1997 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV with Evo VIII engine

Highlights

• Repainted earlier this year
• Extensive specification
• 60k mile Evo VIII engine fitted
• Very well presented
• Thousands spent

Overview

Anyone who was in their late teens during the 90s will undoubtedly remember the iconic Mitsubishi Lancer coming into its own and most recognisable on the rally stages, where it stormed to numerous victories over the years.

Introduced in 1996, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV was a breakthrough in rally-inspired cars, debuting Active Yaw Control (AYC) to enhance cornering agility by adjusting torque between the rear wheels. This set new standards in handling, making the Evo IV highly responsive on both roads and rally tracks.

Powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with a larger intercooler, it came with a 5-speed manual gearbox and advanced all-wheel drive. An active centre differential and optional limited-slip rear differential provided optimised traction.

Its aggressive design featured a sculpted bonnet, large air intakes, iconic round fog lights, and a functional rear spoiler for stability. This model laid the groundwork for future Evolutions, becoming a legend among performance enthusiasts.

Now is your chance to take ownership of that rally-bred saloon you could probably only dream of owning as a 17-18-year-old. This lovely example features an exterior respray earlier this year, and the engine has been upgraded to an Evolution VIII unit, which has been fully serviced. There are also a number of subtle upgrades to the suspension, ensuring the handling is on point, just as you would expect from the legendary Lancer Evo IV.

History and Documentation

• UK registered 11th October 2010
• First registered 31st January 1997
• V5C is present and in the owner's name
• Owned since 2020
• Private registration E4 OYH (E4 Oh Yeah) included
• The current MOT is valid until the 29th March 2025
• No MOT advisories for the past five years
• There has been a mix of mileage and kilometres on the MOT certificates over the years
• The last two keepers are friends of the vendor
• Thousands spent and shown over several invoices

Interior

• Original Recaro seats
• There is some age-related wear to the bolsters, but it looks to be just the foam which has deteriorated, mainly on the driver's side
• The rear seat is in good condition
• All four door cards are in good order
• The carpets throughout are clean and tidy
• Factory Momo leather steering wheel
• The dashboard is in good condition with just two small screw holes on the top, which we reckon could easily be repaired
• All of the switchgear is in good condition with minimal signs of age and reported to work correctly
• Upgraded Pioneer head unit
• Additional Toucan G4 touch-screen display has useful features such as valet mode (protected but PIN), Anti-lag, fuel octane setting, boost control plus many more
• Retrimmed headlining in Alcantara
• The door shuts haven’t been repainted and do look slightly discoloured when compared to the fresh paintwork
• Boot mounted battery
• Alloy boot strut brace
• No spare wheel

Exterior

• As a rally-bred Mitsubishi, it certainly looks the part
• Resprayed in the original colour during the early part of 2024
• The paintwork presents very well
• All of the panels appear to align as they should, with an equal gap
• Ralliart mudflaps on each corner
• Upgraded headlights
• PIAA foglights
• All of the lights are free from damage
• Wind deflectors fitted to the side windows
• All windows are in good condition with no noticeable scratches
• The window seals are also in good order
• Factory-tinted rear windows
• Mitsubishi Evo VIII alloy wheels finished in Gold give a hint as to what’s lurking under the bonnet
• Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres are in like new condition

Mechanical

• Evo VIII engine which was fully serviced upon installation
• The Evo VIII engine is reported to have had approximately 60,000 miles covered before the transplant
• Installed and serviced by DWR Performance Tuning Specialists
• New Evo VIII Injectors
• Rebuilt turbo in 2024
• DWR confirmed there is a set of performance camshafts fitted, but the spec is unknown
• Uprated Japspeed alloy radiator
• Uprated DWR Intercooler
• Japspeed exhaust manifold
• Screamer pipe
• Stainless steel exhaust
• HKS Stainless steel rear silencer
• Uprated fuel pump
• The Evo fires up without hesitation and comes to a smooth idle with no issues reported
• ACT Streetlite flywheel and heavy-duty street clutch fitted
• Five-speed gearbox
• Legendary AYC (Active Yaw Control) Differential
• Super Pro bush kit keeps the suspension nice and tight
• Meister R suspension
• The ride is firm enough without being crashy or harsh
• Evo VIII brakes are fitted to cope with the extra performance
• The car comes to a stop in a straight line and with no issues reported
• Extensive work was carried out to the rear underside with new chassis legs fitted in 2021 by DWR Performance Tuning Specialists

Summary

This 1997 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV has been a labour of love for the vendor who has owned it for the past four years. Not content with just driving the car as it was, the vendor has spent a considerable amount of money on it, which is documented in the history file, carrying out improvements and upgrades such as the suspension, Evo VIII engine, and finally finishing it off with a respray earlier this year. Now that he is moving on, it’s your opportunity to own a rally-inspired legend with some tasty upgrades.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Derby, Derbyshire.