Like many car enthusiasts, the sight of a neglected classic evokes a sense of longing and a desire to restore it to its former glory. There’s something particularly poignant about a performance icon left to the elements, slowly returning to nature. This sentiment is exactly what struck me upon encountering this decaying Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution I GSR. Inspired by stories of unloved cars discovered in Japan, let’s take a closer look at this first-generation Evo before time and rust reclaim it completely.
But what exactly are we looking at? This isn’t the fire-breathing, World Rally Championship-dominating Mitsubishi Evo of later generations, but this is where the legend began. This is a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, the very first of its kind, the progenitor of a dynasty that would conquer rally stages and hearts worldwide, securing four WRC driver’s titles. It’s the genesis of the Mitsubishi Evo legacy.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, manufacturers were realizing the World Rally Championship demanded smaller, more agile cars. Just as Subaru championed their Legacy RS, Mitsubishi had been achieving success with the Galant VR-4. However, the need for a lighter, more compact contender for the demanding WRC stages became apparent. The answer was the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.
The GSR badge itself wasn’t new to the Lancer lineage. Mitsubishi had previously celebrated victories in Australia’s Southern Cross Rally with the Lancer 1600 GSR, securing three consecutive wins. Driven by Andrew Cowan, this earlier GSR model paved the way for rally success. Cowan would later establish Ralliart Europe, the very organization responsible for building Mitsubishi’s factory WRC rally cars until 2005, connecting the heritage directly to the Evo’s rally DNA.
When the Mitsubishi Evo I GSR debuted on rally stages in 1993, it was immediately competitive, carrying forward the Galant’s momentum. However, it was the Evo III that truly marked Mitsubishi’s breakthrough in the WRC. Enhanced power and aerodynamic refinements, including a redesigned front splitter and rear wing, propelled the Evo to its first victories, solidifying its place in rally history.
Beneath the moss and weathered paint of this Evo I GSR lies the heart of a legend. It houses the same robust 4G63T turbocharged engine, mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system that would become synonymous with the Mitsubishi Evo name. This potent combination represents immense potential, even in its current state. The core DNA of later, more celebrated Evos is all here in this first iteration.
Limited to just 5,000 units for homologation purposes, the Mitsubishi Evo I GSR is a rare piece of automotive history. Perhaps this rarity is why this particular example hasn’t been scrapped, holding onto its spot, waiting for a potential savior.
Looking at this forgotten Mitsubishi Evo I GSR, what do you see? Is it a valuable piece of automotive history deserving of preservation, a diamond in the rough waiting to be rediscovered? Or is it simply a relic of the past, too far gone to warrant the effort? The answer likely lies in the eye of the beholder, but its historical significance within the Mitsubishi Evo lineage is undeniable.
