2000 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI RS Sprint VeilSide

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution was launched by Ralliart, Mitsubishi's rally car division, for the 1993 season and the model evolved over the years into one of the most successful rally cars of its era. By January 1999, the 'Lancer legend' was already well established with the fifth-generation, the outgoing Evo V, proving a worthy sibling and offering the same immense attitude, performance and tuning potential as its predecessors. The succeeding Evo VI used the same four-door bodyshell, four-wheel drive chassis and 276 bhp from its turbocharged 2-litre, four cylinder power unit.

But now the Evolution was, at last, officially available in the UK, priced at £25,940 through Ralliart dealers in GSR trim and offered the supercar-slaying statistics of 0-60mph in less than five seconds and 155mph. At its heart was the familiar 4G63 engine, now improved for durability and including new pistons with oil cooling channels, bigger oil cooler, and revised intercooler. Likewise, the Lancer’s basic underpinnings remained, with trick AYC (Active Yaw Control), 320mm Brembo 4-pot front brakes (300mm rear) and new 7.5x17" OZ wheels. The suspension was revised, with forged front arms and knuckles to reduce unsprung weight and even the bodyshell was stiffened, with thicker steel and extra spot welds.

By 1999/2000, such was the UK's demand for more and more potent incarnations, a series of ultra hot, ultra rare Evos were made available, including several Ralliart-built UK cars including the 320bhp RS Sprint we feature here. Lightweight, limited numbers and more rally-inspired than most road-ready counterparts, the 12 examples produced would have sold out in days.

On offer here is a 2000 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI RS Sprint, #003 of just 12 examples produced and fitted with a full VeilSide 'Wide Arch' bodykit. VeilSide Co Ltd is a Japanese aftermarket automotive company which initially sold suspension and engine tuning parts and now sells body parts for aerodynamic and aesthetic enhancement. Being officially prepared by Ralliart UK, as a Ralliart-tuned, limited edition rally icon in appropriate Scotia White paintwork, this may well be unique in the proper sense of the word as, of the 12 cars produced by Ralliart, just eight remain and this is the only one fitted with the styling kit.

As standard, the RS Sprint was powered by a 320bhp turbocharged 2-litre, inline-four coupled to a 5-speed gearbox with shorter ratios, a limited-slip differential and a quicker steering rack. The A/C, AYC (Active Yaw Control), electric windows, electric door mirrors, central locking and rear wiper were omitted to save weight and to allow the RS Sprint to fully represent a rally car for the road. However, this example has been further tweaked by Extreme Motorsport in the past and now features a competition clutch, larger intercooler and fuel pump, ARP 'Group A' connecting-rod bolts, an uprated actuator, HKS Blue Flame back exhaust, an Evo VIII rear differential and 19” PIAA split-rim alloys. We understand that the power output is in the region of 368bhp at the flywheel and 330bhp at the wheels.

It was purchased just over ten years ago by our vendor when he was in the market for a something special that could be used occasionally for fun, but that might turn out to be a good investment, and he seems to have achieved both perfectly. Magazine-featured in 2009, the car has had some creature comforts added during the years including rear electric windows and has been enjoyed by three keepers in total. Whilst this Evo is not a trailer queen, it is close to concours. It has been slightly modified as above, but it is the only Rallye Sport production car to wear the VeilSide Bodykit direct from the factory and, of the twelve produced, one of just eight believed to remain today. The odometer displays 36,129 which our vendor believes is in Kilometres as per documentation within his history file and this is born out by various MOTs where he believes the Km readings were converted, all combining to show this remarkable car has now covered less than 25,000 miles

The motoring press at the time suggested that the Evolution VI was one of the best ever produced for sheer excitement and the 'RS Sprint' even more so. With only 12 ever built and eight left, these are rare cars with our VeilSide-equipped example believed to be unique.