero former UK keepers per V5C

• Comprehensive UK service history: Feb 2022 (timing belt, balance belt and tensioner kit, oil and filter, MOT), Apr 2023 (oil and filter, AYC fluid and system bleed, brake and clutch fluid flush, fuel filter, battery, chassis inspection), Feb 2024 (spark plugs, brake and clutch fluid flush, air filter, oil and filter, front brake pads), Feb 2025 (MOT, brake and clutch fluid flush, alternator drive belts, oil and filter, brake and fuel line inspection)

• Currently presented in Tommi Mäkinen-style Ralliart/Repsol/RACC tribute livery with race "1" door panels and red rear wing

• Aftermarket additions include Pioneer double-DIN touchscreen, Broadway convex mirror, red anodised Ralliart gear knob and stainless aftermarket rear silencer

• Vendor declares the car as decat

• Two keys accompany the car

• Current MOT is valid until 13 Feb 2027

• HPI clear

Interior

• Distinctive period-correct cabin with the Evo IV's signature burgundy chequered cloth door card inserts presenting well front and rear

• Deeply bolstered Recaro seats, free of obvious wear, tears or staining

• Headlining is taut, clean and free of sagging or staining

• Pioneer double-DIN touchscreen head unit fitted in the centre console for modern connectivity

• Red Ralliart anodised gear knob with matching handbrake button

• Automatic climate control

• Vendor notes the cloth decoration panel on the passenger side has slightly peeled at one edge due to age, plus a slight glue mark on the driver-side dash beneath the steering wheel

• Boot clean and tidy

• All electrics, gauges and switchgear reportedly fully functional

Exterior

• Finished in factory Scotia White (W83) and now wearing a full Tommi Mäkinen-style Ralliart/Repsol/RACC tribute livery, with red and black graphics, sponsor decals (Mitsubishi, Repsol, Michelin, NGK, Enkei, Öhlins, OMP, Pringle, Sabelt) and race "1" door panels

• Vendor describes condition as very good with no scratches to the paintwork, only slight paint cracking on the bumper area due to the car's age

• Red rear wing, matching red roof scoop section and body-coloured white wing mirrors all intact

• White Enkei alloy wheels at all four corners, with vendor noting slight scuffing on the front pair

• Tyres are Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 in 215/40 R17, with healthy tread depth

• Black wind deflectors fitted to the door window frames

• All panels, shut lines and rubber seals appear straight and consistent with no obvious accident repair

• There's a slight chip on the windscreen on the driver’s side
• The seller advises that the front passenger side door lock is faulty and requires manually locking from the inside

• Underside generously coated with thick black anti-rust underseal along the sills and floor pans, with photographs of the underside before and after treatment available from the vendor

• Some minor surface rust noted at one wheelarch lip and along a small section of mid-sill where the underseal has lifted

• Overall, it’s a real head-turner

Mechanical

• 2.0-litre (1,998cc) turbocharged 4G63T inline-four 

• Approximately 276 bhp at 6,500 rpm and around 260 lb ft of torque at 3,000 rpm

• Five-speed manual gearbox sending drive through all four wheels via Active Yaw Control torque-vectoring

• 0-62mph in approximately 5.5 seconds, with a factory-limited top speed of around 112 mph (180 km/h)

• Timing belt, balance belt and tensioner kit replaced in February 2022 shortly after UK arrival

• AYC fluid and system bleed carried out in April 2023

• Brake and clutch fluid flushed at every annual service from 2023 onwards, with front brake pads renewed in February 2024

• Alternator drive belts replaced February 2025 alongside oil and filter change and brake and fuel line inspection

• Yuasa battery fitted, which the vendor tells us was replaced approximately two months ago

• Aftermarket stainless rear silencer fitted; vendor declares the car as decat

• Vented bonnet heat-extractor panel with mesh grilles fitted to aid engine bay cooling

• Vendor reports the car starts, drives and stops completely fine with no faults, no untoward sounds or smoke from the engine, and no mechanical issues to flag

• No major upcoming maintenance flagged by the vendor; ready to be enjoyed straight away

Summary

An exceptionally early CN9A chassis number, low mileage and that striking livery makes this a JDM enthusiast’s dream. Show-ready as it stands, it would be equally happy on a B road blast meaning that you could enjoy the drive just as much as sharing your passion with others.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Coventry, West Midlands.

Please note, this vehicle is recorded as “Type Approval Exempt” on the V5, which is typical for Japanese imports of this era.

The seller informs us that the car is currently fitted with a decat exhaust. Buyers should note that emissions requirements for MOT testing are determined by DVLA/MOT database records and the vehicle’s age. As such, a catalytic converter may be required for road use and MOT compliance.

Prospective buyers are advised to make their own enquiries regarding emissions regulations and MOT requirements relevant to their intended use.