• Build #001 of just 50 official UK-market examples
• A verifiable 11,000 miles from new with just two owners, the last since 2003
• Full service history, with recent full cam-belt service
• Completely standard specification apart from s/s exhaust system
• Factory grey underseal applied to UK cars still present
• Superb condition throughout and ready for any serious enthusiast/collector

By mid-1996, Mitsubishi's rallying success began to really reflect in Lancer Evolution sales. The 1996 WRC season brought Mitsubishi, together with a blisteringly quick Finn named Tommi Makinen, its first World Rally Championship drivers' title. The fiercely competitive Makinen borrowed the phrase "maximum attack" and used it to devastating effect.

By 1997, rallying had captured the imagination of petrol-heads all over the world and Mitsubishi sold 6,000 Evolution IVs in the first three days of its launch! In quick succession, the Lancer Evolution VI came to be and in the latter-half of 1999, Mitsubishi unleashed a special edition to celebrate its favourite son’s four consecutive WRC drivers' titles from 1996-1999 - the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI 'Tommi Makinen Edition' (TME). The Evolution VI was already a technological tour de force, but the TME had a more responsive titanium turbocharger, uprated and lowered suspension ('tuned to give improved initial response on tarmac surfaces'), quicker steering, a different exhaust, a new ECU, beefed-up transfer case internals, a redesigned front bumper for even better cooling and authentic 17-inch WRC Enkei alloy wheels. Plus, there was a special interior, featuring embossed Recaro seats, a MOMO steering wheel and red stitching. The performance upgrades saw the 0-60 mph sprint obliterated in 4.4 seconds and a maximum top speed of 150 mph. Power was rumoured to be over 300bhp, rather than the 276bhp 'agreement'.

Widely regarded as the finest Lancer to wear the Evolution badge, it was now available in five colours, with Passion Red and Canal Blue joining Scotia White, Pyrenean Black and Satellite Silver. Only 250 TMEs (across the five colours) were officially imported into the UK, with 100 examples going to Australia, and the rest sold domestically in the Japanese Market. Official figures show that of the UK's allocation, only 50 examples were in Passion Red, the signature colour for a TME. According to Mitsubishi, it was these Passion Red cars that automatically received the renowned racing decals, known as a 'Special Colour Package' (SCP), meaning these cars were factory-fitted with black door handles (so as to not break the line of the long profile decal). In the world of Mitsubishi aficionados, the consensus is that there were just 212 official factory SCP examples of the TME produced worldwide.

The car presented here then is very special indeed. Not only is it a genuine Evolution VI Tommi Makinen Edition (CP9A / SNGF2) SCP car (i.e.1 of 212), but it is also an official UK-market example. This means it was officially imported by Mitsubishi-affiliated 'Ralliart UK', hence it would have been professionally SVA'd and is supplied with UK service books, a calibrated speedometer, an unleaded-spec fuel restrictor, cold-climate battery and an alternator, plus it is individually number with a plaque in the cabin - and not just any number in this case, here it reads #001, making this car the very first UK-market TME - always a special designation amongst enthusiasts and collectors, whatever the car.

Remarkably, this very special car has covered a fully verifiable 11,000 miles from new, supported by MOT and service records. It has had just two owners, the last since 2003. The car was previously lightly modified cosmetically under the bonnet, which has now all be rectified and returned to standard specification (the only deviation still being a stainless-steel exhaust, but the original item will accompany the car). The underside has been sympathetically detailed, not restored, with ‘factory’ grey underseal still remaining (this was applied to all UK cars by Ralliart).

The car is accompanied by a large history file, with many receipts, plus its original and complete book-pack (including service schedule). The car has just had a full cam-belt service as part of its recommissioning.

Silverstone Auctions are privileged to offer for sale such a rare and special car, considered by many as the ‘ultimate Mitsubishi’ for the road. Indeed, for modern-classic collectors in America, they can now, as of 2023, legally import and enjoy these cars – what an opportunity! ‘Type UK’ TMEs are hugely coveted and rightly so, and this is car #001 of that short production run; rarely do examples this exceptional appear for sale on the open market, not to be missed