If one is feeling nostalgic about classic Mitsubishis these days, they might sound reminiscent of an older generation. During our era, there were no such vehicles as the Eclipse Cross; we had the original Eclipse! And genuine SUVs, like the Montero. Let’s not forget about the Evo, remember the Evo? Millennials are aging rapidly. Nevertheless, permit us to indulge in the admiration of a flawless assortment of vintage Mitsubishis that will be part of a once-in-a-lifetime auction, perhaps our excitement will be contagious. Possibly.
This event will signify the debut appearance of Auto Auction, a brand-new car auction platform, endorsed by former racing driver and Top Gear host Tiff Needell. Leading the way as the initial seller is Mitsubishi Motors U.K., offering 14 meticulously preserved museum-grade cars covering a span of 43 years, featuring nearly its entire lineup of vehicles. The collection includes specialized sports cars such as the Starion and 3000GT, rallying vehicles, their road-legal counterparts, along with robust trucks and SUVs.
1987 Mitsubishi Shogun, Auto Auction
Noteworthy highlights comprise the ultimate editions of the most esteemed variants of the Lancer Evolution, namely the VI, IX, and X. The Evo VI is a low-mile Tommi Mäkinen Edition (featured above), autographed by the four-time World Rally Champion himself. On the other hand, the Evo IX is a limited-run, high-horsepower MR FQ-360 producing 366 horsepower and 363 pound-feet of torque. Regarding the Evo X, it stands as the most potent street-legal Evo ever available from the manufacturer, the MR FQ-440, boasting an incredible 440 horsepower and 412 pound-feet.
Mitsubishi’s rich racing heritage is prominently showcased as well, with an Evo IX Group N rally car and an earlier Galant GTI AWD, reportedly street-legal. Joining the race truck category is a more contemporary, extensively customized L200 pickup, accompanied by twin Shogun (Montero in the U.S.) off-roaders and even a locally produced Willys CJ-3B. Seems like an ideal candidate for a 4G63 engine swap—or if that’s a miss, at least a turbo Hayabusa engine.
This remarkable collection will be up for auction with no minimum bid on Thursday, April 1, two weeks from this article’s release. Prior to rushing into placing bids on any of these enticing vehicles, American bidders must remember the 25-year import prohibition means the most recent vehicles eligible for import, without maneuvering around regulations, cannot be newer than 1996. Consequently, as tempting as a 440-horsepower factory Evo X may be, you’ll have to wait for almost two more decades to consider the FQ-440 variant.
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