Sounding, and looking, like something made up for a video game without infringing any copyrights, the Garaiya is actually somewhat of a homologation special with a unique backstory. We’ll forgive you for never having heard of the ASL Garaiya. Grey Imports ensured the rest of the world found out exactly what they were missing out on. Initially Mitsubishi stated it was only putting 2500 Wagon variants into production, but VIN data suggests nearly 3000 long roofed Evos were eventually built. While only sold in Japan, the Evo Wagon was a smash hit. The automatic GT-A used a smaller turbo and non-MIVAC version of the 4G63, and made up roughly 50 per cent of all models purchased. Three variants were available, the base GT, automatic GT-A (no self-shifting ‘box was available for the sedan), and MR – which stands for Mitsubishi Racing. That didn’t slow down the Evo Wagon, though, with a Japanese outlet recording a stonking 4.8 second sprint to 100km/h. Underneath the five-door metal work was an almost unchanged Lancer Evolution IX – the arguable zenith of the Evo lineage – with the major change being a slight drop of torque from 400Nm to 392Nm, and 70kg increase in weight. Nothing proves this better than the brand’s wagon send off for the ninth-generation Lancer Evolution. Here are ten of the greatest JDM gems that were never officially sold outside of Japan. Many of its most heroic models have since found themselves as popular as ever, today, but there were countless other performance oddities that have slipped through the cracks.
Manufacturers were flush with cash, and their engineering will went seemingly unchecked.
Many moons ago, the Japanese car industry underwent what can only be described as a golden era.
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