2000 Mitsubishi EVO VI

Equipment

Passion Red paintwork with Special Colour Pack (SNGF2), 180mph speedometer, TME-embroidered Recaro front seats, 17-inch Enkei alloy wheels, Integrated rear fog lamp, Front and side airdams, Twin-wing rear spoiler with high-mount stop lamp, Momo leather steering wheel with red stitching, Leather gearknob and gaiter with red stitching, Specially tuned suspension, Brembo brakes, Colour-keyed electronically controlled door mirrors, Driver's and front passenger's SRS airbags, Automatic air conditioning, Electric windows front and rear, Remote central locking system, Rear centre armrest, Cup holders, Ralliart mud flaps, Ralliart carpet mats, Spare wheel, Jack, Spare key, Bespoke indoor car cover.

Exterior

This gleaming Evo 6.5 in desirable Passion Red presents beautifully throughout. The paintwork is largely original with a deep shine retained across every panel. The Special Colour Pack (SCP) decals are in equally fine order with no fading or discolouration to note. UK-registered from new, the car is equipped with the rear fog light integrated into the bumper. But what really sets this one apart from the rest is the incredible condition of the underside following an eye-watering £20k spend. What began as a simple cosmetic refresh ended up as a thorough nut-and-bolt underside restoration, and the result is exceptional. The whole underneath was shot blasted back to bare metal and photos were taken to prove no welding had ever been carried out. Then, almost every component was either refurbished or replaced with OEM spec; the list of work undertaken is comprehensive to say the least.

Interior

The Recaro sports seats are trimmed in a combination of special red cloth and black velour which, quite remarkably, is free from any of the discolouration or fading issues found in most TMEs. The centre panels are entirely unmarked and the deep bolsters show next to no signs of any wear, damage, or bobbling to the fabric. The steering wheel and gear knob are both original items, the only aftermarket addition within the cabin being a later style CD player. All in all, this must be the best-preserved interior we have seen in any Tommi Makinen Edition, UK-supplied or otherwise.

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION

As part of the car's eye-watering £20k underside and mechanical overhaul the engine and surrounding bay were also fully restored to “as new”. Having covered only 55k original miles with a comprehensive service history, the factory 4G63 engine was in fine operational condition. However, with the goal of achieving perfection the owner insisted the engine be removed and entirely re-dressed including all new pipework and bolts. A brand new genuine TME titanium turbo was sourced and fitted, along with a new intercooler, etc. Recently serviced, the car also boasts a new clutch, flywheel, and OEM exhaust.

History File

First registered new in the UK in July 2000, this particular SCP TME is a rare find indeed. Pre-dating the known 250 Ralliart-supplied TMEs this car is understood to be one of only a handful supplied new to the UK before Mitsubishi asked Ralliart to take over due to increasing demand. The previous owner spent around two years searching for a decent UK example only to find that most were a disappointment, many having rusted from the rear subframe outwards as these cars were not suitably prepared for our harsh UK roads. Based on the fact that it had always been garaged and well looked after, he purchased this Evo VI in February 2015. With the intention of keeping it as part of his collection forever he set out to make the car truly perfect, spending in excess of £20k in the process. Boasting just 4 former keepers and only 55k miles from new with a comprehensive service history, this rare opportunity to own one of the most sought-after Lancer Evolutions in such unrepeatable condition is certainly not to be missed.