1997 Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution

For sale by auction on Saturday 12 March 2016 with Historics at Brooklands. Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit. Weybridge. Surrey. Call 01753 639170
The Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution or PajEvo for short. was built
from 1997 through to 1999 as a means of sneaking into the Dakar
Rally's production-based T2 class. The Dakar Rally is dubbed the
toughest car race in the world. and building a car for it is a
serious task. The car is powered by a 3. 5 litre 24-valve DOHC V6; a
dual plenum variable intake helps to increase power and a new
suspension makes the ride even smoother. Power output from the 3. 5
litre V6 is 280p. whilst maximum torque is 35. 5kgm
(348. 1Nm)/3000rpm. The car hosts a five speed auto Tiptronic
gearbox. switchable 4 or 2 wheel drive and is spec'd with climate
control. power steering. air bags. electric windows. heated
mirrors. Recaro seats and carbon fibre dash. full tool kit. br/>emergency flare. limited slip differential. rear/roof spoiler. br/>anti-lock braking system and rear seat and side impact protection
bars.

The PajEvo was given all new suspension. new differentials. skid
plate. a wide body kit. and mud flaps. The idea was to enter
a super-strong car into the otherwise-tame stock class by selling
2500 beefy specials to the public thereby homologating them for the
stock class. The result is that the Pajero Evolution remains to
this day tougher than just about any other production car on the
market.

The suspension. unique to the PajEvo. was given the acronym
ARMIE by Mitsubishi ; All Road Multilink Independent suspension for
Evolution. The car's track was widened by 125mm at the front. 110mm
at the rear. Suspension travel is 240mm at the front. 270mm at the
rear. It has the same style of centre diff as the other Super
Select 4WD Pajeros. which can be either RWD only. 4WD unlocked (in
which case it's a viscous diff). or locked 50/50. But where the
regular Pajeros came with open front diffs and either open rear or
with an optional locker. the PajEvo has Torsion diffs in the front
and the back and an aluminium vented bonnet.

Mitsubishi not only dominated the T2 class with this car. they
dominated the whole Dakar Rally. Pajero Evolutions didn't just win
their class; they won overall. PajEvos took the top three spots in
1998. beating even the supposedly faster T3 class cars. They
covered over 10. 00 kilometres in 18 days. and finished five hours
before the next competitor. Pajeros have won nearly half of all the
Dakar Rallies with 15 wins overall.

This particular vehicle was imported from Japan in 2003 with
48. 40 km on the odometer and has remained with the current owner
ever since. It has been used regularly throughout. other than in
2006/7 when it was stored whilst the owner was overseas. The
car has been well maintained and is offered with 12 MoT
certificates warranting the mileage which currently stands at
149. 00kms (under 93. 00miles) and with a valid MoT until May
2016.

From 2010 to last year. this car has been pivotal in (not taking
part) promoting the HelpforHeroes 4x4 European Rally which is
organised by the vendor. The initial rally raised over
£120. 00 and since then the event has gone on to raise over £1m for
the charity. That milestone was hit in 2015 and with all
objectives achieved 2015 was 'The Final Mission'. Hence the vehicle
is now for sale. These cars are becoming increasingly difficult to
source and with only 2500 ever produced they are exceptionally
rare. very collectable and a sound investment.

*A percentage of the proceeds of sale commission will be donated
to Help for Heroes

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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