It’s time to devote some time to a Lancer chassis that not a lot of people may be familiar with. Most of us associate the 4G63 with the latest crop of Lancer Evolutions, starting from the Evo I in 1992, but it was actually first used in the Lancer EX2000 Turbo, which came out in 1981. This angularly designed Lancer was never sold in the US but it sure made a name for itself in Japan and Europe. Most notably it helped Ralliart’s initial success in the world rally scene as Pentti Airikkala drove one in the 1982 1000 Lakes rally in Finland, finishing in third spot.
Its success made it an instant hit in Japan, just as the turbo era began to take off.
During the AE86 Matsuri and Skyline Meeting in Tsukuba a small group of Lancer and Starion owners came to show off their immaculate cars and, since we haven’t really featured too many of these rides before, I got busy snapping away.
Just like all the Lancer Evos that came after it (let’s not forget the Galant VR4 that kind of bridged the gap in MMC’s performance car line up) the EX2000 was a sedan.
Under the hood was a longitudinally mounted SOHC 4G63, driving the rear wheels. The engine was good for 170 HP, however this particular silver car has obviously been modified with a top-mount aftermarket turbo.
You can’t help but love the simplicity of these cars…
…and they look so hot when lowered and fitted with vintage rims.
This is what the stock motor looked like. The big deal about the EX2000’s powerplant back in 1981 was that it was fuel injected (you can see the embossed ECI Turbo logo on the intake plenum)
How cool it that…
…an RC replica of the EX2000!
Along with the Lancers were also a few Starions…
…a great addition to this Mitsubishi side of the event!
Like the EX2000 the Starion was also fitted with the SHOC version of the 4G63 (US cars and later “Conquest” versions ran the G54B 2.6L 4-cylinder, as did the GSR-VR in Japan)
Both the EX2000 and Starion are very rare cars in Japan, you hardly see any on the street.
The Starion was quite the hit in the tuning scene that was quickly developing during the eighties.
With a bunch of AE86 lined up opposite the MMC gathering, I felt like I was a little kid back in the 1980’s!
That about wraps up the coverage from the unexpectedly varied AE86 Matsuri. Hope you enjoyed seeing so many cool modern day classics!
-Dino Dalle Carbonare
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
Is now my favorite post for 2012!!
I wish there were photo's of these out in action as well.
Starions are awesome, I've always liked them but never found a good enough one at a reasonable price in Sydney yet. As I sit at my desk right now i'm looking across the road and staring a burgundy dead stock standard starion in someones front yard. It rarely moves but it looks like its been looked after. I've seen about 4 over the last 6 years.
Much love on spotlighting the rare and different in 2012
Any early Evo lancers?
This brings back so many great memories..the Lancer was our family car growing up in the early 80s... no turbo though.. and I think it was only 1.6..but it was a good car..
...is it just me or do those last cars look NOTHING like AE86es?
both of these cars a quite rare on UK roads now, if you do see one usually its mint and well kept or a total wreck just about to fall apart.. 80's classics - i do like the Lancers tho' - it's great to see so many well kept examples. - i used to live near a Mitsu. dealearship as a young lad, i always went in there on a Sat. morning to look at these Lancers and to take a brochure, until i 'half-jokingly' got told "not to come back young man, we haven't got enough brochures for you to keep taking one every day" ha ha - Thanks for the memory lane moment!
"It's time to devote some time to a Lancer chassis that not a lot of people may be familiar with. Most of us associate the 4G63 with the latest crop of Lancer Evolutions, starting from the Evo I in 1992, but it was actually first used in the Lancer EX2000 Turbo, which came out in 1981. This angularly designed Lancer was never sold in the US but it sure made a name for itself in Japan and Europe. Most notably it helped Ralliart's initial success in the world rally scene as Pentti Airikkala drove one in the 1982 1000 Lakes rally in Finland, finishing in third spot."
Wikipedia is one hell of a tool, isn't it?
ouwh, i never knew the ex2000 was rare, as here in Malaysia u can find lots of them, but mostly beat up chassis drove by old uncle and aunts..but anyway as always awesome coverage Dino!!
Thanks for all the info & coverage!
whoa, love those boxy ladies
Hey i have a starion
Awesome coverage from the event Dino, I remember the days I wanted a Conquest sooooooo bad...Some fine automobiles featured; and I'll say it again-I hate living in Ohio.
JP if you knew about both of those cars you'd be able to appreciate their slight similarities
Toyota Trueno AE86 + Mazda Rx7 FC3S + Porsche 924 = Mitsubishi Starion?
I would love to see a spotlight on the black and red Starion with the PIAA headlights!
Brilliant set of posts dino.Shame nobody invited the ef civic club then you really would be in eighties nirvana.
ex1800 was sold in japan/ex2000 in europe, good chance quite a few of those cars started life as an 1800 and were converted, i had an a173 GSR, the 1600cc version to these cars, quite fun to drive
I love Mitsubishis, especially old boxy ones. The Advan Starion looks sick!
Thanks for the pictures.
I love old Mitsubishis.
The Advan Starion looks great!
It's nice to see other LT's together. I've got mine for 21 years now and still loving it!
SHOC ?
I'm half Filipino and lived in the Philippines for three years. My parents still have the "Box Type" Lancer and its the car I learned to drive and drove when I was 14 years old. It was so much fun!
I'd love to bring one here and show some of the Evo guys their roots haha
Hi
Lancer Ex which there became few is a 1,800cc model in Japan
There is Ex2000 only to 10 several in current Japan
very coollll
should come to asia guys,this cars are junk n heavily modd here....
very nice & very clean LANCER!
in my country Indonesia there's called Lancer SL
warm regard's from Indonesia & here's the video about Japanese Classic Car Touring & many of Lancer SL in there -->
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDijRcTdH6s
should come to asia guys,this cars are junk n heavily modd here....
Here's mine.