AMG Cheated On Mercedes To Tune This FWD Mitsubishi Galant

AMG is synonymous with Mercedes, and for good reason. Founded in 1967, the company spent more than 30 years racing and tuning Mercedes cars before Daimler did the only sensible thing and brought the whole shebang under its control.

But before Mercedes handed over that fat brown envelope, AMG was free to work with other brands, and occasionally it did just that, resulting in cars like this incredibly rare Mitsubishi Galant AMG Type 1. Built in 1990 and currently residing in Hong Kong, it’s one of around 500 cars created for the Japanese market and is now up for sale through auction website Collecting Cars.

Before you add it to your collection you should be aware that it’s nothing like that AMGs that tend to spring to mind when anyone mentions those three letters. Instead of a growing V8 bullying the rear tires, there’s a naturally-aspirated four-cylinder sending its power to the front through a five-speed manual transmission.

Related: Here’s How Mitsubishi Could Reinvent The Galant VR-4 For 2023

The 2.0-liter 4G63 motor was allegedly treated to high compression pistons, spikier cams, titanium valve springs, new intake and exhaust systems and a revised ECU to liberate 168 hp (170 PS) and 141 lb-ft of torque. That doesn’t sound like much these days, but was a fairly respectable effort for 1990 (Merc’s 190E 2.5-16 of the same era made 201 hp but needed another half liter of capacity to do it). Plus the 8,000 rpm rev limit sounds fun.

And although the Galant isn’t as handsome or distinctive as the 190, it’s not a bad looking car, and looks suitably mean in its gunmetal grey paint, which extends to the correct 15-inch wheels. There are AMG badges at both ends and on the fenders and wheel caps, plus another on the leather-wrapped wheel, and a panel bearing the legend “Tuned by AMG” covering the spark plugs on the rocker cover.

To sum up, this might not be the fastest or loudest car to wear the AMG badge, but it could well draw more interest than any other model this side of the upcoming AMG One hypercar if you rocked up to your local car show.