World Record Prices Expected At Mitsubishi Heritage Fleet Auction

Mitsubishi UK announced last month that they were to auction off their extensive collection of classic cars from the treasured heritage collection. And while the news came as a bit of a shock, it wasn’t entirely unexpected, as Mitsubishi prepares to exit the UK market at the end of the year. Now the auction is down to its last week, and many of the listings are already on track to break world records.

Perhaps predictably, the car that seems to be generating the most interest is the Lancer Evolution VI Tommi Makinen Edition. Bids currently stand at a dizzying £78,000 ($108,000) and will likely set a world record come the drop of the hammer. The example on offer to buyers is car #6 of 250. It has been owned by Mitsubishi since new and has had an engine, and turbo replacement carried out under warranty.

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Oh, Evo, how we miss you

Three more Evos are being offered alongside the VI TME. There’s The two-time British Rally Championship Winning 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX Group N Works Rally Car currently sitting at a bid of £36,000 ($50,000). And at a bid of £59,000 ($82,000), there’s the 1 of 200, Evolution IX MR FQ-360 HKS. The FQ-360 was the final edition of the 7/8/9 generation Lancer Evolution platform, with this specimen having less than 5000 miles on the odometer.

2001 Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0 Evolution VI Tommi Makinen

Several other cars are doing well too, including a Mk1 Shogun, at £14,000 ($19,000), which reportedly needed only light recommissioning to get back to near original condition. Fans of odd-ball collabs will appreciate the Mitsubishi Jeep J27 priced at £12,800 ($17,800). The J27 was built by Mitsubishi under license from the Willys Company in the US to sell to the Japanese market. It was a model that saw over 200,000 being made, but only eight were imported to the UK by the Colt Car Company. Its existence helped establish Mitsubishi’s reputation for off-road vehicles in its home market of Japan.

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR FQ-360 HKS

Also offered in the collection is a Mitsubishi Starion at £16,600 ($23,000) and a Mitsubishi 3000GT, which has attracted a top bid so far of £22,700 ($31,500). One of our favorites in the collection is the first-ever UK-registered Mitsubishi — a first-gen Lancer. Although we know it as a Mitsubishi, it’s officially a Colt Lancer, Colt being the name used in many export markets. This two-door Lancer was the original car shown at the British Motor Show and became a press demonstrator. It was repurchased by Colt Cars in the 80s before undergoing a complete nut-and-bolt restoration at the company’s own Special Vehicle Operations.

1992 Mitsubishi 3000GT

Supporting the diverse nature of the auction is a rally replica Mitsubishi Galant 2.0 GLSi that was used to promote Mistubishi’s involvement in the 1989 Lombard RAC Rally. Later on in its life, it became a course and safety car for rallies, undergoing “road sweeper” duties and providing service around the track.

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1988 Mitsubishi Starion

Also on sale, with a bid of £16,000 ($22,000), is the Mitsubishi L200 that was modified by TopGear Magazine’s Tom Ford to traverse the expanse of Namibia for a 10-page spread. Although under the skin, the L200 remained largely true to its already capable off-road self. Externally, however, the rig, dubbed “Project Swarm,” features a Motoped motorized mountain bike, 35-inch wheels and tires, a heavy-duty winch, bespoke bumper, uprated suspension, an exo-cage, racing seats, and harnesses, as well as multiple LED lights.

In addition to the 16 cars up for sale, Mitsubishi Motors UK is also auctioning off several of their cherished number plates, many of which include the CCC (Colt Car Company) or MMC (Mitsubishi Motor Company) acronym.

1987 Mitsubishi Shogun MK1 SWB (See auction)