1999 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI Zero Fighter

It wasn't until the launch of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI that the Japanese firm truly entered the consciousness of a wider spectrum of rally enthusiasts. The first Evo to be officially available in the UK, the Mitsubishi Evo VI, was introduced in January 1999 and the 'standard' Evo VI GSR stole enthusiasts' hearts from the start with its 2-litre turbocharged engine producing the 'Gentlemen's Agreement' 276bhp (although it’s accepted that it was closer to 300bhp) and 275lb/ft torque. It featured a complex and hugely capable four-wheel drive system, mated to a 5-speed gearbox ensuring this lightweight, 1,360kg saloon was fast and exciting, with 0-60mph dispatched in 4.4 seconds and topping out at 150mph, immediately giving Subaru’s Impreza a bloody nose.

The Zero Fighter was a Mitsubishi/Ralliart amalgam of parts that could be ordered from any Mitsubishi supplying dealer when you ordered the car and could also be retro-fitted by the dealer for a limited time. It was an option on any Evo VI, either the RS or GSR, rather than being a specific model that was built, with this particular example being based on a GSR.

This 1999 Evo VI Zero Fighter is a JDM gem and the genesis for what has now become the eXtreme. Finished in Scotia White with Passion Red trim, it's certainly an aesthetically pleasing mix and has covered just 110,080km from new. The car was owned by a lawyer in Japan and, since its UK arrival here in late-2023, it's been subject to much attention including a major service by Evo specialists, CPP Motor Developments, in January 2024. As part of the service, they flushed and replaced all fluids, reset the timing, replaced the auxiliary belts, bushes, brake pads/discs and a number of other parts, totalling just over £3,500 to ensure it's as good mechanically as it is cosmetically. It was fitted with a brand-new set of arch liners, four new Yokohama Advan AD08RS, some scuff damage on the front bumper was resprayed and the car was subject to a fresh MOT, which it passed with 'no advisories' and is now valid until 8th January 2025.

The original Japanese handbooks are present, along with seven Japanese service stamps/paperwork. Recent service intervals have been:

27the June 2018 – 46,341km, 22nd July 2020 – 62,434km, 15th July 2022 – 95,631km, 10th January 2024 – 110,080km

The car retains its extremely rare parts such as the original Ralliart hard-pipe kit and genuine Ralliart exhaust system, as confirmed by the stamps on the backbox. The Zero Fighter body-kit has the all-important Ralliart stamp on the side skirt (see website photographs). All the parts fitted to this car that are on the Zero Fighter list are genuine Ralliart parts and looking at the wear and patina, one can be safe in the knowledge they’ve been fitted from new rather than being retrofitted, including the Ralliart exhaust system, front strut-brace, brake stabilizer, Zero Fighter body kit, Ralliart oil cap, fog lamp covers, radiator cap, carbon gear knob, hard pipe kit, hard pipe air feed and decals. The Zero Fighter package offered what was considered in its day to be a big boost in performance over the standard car, generating 330-340bhp and 315lb/ft of torque.

The only original pieces that are not on the car now are the coil-over suspension, radio and wheels, having been replaced with extremely rare, wider 17" x 8" Enkei Tommi Mäkinen wheels, with the standard TME wheels being 17" x 7.5".

The Zero Fighter later became the 'eXtreme/Xtreme' which was a limited production model built by Co-Ord Sport in the UK, who fitted the genuine Zero Fighter body-kit and Work Meister SR2 wheels and a numbered plaque. Whilst incredibly rare, this original Zero Fighter was not a limited production model, so there is no numbered plaque.

Our vendor is a self-admitted Evo obsessive, having owned more than 80 of them over the years and whilst the original plan was to keep the car, as with so many car enthusiasts, they’ve now grown an itch for a different toy.

With such limited time in the UK, this Zero Fighter has never seen a salted road, hence its good cosmetic condition, and with its recent major service, it's presented to market in the best possible condition, fully IK-registered and with a fresh MOT valid until 08/01/2025. The Evo VI has rightfully become a collectors’ piece, cherished for its performance, looks, sounds and heritage and this is a remarkable example.